The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-31
THE EVENING STORY
sunderland's Song.

/ movements
| all more or less undecided because OF
| the weighty problem that held his mlno
captive He spent a few more moment >
| over the angle of his hat, then went
out into the busy streets.
| Naturally Sunderland's footsteps TOOK
him in the direction of his favorite
haunts, the old secondhand shops. He
stood airnlessly looking over the musty
and dusty contents of the windows ana
all the time he was asking himself the
question, Shall L ask Enid to marry
me?''
| The question had been troubling him
for some time, and Sunderland wanted
to settle his mind on the subject Be
cause he was a bookworm and stu
dent, perhaps he was unduly concern
ed about the matter of Enid. At times
| he felt that he loved her and again she
seemed as naught in the scheme of his
| life
I SunderIand's fingers were uncon-
sciously running through stack OF
| well-worn music and he suddenly
realized that if Enid had possessed
even a talent for the lightest of music
| he could have cared more for her He
was not a musician, nor even critic,
| but he felt that his home would be in
complete without a little music. His
mother had always played and sung,
| and his most pleasant recollection was
of the twilight evenings his mother had
gladdened with her songs.
| SunQ6TldnO was LOOKING through the
| old music now with conscious interest.
He drew a swift. sharp breath, then
| sighed. it was as if gentle presence
were lowering over him. He had found
a song his mother used to sing. The
children had always asked for it be-
| cause it was a fairy legend and spoke
oil elves and hobgobbins. Sunderland
read over the words, but they flew
swiftly across his brain before his eyes
! could follow the printed words, so
wildly had the song some back.
"Inez Claire" he read, and then in
out the name of the big studio building.
Now, the question is,'' he pondered,
whether Inez Claire has become a
great operatic singer and has dis
carded her old songs or whether fall
ure has prompted her to dispose of it."
And while Sunderland strove to
weave an atmosphere about the song
the memory of Enid Valentine was lost
and in its place desire to find the girl
who had sung his mothers song DOS
was not a romantic sense that prompted
him; it was merely a longing to hear
the familiar song.
Because his time was his own for the
moment he made his way to the studios
mentioned on the song Arriving there
he learned that Miss Claire had left a
year or so ago. After much inquiry he
was given an address in the country
to which her mail had been forwarded
More or less discouraged, but with
accented desire to find her, Sunderland
went his. way.
In the course of a day or so he ac-
cepted an invitation from Jimmy Dale
to spend few days with him in the
country, the suburb being the one
which Inez Claire had gone to after
leaving the studio building.
On their way home from the sta
ton Jimmy drew up at a small violet
farm. 1.-THE mater wants me to bring
her some violets for the dinner table
he said by the way of explanation.
You had better come in. There is a
peach of girl here-a friend of my
mother
Sunderland followed. At the far
end of the dollhouse they caught
sight of the mistress of the violets
She was gowned in simple frock
of lilac and made an exquisite picture
there among the millions of purple
blossoms. Sunderland was guilty of
hurrying his footsteps.
She is making a small fortune
raising violets,' whispered Jimmy
Dale. How is the Queen of the vIo-
lets today" he inquired by way of
greeting the girl
Splendid she returned, with a
happy little laugh.
Miss Claire. Mr.. Sunderland"
Jimmy introduced the pair perfume
tcrily.
The smile that dawned over Sun
derland's face surprised even the girl,
who was accustomed to the homage
of men.
IF you are Inez Claire" he began
without preface. II was just starting
search for you
Inez looked up. Jimmy did like
wise.
This is evidently no place for me. :"
the latter said laughingly, and turned
to talk to the gardener. Sunderland
sure is struck he muttered to him
SELF.
Yes, I am Inez Claire the girl
answered; then added with a laugh,
Il hope you have discovered that
am an heiress and
No; it is only this" Sunderland
drew the old song from his pocket
and handed it to her.
A swiftly hidden emotion passed |
across the girls face and she did not
speak for a moment Finally she
looked up and a nervous little laugh |
accompanied her words.
THAT song is all that is left of a |
career of which I once had fond |
hopes" By the way in which her
fingers caressed the music Sunder- |
land knew that something very dear
had been taken from her life.
my mother used to sing that song,
and when found it in a secondhand |
shop I bought it and found your
name on it,. he explained to her. IT
went to the studios and found that
you had gone. 1 wanted to trace you |
and ask you to sing it for me-" Inezi
was silent a long moment, then she
looked up and met Sunderland's |
steady brown eyes fixed upon her /
There was something there that
called for her confidence.
''I have not sung for a year." she |
told him. ct failed dismally at my 1
singing and was forced to sell every /
thing I had. The songs, even, had to i
CO. That is how you happen to have |
found this one" She smiled half i
wistfully; then her laugh changed to |
reality But I have not failed with i
my violets."