The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-07-01

during the performance. ana fhs ic-iy'
gilded ceilings with their mural decora-
tions seemed to be draped in filmy
black Grape.
The professional entertainment be-
gan on the little stage amid univer-
sal gable which made it impossible
for anything save pantomime to be in
telligible beyond the footlights. Star
after star, whose services had cost
$1,000 each for one hour, appeared
without commanding the slightest at
tentiop.
Stuart turned to the program in his
hand and idly read the next number:
"A song by an unknown star"
He was wondering what joke the
manager was about to perpetrate on
the crowd when his ear caught the first
sweet notes of Harriet's voice singing
the old song he loved so well, the song
she had first sung the day he came
from the south.
His heart gave throb of pain. Who
could have prepared this humiliation
for his little pal? He pushed his way
through the throng Of chattering fools
until he stood alone straight in front of
the slender little singer. She saw him
at once, smiled and sang as he had
never heard her sing. To his further
surprise Stuart saw the doctor stand
ing in the shadows at the corner of the
stage looking over the gossiping, noisy
crowd with a look of anger and horror,
When the last note of the song died
away. quivering with a supernatural
tenderness and passion, he brushed a
tear from his eyes, lifted his hands
high above his head and made a mo-
ton which said to her, "Tumultuous
applause"
She nodded and smiled, and he rush
ed behind the scenes to ask an eXpla-
nation.
He grasped both her hands and
found them cold and trembling with
excitement.
"What on earth does this mean|
"Simply that was engaged to sing
tonight, and l wanted to surprise you.
Didn't you like my song"
at lifted me to the gates of heaven,
dear"
"Then don't care whether any one
else heard 1t or not But did so much
wish that she might have heard it or
her husband because they are from the
south"
"But don't understand-your father
hates Bivens So"
A big hand was laid on his. shoulder,
he turned and faced the doctor smiling.
"But l don't hate him, my boy! Pve
given up such foolishness. We've
buried the hatchet. Pm to see him III
q few minutes and we are to be good
friends"
"Bivens invited you here to discuss
a business proposition tonight! Stuart
exclaimed, blankly.
mo, no, no." the doctor answered.
''I came with Harriet, Of course. Her
music teacher placed her on the pro
gram. But Mr.. Bivens and have hao
some correspondence and I'm to see
him in a little while and talk things
over quite informally, Of course, but
effectively"
"He has agreed to a conference
here?" the young lawyer asked
anxiously.
"Why, of course. His butler has just
told me he would see me Immediately
after the ball begins"
Stuart breathed easier and turned tc
Harriet.
"Yoti look glorious tonight, little pal
Funny that never saw you in even
ing dress before. You look SO tall and
queenly, so grown, so mature. You're
beginning to make me feel old, child
I'll be thinking Of you as a grown
woman next"
"I am twenty-four, you know" she
said, simply.
81 have never believed 1t until to
night. l wouldn't have known you a
first but for your voice. 1 had to rut
my eyes then"
The lights were suddenly turned
lower. approaching total darkness
The attendants noiselessly removed
the temporary stage and cleared thu
great room for the dancers.
AS the chimes struck the hour Of
midnight, skeleton heads slowly begar
to appear peeping from the shadowl
of the arched ceiling and from every