The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-20
Nv DoRoTHY DOUGLAS.
Copyright. 1912, BY the Associated
Literary Press.)

Copyright. 1912, By the Associated
Literary Press.)
Alice LANCE arose half impatientiy
from her desk and took up posi-
ton by the window. She gazed with
unseeing eyes into the great court
at the rear OF the apartment build
ing and pibbed the end OF her pen
thoughtfully.
II want to marry him and | don't
want to-" she told herself with un-
smiling eyes. IF only he could learn
to love music | believe-no--l arm
positive / would marry him. Music
Is the greater half OF my life and
Jimmy Is unutterable bored II any
one save Harry Lauder is singing"
Alice heaved sigh and turned
again toward her desk A spotless
bit OF monogram paper lay ready for
her answer to Jimmy Blake. She
dipped her pen In the ink and again
nibbled the end Of it. Suddenly her
head turned and she listened.
A voice of wonderful baritone
grandeur had burst into song.
The pen in Alice's hand dropped in
differently and she stole into her
room by the open court in a desire
TO draw nearer the mans voice.
Fortunately her window was
partly open and Alice sank down on
her couch in an abandonment OF ex-
quisite enjoyment. In the recess of
her mind was the thought that q new
tenant had moved into the apartment
and that she would have the pleasure,
If stolen. OF hearing him sing often.
Her critical ear told her that the
voice. though Of warm. rich timber,
was lacking in tho minor technicalf-
ties and finish that would have put
him on a level with the great Caruso.
he Is no doubt studying night
and day." Alice decided, and / will
hear him practicing."
Then over her enjoyment OF the
music came the certain knowledge
tnat windows were being opened In
many OF the apartments on the court.
IL Mashed upon her suddenly. The
man was street singer and those.
people were throwing him money.
Alice jumped up and thrust her
head far out of the window.
Yes! There he is. and / can see
only the top of his head"
The man had been singing the more
popular arias from the operas and
when he had finished the Flower
song from Faust Alice watched
MN stoop to pick UP many little
white packages that had been thrown
to him.
In panic lest she be too late she
rushed to her desk and took the first
OH OF paper she found. Into the en-
veiope she thrust O bill with a yellow
back and threw II hastily out Of the
window.
Inc man would have been gone q
second later. hut he heard the girls
voice calling. 'Here!" He turned back,
picked up the envelope. and when he
saw the denomination he looked
q1ickass uP NJ the window ana Tor d
moment Alice Lange looked into his
sensitive. emotional face.
with his hat stu In his hand then
ne sang the most beautiful OF the
! Girl" arias. Then You'll
There were tears In the girls eyes
and an ache In her throat when his
voice 30 poignantiy sweet sobbed ito
last appealing line. Then you'll re-
me-
After he had gone Alice did not re-
turn to her desk Instead. she lay for
4 long time dreaming OF the street
sipser's voice.
No." she decided finally. Il can
not marry jimmy Blake. want TO
roam the Elysian fields and pluck |
- So y 90 ~ RAS0tUce h08t 0A<Es atlQ
Jimmy Alice smiled wistfuliy.
Jimmy wouil only tell me am moon
struck and take mo to vaudeville
And when Jimmy received the note
that Alice sent him he went cut 10
the race track and came hack through
Elysian fields that sWayed fantasia !
cally and had tendency to rise up
and make his great gray racer turn
turtle as he eareened nadiy over the
roads.
Two. three years slippsd b.. Alice
Lar~e's thoughts were not untlnged
With REGRETS that she had diamlseed !
Jimmy blsks from her ran e 81.
ielda were ont y possible 20 roam In |
when there was one other % Share |
hem. IN
She had .pent many vain hours II |
N effort to locate thA man whose
foice had ssesnsd - change the IN