The Winslow mail., 1911-04-08


they didn't like that French aria
There is certainly nothing wrong
with my voice or with me-"
Between that appearance and her
pext upon the program she could not
sit still, but walked about restlessly
She knew very well what her mother
thOught-that she had never done so
well 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 punches of orchids as large
as her own little blonde head. And
Aunt Belle would be planning a 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.
It 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
ice 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 f1owers-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 a warm sweet food.
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 well, because she did not see
his face.
You know" she said "tbe
truth
He caught his breath as If in pain
The truth" he repeated. Ali"
And then she looked UP at him sharp.
ly, for it was as If he had said: Let
me tell you something pleasarter than
-tlr,5 ------ -~A~-77-
"Ah," she cried, pieeously, under
standing, 81 have failed! l haven't
shown you--'
You have shown me" his voice was
woman should be-the rarest, the
sweetest, the best. Dear he falter
ed, 81 know ] am breaking your heart,
but better force me to break it who
love you so than for strangers whose
indifference will make them unneces-
sarily cruel AS l listened to you
ton ght. | 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 it by bitter defeat. For that is
that awaits you. | speak as man
and a critic, not as your lover.
Il know that after this you will not
consider me such. I am sacrificing
good deal, am | not, just to tell you
the plain truth? You are glorious
woman, Maude, but you can't sing. 1t
is not your fault; you have been de-
ceived by praise and fattery. But I
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 Il did it all
for you. It was your opinion I want
ed. because | knew it would be the
right one. When | asked you to tell
me the truth l did it because I 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 a sudden thrill of Joy and
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