Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-02-19
MUSIC AND DIAMOND
Or the Story of John RobinsOn's
WhirIwind Courtship.
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

swept completely from her feet. she
had consented to marry him and
had accepted a most exquisite soil
taire to complete the engagement.
Robinson possessed wealth and so
cial standing, while Madge owned
splendid voice but scarcely the money
with which to have it cultivated She
only regretted her poverty because II
withheld certain branches of study
from her which, In the dark hours OF
the night, Madge's soul longed for.
Never did she let the world know her
desires because the world might Hing
either pity or scorn at her, and
Madge was proud-too proud to ac-
eept help or condemnation.
When Robinson came into her lie
Madge not only found herself strong
w attracted to him, but she realized
also that his money would put her be-
fore the best instructors the world af-
forded. She was not in any way mer-
cenary. but she was thankful that love
and the chance for advancement had
come hand in hand. She could not be
really happy until she had won fame
for herself, and she loved love the
more because it offered her her OPP
portunity to succeed more quickly than
when hampered by poverty.
She had been engaged to Robinson
for two joyous weeks. A particularly
trying day lay behind her and she
greeted her fiance with a tired but
happy smile.
II will be glad when you have given
up all this nerve-racking study" John
Robinson said. you are firing your
self out, and | wish you would marry
me straight off, so that | could COM
mand you to give up your feverish de-
sire for music" He had spoken laugh
ingly. but Madge had felt a rush OF
cold blood through her veins.
81 never intend to stop studying
she said quickly. Nothing in the
world would make me happy without
my music. intend to be a singer. |
thought you knew that" she added
and gazed wonderiLgly at him.
81 have always considered 1t joke"
Robinson told her, and would have
drawn her into his arms to dismiss
the subject, but Madge eluded him.
"Tf you mean that" she said with
firm voice, 81 may as well tell you !
viii never marry you"
Robinson grew a shade white. Il
have no desire to have my wife sing
Ing In public and perhaps being away
from me just at the time ! want her
most. You viii have plenty to do en-
tertaining and managing for me. Come
don't be silly will do everything
can to make you forget your desire
for career"
NO one could do that" Madge said,
and shook her head slowly. 1T is too
deeply rooted In my life dreams. No.,
she repeated, Il want my music more
than | want you-under the condi-
TONS" She drew the beautiful dia-
mond from her finger.
Robinson's eyes flashed. His quick
anger frightened Madge.
Don't give me back that bauble,"
he said roughly. ITS no good to me,
and I would only toss 1t into the
street" He flung himself out of the
room while Madge watched him with a
feeling akin to relief.
When he had gone she fell to won
dering why she was so little affected
by the smashing up of her first love
affair. With firmly set lips she put the
ring into her bureau drawer and shut
the romance from her life.
The following day she discovered
upon looking at her bank book that
her account was perilously near to tot
tering. 1t was then that Madge wept
bitterly. She knew that the piano
she had rented for SO month must
go. She could not afford 1t longer.
That SO would be needed for bread and
butter.
When she had finished weeping she
was white and her eyes shone bril-
liantly. She could not live without a
piano.
Out of the depths of her misery
came the realization of the ring lying
in her drawer. 1t was a perfectly
useless jewel that meant nothing to
her and the price of which would buy
her splendid pianol A friend of
hers had once sold piece of jewelry
for set of furs and Madge saw no
reason why she could not exchange
her ring in the same way
The advertisement she put in the
paper the next day was eagerly read
by one Jimmy Canes. Jimmy was in
tending to propose to Nelly Wake, but
did not feel that even Nelly was worth
going into debt for and she was the
kind of girl who would prize an en-
gagement ring. Jimmy could not spend
couple of hundred dollars just at
that moment, but he could sacrifice his
piano. Nelly was not In the least fond
of music, and much as Jimmy regret
ted the fact he felt that she had other
good qualities.
He sighed with unconscious wistful-
ness. Jimmy had always pictured q
golden haired woman sitting at his
rosewood piano with a soft light On