The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-14
Her FIRST CONCERT
ey F. PRENTICE.

The wonderful afternoon had at last
arrived. Dorothy Clifford was to make
ner debut as pianist at Claridge
hall, and Eustace, her tiance was to be
there.
Dorothy had been educating herself
as a pianist for seven years. She had
many teachers. too. She had hoped to
make music her life career. But MANY
girl who dreams of life career sur.
renders it when the right man comes
along. And with Eustace to care for.
the piano had become a less valued
friend.
Still, Eustace." she had said, II
can play once in while at first, even
after we are married, and make a few
extra dollars. Don't you think so?"
! Eustace had been dubious. but Dor.
othy's father was emphatically In
agreement With her.
You're going to give that piano re.
oItal, anyway. Dorothy he said.
Here I've spent nearly thousand
dollars on your musical education,
from first to last, ard talked about you
to my friends and how you are going
to take the town by storm; and now
It's up to you to make good"
But Ii will cost three or four hun.
nrH6 dollars tn n NJ
idge hail. said Dorothy
Good" answered her father. "That
will show the newspaper critics that
you mean business. That will impress
| them"
Dorothy's father was not very
worldly wise. but anyway he had his
; will. And so the fateful afternoon ar
rived.
When Dorothy arrived with her
father and Eustace and saw the pla.
cards in front Of the building her
! heart gave little throbs of pride. dor.
othy Clifford" they announced, in
great black letters, under her picture.
Dorothy Clifford" and then, in small
err letters, gives her pianoforte re-
cital in Claridge hall'-the last words
very big again--"on Friday next at
2:30."
Eustace squeezed her hand and her
father twisted his white mustache and
strolled along as proud as a King.
Room 4, Miss Clifford" they told
her inside, So Dorothy had to say
good.by to her father and sweetheart
and hurry round to the musicians en-
trance. She walked up and down cor
ridors-for Claridge hall is quite a
large place-and at last found room T..
"They are waiting for you," said an
old gentleman at the stage entrance
little CURLY, Dorothy thought, But
she had no time to bother about such
things as that She walked on the
stage, and one glance at the auditor
ium filled her with Joy. The house was
full.
1t was not merely full, but packed,
overlooking into the aisles. 1t was
also representative house. for It
numbered men, women. girls and boys.
and as Dorothy walked forward to-
ward the grand piano, which, rather
oddly. she thought, occupied corner
of the stage instead OF the center such
q salvo of hand-clapping broke forth
that the tears came into her eyes.
She could hardly see to read the
music that she unrolled and placed
upon the stand.
At first she was timid. II was her
first appearance in public, and the
presence of these strangers discOn.
certed her a little. Then. too, she
knew that her father and Eustace had
seats in the second row. but though
she had tried to see them she had
failed to do so. But the knowledge
that they were there encouraged her.
Her hands, little tremulous at first,
regaincd their power, and before she
had played half dozen bars she had
forgotten where she was In the Joy
of playing.
She did not even notice that there
was nobody to turn over the pages for
her. She lost herself in the ecstacy OF
Chopin's divine creation, and, before
she knew 1t, the piece was ended
Dorothy got up and bowed.
To her amazement there was not
single handicap.
Not one person out OF that vast
audience had been sufficiently I'M
r-essed to applaud. There was not
whisper They sat in their seats In
stony silence.
Dorothy controlled herself with diff
ficulty. She went slowly out through
the stage exit. She would not 60
back. She would go home, She
Dorothy! Where have you been!"
1t was Eustace, Eustace standing at
her side. She tried to hide the tears
that filled her eyes.
Dorothy. That's the wrong room.
That's Number 3. We have been wait
Ing for you a quarter of an hour. The
audience is getting impatient"
The absurdity of the mistake sent
the girl into a reaction OF hyste'lcai
laughter. To whom had she been play