The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1915-05-01
tae twentieth time OF MS experience


tae twentieth time OF MS experience.
she could not analyze the mixture Of
emotions Juggling at her very heart
strings, the Joyous ache. the leaden
ecstasy, the torturinx delight all
struggling there for mastery.
Europe. Ann! The greatest teach.
ers OF the world! Just think OF It,
Why. 1t seems impossible! Wealth,
fame, honor. everything"
The tear that had tfembled 80 long
time upon the fringe of her lashes
dropped to the tiny shoe upon which
she was knitting, clung there until his
eyes rested upon It.
Aren't you happy. ANN" he re-
peated.
She nodded a tribe jerkily, then
slowly lifted her eyes to meet his own.
Honest eyes they were. loving. wor.
shipful eyes they were, patient eyes,
the eyes that belong to women whose
souls are SO sensitive they chill before
the mere shadow OF impending trag.
edy.
$50 happy, Henry, that-rm afraid
OF it-of my happiness" she answered
bravely.
Ann shivered again under some
thing she read in Madam Holmes
eyes. She had felt 1t even before the
woman crossed the threshold, had
been feeling 1t in ever increasing vol
ume while De Retsky and her hus-
band outlined plans for his operate
studies abroad. The great singer had
been silent, strangely silent since it
was she who was doing the financing
Of that voice. And now the wife
knew that madam was about to speak
and with her eyes pleaded to the
celebrity-as woman to woman-for
pity, for charity. And madam shrank
before that look even while her lips
frightened.
"Of course" she said slowly. II shall
provide for your wife while you are
abroad. Mr. Merwin."
Though she had been expecting 4
blow, though she had nerved herself
for the worst, Ann could not repress
the little cry of incredulous pain that
leaped from her liM. Her hands
sought her heart gropinsly. the hands
that still gripped the unfinished shoe.
you mean-you mean that l am
not to go-that Henry is to go alone
to leave me and-and-"
"A student should have no distrac.
ton In his studies"
Ann felt something 90 dead within
her. Her hands went out in cropping
fashion toward her husband.
Henry you-you want to leave"
She could not finish for the great,
choking sob constructing her throat.
suffocating her.
He wheeled upon her fiercely,
plunged into q rage Of his own Great
ing but madam flashed him 4 warn
ing look as Ann sank back in her
chair.
"My dear" in the great sopranos
voice were all the tones that had
quickened tears in the hearts Of au.
diences throughout the world, you
must not make 1t any harder than 1t
is already. Don't you know that
understand; that am a woman. and
that understand your pain at part
ing?" She moved step closer. plac-
ing her hand upon AIMS shoulder and
turning upon the two men,
You have your choice. Mr.. Merwin
--milkman or Voice. had the
choice and Voice won. 1t has brought
me fame. wealth, honor, glory; 1t has
lost me all that my heart would have
chung to did consider happiness
alone. do not say that 1t is always
So but the price Of fame is often mis-
cry The price Of Fame must be paid
and Fame Is hard bargainer."
Ann looked up eagerly. timidly, yet
with a strange ferocity to catch the
impression upon her husband. What
she read upon his face filled her with
swift self-reproach.
81 think understand she whis-
pered softly. 81 want the fame for
him"
w.