The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-11
drew his head down and kissed him OF

drew his head down and kissed him on
the neck.
With unusual tolerance he admitted
to these attentions. There was a thrill
of mingled JOY and pain in Helen's
heart Was it only when she looked
particularly attractive that he was
willing to be purred over.
DOWN STAIRS.
Yet how little difference his appear
ance made to her. Her love was al
ways the same. Whether he was in a
bath robe, a smoking jacket. without
his collar and in his stocking feet, "a
most unalluring combination or warm
or dusty and travel stained, to her
nothing mattered.
Nov come on down." as she turned
to the mirror for the finishing touches
to her hair: you're all right"
Downstairs they found everything in
the buzz of final preparations. Almost
all the seats were already filled. and
Mrs. Stevens in her black chiffon ev-
ening gown was sweeping OfficiOusly
about, radiant with the success Of her
plans.
The first number was a piano solo
by Miss HASKELL the second mandO-
third a darkey song by Mrs. Stevens.
Helen, who was sitting beside War
rem toward the back of the room,
slipped a cold little hand into his. AS
the time for her own number drew
near her heart beat faster and faster
What If she should break dOwn-be-
come panic stricken before all these
people.
Although it was only an informal
benefit concern yet she could not have
been more frightened nor could it
have seemed more vitality important
had 1t been her debut in grand opera.
At last Mrs. Stevens announced: "A
Summer Might" soprano solo by Mrs.
wsrren Curtis."
Warren released her hand with a
strong. comforting pressure, and rose
to let her pass into the aisle.
When from the little impromptu plat
form Helen confronted the rows of
faces everything blurred before her
How she sang that first song she new
er knew. AS matter of fact she did
not sing it very WELL and the applause
that followed was far more tribute
to her delicate girlish personality
than to the song itself.
But when she started De koven's
will O. the Wisp." out before her
she found Warren. But what was that
look of his steady. steel gray eyes?
Disappointment?
Forgetting everyone elese she now
sang to him. The nervous tremor had
Left her voice and it was rarely sweet
and clear; not powerful but with an
unusNs' plaintive' appeal With each
verse there seemed & sweet cadence
in her notes and when she finished
it was amid wild applause
As she hurriedly stepped FrNm the
platform there were cries Ct More,
More"
Mrs. Stevens caught her and drew
her back.
"Anything. anything." she whisper
ed The lullaby l heard Won singing
| to Winifrcd the other night. Sing it
just as Won sang it then
Winifred's lullaby: Could she sing
that-to all these people? And then
she seemed swept on by the exulta-
| ton that was in her and the eager
expectancy Of her audience.
She had won them She could feel
| that, For the moment she was thrill
| ed with a rare sense Of power, OF as
| surance, of daring confidence in her
| self which she had never felt before
With her hands clasped before her,
she began the quaint. chanting lullaby
| with its rocking. muTmurOus refrain
| There was something weirdly haunt
| ing in its monotonous rythm. And she
| sang it now as she had never sung it
before and would probably never sing
| it again.
HELEN'S MOMENT.
| Life gives us q few rare moment =
| in which We are swept to the very
heights. Moments in which We live
intensely, vibrating, eXultantIy live.
The remainder of the time, with more
kor less discomfort, We merely exist