Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-03-09

lthought-that she had never done so
we'll in her life. And Uncle James
that she had given him good value for
his money
By George, that niece of mine,
she's winner" He would be saying
at his club tomorrow. And Violet
would go home to dream of French
gowns and lunches of orchids as large
as her own little blonde head. And
Aunt Belle would be planning din
ner to take place before, "Maude
starts on her tour"
But he-what did he think? His
eyes were unfathomable. That was
because they held so much. Had she
convinced him that she could sing?
Has she?
She went out again upon the stage;
she bowed and smiled and sung again
her best-to him. And still he sat
with his arms folded and his chin lift
ed and his inscrutable eyes watch
ing-watching
1t was over at last. She was whisk-
ed away in Uncle James big motor
to their apartments, where little
supper had been arranged for her.
They were all there but him. Would
he come? They were all trying to
talk at once about her They- wear
ieG and worried her with their praise.
Somehow it suddenly sounded mean
ingless to her. What she wanted was
the truth. And she felt deep down
in her heart that only he could give it.
The apartments were suffocatingly
sweet with flowers-all offerings at
her shrine. He had sent his bouquet
with the rest. She took it up now and
held it close to her face. 1t was pink
pink roses. And down among them
was his name upon a little white card.
Why didn't he come? Why didn't he
come?
Suddenly the door opened and he
entered. Her color rushed to meet
the roses color in warm sweet flood.
He had seen her at once without
seeming to see her, just as she had
seen him. And now he was coming
towards her. Above his roses their
eyes met. She held out her hand.
"Well?" she demanded, What have
you to say?"
What do you wish me to say?"
She looked down at the roses. And
it was WE'LL because she did not see
his face
You know" she said the
truth
He caught his breath as if in pain.
"The truth" he repeated. "Ah!''
And then she looked up at him sharp
ly, for it was as if he had said: Let
metell you something pleasanter than
the truth"
"Ah,' she cried, piteously, under
standing. II have failed! haven't
shown you
You have shown me-" his voice was
exquisite, THAT you are all things a
woman should be-the rarest, the
sweetest, the best. Dear" he falter-
ed, II know am breaking your heart
but better force me to break it who
love you 80 than for strangers whose
indifference will make them unneces
sarily cruel. AS l listened to you
tonight, 1 left that must tell you the
truth even as you have asked me, be
fore you went out into the world in
all your happy young confidence to
learn 1t by bitter defeat. For that is
that awaits you. speak as man
and critic, not as your lover.
II know that after this you will not
consider me such. am sacrificing a
good deal, am not, just to tell you
the plain truth? You are a glorious
woman, Maude, but you can't sing. It
is not your fault; you have been de-
ceived by praise and fattery. But
can't deceive you"
Above the pink roses her face was
perfectly white She had done her
best and they had all told her that she
had succeeded. They had all lied to
her because they loved her-all ex
cept this one man. He had never lied
He was telling her the truth. Better
to hear it from his lips than, as she
said, from the lips of strangers. She
thought of her prospective tour and
| shuddered. She was brave woman
/, and though she had her moment OF
bitter struggle with her spirit rose
presently from the black depths into
which he had plunged it and she look
ed him steadily in the face.
after ALL she said. 81 did 1t all
for you. 1t was your opinion / want
ed, because knew it would be the
right one. When l asked you to tell
me the truth l did 1t because l knew
| that you would tell me the truth. And
you have. Thank you, Alan"
She held out her hand again. And
as he lifted it reverently to his lips
he left with sudden thrill of Joy and
hope and Thanksgiving that the great
good he craved was nearer to him
than ever before-that he has. indeed
not lost, but gained all.
Six HORSEPOWER Horse.
A correspondent of French News
paper, desiring to ascertain the actual