The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-11
FACT AND FANCY
BY MAuDE BREWSTER.

Copyright. 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
Marie was q street singer, but Marie
had dreams. While she sang for PEN
MES and dimes that were tossed to
her from the windows Of apartment
houses she fancied herself grand
opera singer bowling gracefully before
q great audience OF music lovers. AS
she glanced from time to time at
Lecco, the young Greek who was her
accompanist, and who turned the hand
organ mechanically, Marie fancied him
to be great and wonderful conductor
waving his baton and carrying her
rhythmically through her operate
/ arias.
| The afternoon upon which Marie
and Lecco stopped before the studio
apartments on West Nfty-seventh
street was fraught with much excite
ment and interest for both the Greek
and the little singer from Italy.
John Orth, artist and philanthropist,
was giving a tea in his sumptuous
studio when Marie's voice arose from
the streets and startled his guests
with its sympathetic timbre and clar-
ity of tone.
What do you say to asking them
up here for a song?" he asked.
! Great! Here's a chance for Orth
to take another protege under his wide
wing" Billy Craven made answer.
The idea was no sooner suggested
than carried out, and . moment later
Marie and Lecco, together with the
old hand organ, were up In John
Orths studio and facing a company
Of Bohemians who eagerly pressed for.
ward and encircled them.
4 Marie had always fancied herself
singing before a critical audience. II
was no doubt that long. half-conscious
training in the world of dreams that
carried her successfully through the
, ordeal
, Before leaving, Marie had promised
John Orth to return the following
day to receive instructions prepare
, tory to beginning a course Of study In
vocal and instrumental music. Alst
& they had been taken into the dining
room, where Orth's servants offered
them tea and cakes such as would
make the mouths of less hungr!
!. people water.
I When they had finally left the stu
c do John Orth sat In deep study. Hi
guests, now that the tense moment
were slipping into the past, began u
chide him.
II am hard hit," he admitted slowly
n "If that girl takes advantage OF he
& studies and makes a name for her
& self +"
You'll marry the girl" Iaughe'
Jimmy Craven.
yes, think WILL" John Orth said
{ Days slipped into weeks and Mari
t progressed slowly, but with great in
e telligence. She found study tediou
e and the demands put upon her tim
/ wearisome. Her brain, unaccustome
e to training, rebelled at the long hour
n of application to technique, sight read
ing and endless scales, both vocal an
instrumental She felt much like
4 Uifu lMAkl ndo UCCh SoeSot ohA <sANs
e longed passionately for her freedom
I, Her fancies had never embodied thi
r constant toll. The fact was less q
e tractiye to her than her wonderft
= dreams AID castles IN the ar.
! LEGO, too, seemed unconsciously
!. add to her troubles. That he wa
= occupying himself with business wa
!. evident in the enlarged store and II
creased trade. Marie wondered at th
!, loneliness and sudden strangeness
u the world, and II was to Lecco sh
went with her woes.
ID "Meestair Orth-he would mari
D me-" she said finally. "He say he love
ID me-"
G Lecco's face went white. Il lov
he you, too, Marie" he cried swiftly, ar