The herald., 1915-03-18
FACT AND FANCY
BY MAUOE BREWSTER.

| NSOpyrlsnt, 1913, Dy the Mcclure NewSpa-
per SyndicateJ
Marie was L 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 a grand
opera singer bowling gracefully before
a 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 Fffty-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 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 a moment later
Marie and Lecco, together with the
old hand organ, were up in John
Orth's studio and facing a company
of Bohemians who eagerly pressed for
ward and encircled them.
Marie had always fancied herself
singing before a critical audience. 1t
was no doubt that long, halfconscious
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. Also
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 hungry
people water.
When they had finally left the stu
do John Orth sat in deep study. His
guests, now that the tense moments
were slipping into the past, began to
chide him.
Il am hard hit" he admitted slowly.
IF that girl takes advantage Of her
studies and makes a name for her.
self /"
You'll marry the girl" laughed
Jimmy Craven.
Yes, think WILL" John Orth said.
Days slipped into weeks and Marie
progressed slowly, but with great in
telligence. She found study tedious
and the demands put upon her time
wearisome. Her brain, unaccustomed
to training, rebelled at the long hours
Of application to technique, sight read
ing and endless scales, both vocal and
instrumental. She felt much like a
bird that had been Gagged, and Marie
longed passionately for her freedom.
Her fancies had never embodied this
constant toll. The fact was less at
tractive to her than her wonderful
dreams and castles in the air.
Lecco, too, seemed unconsciously to
add to her troubles That he was
occupying himself with business was
evident in the enlarged store and in
creased trade. Marie wondered at the
loneliness and sudden strangeness Of
the world, and 1t was to Lecco she
went with her woes.
"Meestair Orth-he would marry
me-" she said finally. HE say he loves
me-"
Lecco's face went white. T love
you, too, Marie" he cried swiftly, and
would have stopped the rush of words
to his lips had not Marie crept happily
into his arms.
you nevair say so to me; nevair
told me you love me-" she whispered
In the wonderful tones that would
have made her famous had she loved
happiness less. Il have loved you
forever, Lecco."
A flame leaped into Lecco's black
eyes and he bent his head over the
lips that were to him red peoples flung
on an oval Of alabaster.