The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-03
Al. About
a Discord


enport at the other end of the library.
fopped her music roll down on the ia.
ole and then slid weakly into a big
chair
There are times" she began om-
inously. when I'd marry a Sioux In.
dian, war paint and all"
1 heard of a girl" Janet's tone
was conciliatory.
"Everythings wrong" Kate was not
TO be stopped. Il hate a career.
loathe music. hate the professor.
aDomlnate my Oh. No, I'll never
say that. but abhor Gounod for writ.
ing Romeo and Juliet He's at the
bottom of all this trouble"
Poor Gounod," said Mary What
did
That's right. Sympathize with the
old dead demon instead of me. No
body loves met
GrHc!nus!" Mary was moved out of
her absorption in the careful turning
of an M" What's the matter,
child?'
Kate was serious 'Is 1t nice to bc
engaged, Molly? DO you feel as If
you were in harbor safe from the
cold, unappreciative world?"
Mary blushed, dropped the towel
and smiled into the fire with an abb
stracted expression.
Janet came to the rescue. Some
one called you on the phone"
WELL" interrupted Kate, quite OBJ
livious to Janet's voice, 81 simply sail
ed over the first page Of the Waltz
Song; you know I've practiced on
those grace notes and thrills until my
voice actually shutters when | try
to sing straight. That the professor
said, is good business Just think!
| felt good clear down to the roots
OF my teeth. He said I looked as If
really wanted to dance, and you know
my facial expression usually sets him
Wild always look too absorbed and
serious
If he could only see you now!"
murmured Mary.
"Of course was feeling tremendous
ly encouraged and then l got to that
awful chromatic scale from A to A.
and he made dreadful discord on
the piano and said | was of key, and
beat her gloves on the chair emphat-
ically.
But ] didn't tell him so abruptly.
Just remarked soothingly that GER
tain critics said Geraldine Farrar sang
off key and stood with her toes in,
and | didn't care If l did Of course,
girls, do care. but Just couldn't
say So"
In the lull Mary made another at
tempt Poor child! Somebody tele-
phoned--''
And then he exploded" sputtered
Kate. because he thinks Farrar's
perfection. cried spasmodically all
the way home"
Two big tears rolled down Kate's
plump, flushed cheeks Mary and
Janet patted her. consigning the pro-
fessor and all his works to realms
unspeakabls
you're both angels" Kate sat up
and rubbed her cheeks vigorously.
I've got to stop crying. because it's
b-bad for my v-voice and I'm going to
practice that old scale all night"
Taking the hatpins from her hat.
she added Il don't mind never eat.
ing candy or cake or pie or pickles
or anything else that's good and al
ways going to bed at nine O'Clock and
trotting out for an airing so many
minutes every day to keep my
voice nice, but when he tells me that
I'm off key"
She sat down at the piano and crash
ed out a few chords.
IF Billy Collins comes over to
night, for goodness sake tell him I'm
not at home, for just as sure as he
proposes I'll accept him"
Great ideal" Mary was enthusias-
tic. 1t was her table linen to be that
she and Janet were embroidering.
Turning from the window toward
Janet, Mary, with surreptitious ges-
ture, indicated Billy Collins swing
ing down the street.
by the way" said Mary. Billy Col
lins phoned just before you came in
that he was coming over to take you
somewhere.
Il won't CO." Kate was quite de-
termined. I've got to practice that
scale and. anyway. might catch
cold"
Cold nothing! He's about to ring
the door bell now I'll lend you my
hat with the red roses" This was
pure bribery.
The bell gave strident clang Kate
dived about for her belongings. re-
marking meanwhile in stage WI his
per: Il won't see him. | won't go,
won't, | WON'T"
But when Mary came back from the /