La Junta tribune., 1911-03-18
Her Place
He Take II and Wins Musical
honors.
By 7. W. WINDHAM.
Copyright 1910. by American Press
Associattns

one WIS speNkils 10 young man, Ike
herself a musician.
You don't realize what Il means to
me. MIR. Tolstoy. This is my last turn
here and the concert tomorrow my
only opportunity Of playing publicly In
the Conservutoirc.''
But the circumstances are excep.
tional." he urged. "lt happens that
Professor Meycrhaus is In Leipzig re.
cruitlng viulinists for his American
tour. and II occurred to me that per.
haps he would include me In his or
chestra ms solo piunIst"-
BY engaging me Mcyrrhaus would
save the huge fees demanded by musi-
clans who have made u name. aud for
me'-a pause gave additional weight
TO his words-"iI means possibly the
opening Of career. | should come
before the public ai once and without
expense instead of returning to Amer.
lea 10 drudge AT teachug. because !
do not possess the means to make an
imposing debut"
But you forget" she added In
self viudicntion. Il have rchcarsed
with the orchestra throughout the
term. and the conductor Will not ap-
prove OF n change AT the last mo
ment"
Il have already obtained his pcrmis.
sion he began.
Then II he Is willing for you To
play why does he allow the decision
10 resi- with me- she broke in
The tension of momcufary silence
tried him beyond endurance Rising.
he walked To the door pnuSing ~ the
threshold.
Forgive the intrusion. Unfortu.
nately mislcd myself with the belief
that YOU would willingly ccdc n chance
To a professional. being yourself an
amateur aud independent. | can ouly
hope that your triumph tomorrow" he
fingered on the word Ia conscious
irUny-"will atone for the vcxatiun Of
my visit"
\ large cosmopolitan audience hlled
the Conservatoirc hall for the Gnal
concert of the season.
An attendant opened the piano In
readiness for the concerto as the plan.
list came forward. escorted by the mas.
ter under whom she had studied.
She seated herself NJ the instrument.
and little ripple OF applause broke
from the balcony. Glnnciug upward In
shy nckuuwlcdgmun she met III.
sieadfast gaze OF u mnn seated immc-
diniely facing her. who vouchsafcd but
the mcrcst glance of recognition aud
resumed the study of u music scor.
lying nn his knees
The players lowered their bow hands
for several bars rest In the lull pre-.
ccdlng III. excerpt for the solo hstru.
mcnt the sound "f n sharp indrawn
breath struck downward through the
silence.
The baton beat on steadily -three-
four
One"
M answering chord from the plan.
ist. The conductor glarcd ni her
aghnsr. ibe orchestra In undlsguiscd
surprise. She started slightly. aud the
color famed into her cheeks.
The baton swooped down again.
"One. frnul.lu.' The conductor
leaned forward. hilf frantic. Have
you forgoticnf'' hc bissrd.
4 soft. level voice PROMPTED sudden.
ly from the balcony. The allegro
movement. key A Hat minor. extended
chord
She glanced swiftly forward with a
little impulSlye gesture and ro-. In
her seat. faced the conductor flashed
q flnpc- of swift defiance aud PASSED
with head erect through rows OF thun.
dcrsiruck musicians to the platform
exit.
iewildrrcd comments were cSchnng.
ri throughout the hall. aud the nota.
tncIcs rather lrriiably and awaited IL.
velopmrni~.
''Tb-s. Americans. These Amcri.
cans" cbnfcd the conductor. beside
biin-clf with rage. then he hurled mn
order NJ N. doorL"cper. pointing To
III. balcony.
Herr Tolsioy. Fetch him im,n.di.
nicly."
The mnn u, the end had nrcady dis
appeared. aud In H.. passage connect.
Ing the platform with the clonkrooms
hc encountered III" retiring pianist.
quick" she whispered. "'rbr con.
ducior called for sou.''
Ills fac. glowed with trembling.
csninni gratitude. ilc seized her
hand and -tar.rd backward cons, icncc
stricken ~ tcW fell rlil licninr ON her
slrryr'
Slic rush..i pn-i hImj disconnected
paced tLs -,.iror fwo down the pas.
'safs aud turned abruptly To nycnne
her mo'D"Dinas los. ~ -clf control In
M outbreak "f rrproncb
'wh, don't you roi Ny failure
eivcs you your opportunity. irny don't
hcsI.nic to avail yourself"
I'm sorry. =" -orry"- he begnn.
afl.s Ia. s..ts ..srs "a -.