River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-04-03

seen But | count the fortune II cost
Well spent to have seen the smile on
your face when you looked al that
painting OF our old nils ! would have
given five times as much at any mo-
ment the past ten years to nave known
that you didn't hate me-"
You know it now
Yes, she answered tenderly You
have said SO with your lips before.
now you mean it You are your old
handsome self tonight"
Apart from the charm of Mans pres
ence Stuart found the dinner itself a
stupid affair. SO solemnly stupid it at
last became funny In all the mag,
nifcently dressed crowd ne looked In
vain for man or woman OF real II
tellectual distinction. he saw only
money. money, money!
In spite of the low murmurs of Mans
beautifully modulated voice Id his ears
he found his anger slowly rising, not
against any one IN particular. but
against the vulgar ostenta ton IN which
these people moved. and the vapid as
sumption of superiority with which
they evidently looked out upon the
world
But whatever might have been lack
ing in the wit and genius OF the guests
who sat at Mans tables, there could
be no question about the quality OF
the dinner set before them.
When the feast ended at 1920 Nan
1h,YS
the entertainment by hired dancers.
singers and professional entertainers
began on an improvised stage.
During this part of the program the
women and men Of the banquetng
party who were to appear in the fancy
dress ball at II, including Nan, retired
to the rooms above to dress for their
parts.
Stuart noted with some establishment
the peculiar somber effects Of the ball
room. He had expected a scene OF
splendor. Instead the impression was
distinctly funereal The lights were
dimmed like the interior Of theater
during the performance. and the lofty
gilded ceilings with their mural decora-
tons seemed to be draped in tlmy
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
ST 900 each for one hour, appeared
without commanding the slightest at
tention
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 be loved SO we'll, 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
ut 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 look of anger and horror.
When the last note of the song died
away. quivering with supernatural
tenderness and passion. he brushed
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 wanted to surprise you.
Didn't you like my song"
1t lifted me to the gates of heaven,
dear"
Then l don't care whether any one
else heard it or not But l 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! I've
given up such fooishness. We've
buried the Ratchet. I'm to see him in
a few minutes and we are to be good
friends
"Bivens invited you here to discuss
business proposition tonight! Stuart
exclaimed. blankly.
No, no, no. the doctor answered.
II came with Harriet. of course. Her
music teacher placed her on the pro
gram. But Mr. Bivens and have had
some correspondence and I'm to see
him in 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 to
Harriet.
You look glorious tonight, little pal!
Funny that l never saw you In even