Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-03

standing IN the doorway. She entered
the room half difhdently at his nod Of
invitation.
~ am Marguerite Rainor." she an
nounced simply, "and would like to
take singing lessons. VIII you kindly
tell me your price?"
The professor was fully aware of the
anxious note in her vibrant voice as he
drew forth q chair. No one knew bet
ter than he the constant struggle of a
young musician with poverty. Profess
sor Brunn was not even now as pros
porous as this luxurious studio would
seem to imply; therefore he made q
hurried mental calculation, and then,
as the girls eager, questioning eyes
sought his, he deliberately cut his
teaching price in two. Her delight was |
very evident.
81 am so glad" she said. with a sigh |
of relief, 'for I feared the lessons !
might be more than could afford"
So Marguerite's lessons began, and
the three afternoons each week when
she appeared for instruction came to
be bright spots In the professors life.
He grew to know her moods, to glory
in her advancement to fret and trou-
BILE himself because Of hardships he
feared she might be secretly enduring.
Her pretty ways and little tricks Of
II speech fingered with him long after
she had gone. until it seemed that the
professors very life had become one
long thought of her, while Marguerite
calmly accepted his devoted friendship
and Installed him confdant and ad-
wiser. To him she read the home let
tiers, looking up through tear bright
1 eyes as she told Of the invalid sister,
! the mother who called her "Daisy,
| DEAR" instead of the formal Marguer-
lite.
Her CHEEKY greeting as she entered
the studio could not blind him to the
fact that the piquant face grew paler,
more transparent, as time passed, and
he wondered painfully If she was de-
priving herself Of proper food In order
to further her ambition. And one aft
ernoon when the hours dragged slow
ly and no laughing face appeared in
the doorway the professors anxiety
became uncomfortable. and he went him
self to ascertain the cause Of her alb
sence. He had some difficulty In find
ing the quaint side street and the old
fashioned house where Marguerite
made her home. But, after all, 1t was
not so bad as he had feared, for the
small sitting room, with its wide win
dow, faced the street, and, though its
only noticeable piece of furniture was
an old plano, still an air of comfort
pervaded the room. She came to meet
him wrapped in her heavy cloak and
shaking her head in mock reproval.
e "You should not have come all this
way to find me-" she said. II merely
have cold, very slight cold, which
: will not let me sing"
The professor glanced at the dark
>, ened crate. you have been keepin:
your fire too low" he accused.
Marguerite laughed. 1t was a shak.
> sort Of laugh. YES" she replied, &c
have been keeping my fire-too low"
u You must not let it occur again." TIL
: professor said sternly. Zone canno
afford to take risks with a voice lik
yours"
What a troublesome luxury?' tn
He regarded her closely when she cam
again for lessons, and that afternoon
Professor Brunn instituted the fashion
y of serving afternoon tea in the studio
1T is quite the CUSTOM" he assures
81 Marguerite, watching with satisfaction
her hungry enjoyment Of a sugare
roll, while the dull pupil poured tn
tea, and afterward he sang to them.
ST was an old fashioned air which Maj
is guerite chose-a song of love-and hi
voice found its half forgotten strengt
IS and sweetness as he bowed low abOv
err the dusky head of his accompanies
When he had finished she looked u
Of at him, her eyes shining.
1T carries me back to my home,
BIT she unused dreamily. "A-a boy used t
,u sing this song"
d The professor could not speak. II
was watching her face with tens
IT. earnestness. 'It is hard for him alst
VS. making his way here in the city," sh
ms continued, but we try to console eac
other, Billy and l. He came when
did, you see, and it was he who ia
about coaxing the mothers to let II
take their children to teach. Billy Ia
eS such a pleasing way that he manage
it much better than l could possibl
10 have done" Marguerite jumped II
and ran for her cloak; then she eau
back. looking with concern into Il
Oh mans white face.
you are not WELL" she reproved hin
"You are working too hard
Il am quite WELL" the professor al
swered duly. She paused a momen
still vaguely troubled; then her faC
ar frightened.
Mother is coming to see me tomo
p" row." she said. ''She has heard
much about you. Professor Brunn.
would be very glad to have you pa
iv- US a visit" The professor arc:
YEARLY.
he VERY WELL" he replied 81 will come
ny He would not confess to himself Jul
yet that this numbing heart heavinei
bespoke the hopelessness of all that |
Ionged for and desired. Yet what eli
could it mean? Ii was, after ALL b
EN- ly's song she had loved, and bis SIN
ok ing had been but it's echo. And still