The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-02-08

WELL" interrupted Kate, quite OBJ
aivious to Janet's voice, Il 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!
i felt good clear down to the roots
of my teeth. He said I looked as If I
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 l was feeling tremendous
ly encouraged and then l got to that
awful chromatic scale from A to A,
and he made a dreadful discord on
the piano and said l was off key. and
| wasn't-wasn't! Wasn't" Kate
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 s~pasmodically all
the way home"
Two big tears rolled down Kate's
Janet patted her, consigning the pro-
fessor and all his works to realms
u%nspeakable.
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: II 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 enthusiast
tic. 1t was her table linen to be that
she and Janet were embroidering.
Turning from the window toward
Janet, Mary, with a surreptitious ges-
ture, indicated Billy Collins swing
ing down the street.
by the way" said Mary, BILLY Col.
Inns phoned just before you came in
that he was coming over to take you
somewhere"
Il won't 60" Kate was quite de-
termined. i've got to practice that
scale and, anyway. l might catch
cold"
Gold 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 a strident clang. Kate
dived about for her belongings, re-
marking meanwhile in a stage whis-
per: Il won't see him. I won't go. I
won't! l WON'T"
But when Mary came back from the
door Kate smoothed her hair meekly
and went in. Conversation never Ian
guished with Billy.
Get on your buds and come with
me-" he said.
A few bars of the WALTZ Song
sounded on the piano. Through them
came a rather muf1ed, not too deter
mined voice: Thanks, but | can't. /
have to practice"
Then five minutes later Kate came
out, looking reluctantly happy.
''Where." she asked, us that perfect
!, sweet hat with the red roses1"