The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-24
The Evening Story
Harmony for Mildred.
(By Izola Forrester.)

ANU AdlST On, aLIer Ine nations
have decided to settle down and act
decently among themselves, Well take
you to Germany and Paris, Mildred
and you can finish up there on your
harmony and whatever you may need.
Father says he won't stint you one
particle. You know how he is once
he takes hold of an idea. Hear me,
Mildred 2"
"YeS'm,'' answered Mildred passive
~, regarding the lake shore drive
and gray lake waters beyond without
interest. She was a tall, slender girl
overgrown, probably because she was
dressed too young even for eighteen.
The big dropping white beaver hat
and white chinchilla sport coat gave
she declared every time she caught
a glimpse of herself in a mirror. She
hated her clothes the same as she
hated the future and the plunging
around in search of the best teachers.
II suppose we ought to run down
home for Christmas" went on Mrs.
Tankerville happily. Father wouldn't
feel contented to eat his turkey any
expect us. You can get back in time
for your January course all right.
If you get in six hours practictng it
ought to be enough for the holidays"
Mildred said nothing. Six hours
day while she was home for the holt
days. Her dark blue eyes were gray
with anger. Nobody knew how she
had always rebelled against being
genius. She had loved music in the
beginning before they had forced her
to live on it. With a natural aptitude
she had developed into a good pianist,
very good for a girl of her age, but
not great artist by any means.
Her father had owned the Sioux
Rapids City Bank back home and had
given up his active share in it just as
soon as the family was sure of Mil
dred's marvellous powers.
I've worked hard all my life" he
had said comfortably, "and now
mother and I'll jog around the world
with the little girl and give her her
chance"
But 1 don't want to go, father"
Mildred had declared tearfully, even
at thirteen. 81 don't want to study SO
hard. 1 love home"
We'll, you can come back to it some
day and there'll be the town band
down to the depot to meet you, and
the mayor with a speech of welcome,
he had laughed at her. "Kiddie, you
don't know what it means to reach
middle life and find you've not had a
chance to make single dream come
true. That was me. wanted TO be d
great musician. Well, we were country
folks, and a large family. down IN
Kansas, and 1 went out to work, herd
ing cattle on my uncle's ranch. Not
much chance there for musical study. |
was there, unless / read the notes OF |
the heavens by night, and caught the |
music of the sphere. Then l met your /
mother, and she was from Chicago. All |
she wanted me to do was get rich just |
as quick as I could, and l did. SheS
satisfied, but you came into the world
with the love of harmony IN you, ana,
by the everlasting jirnminy crickets,
you're going to have all you can sWai-
low of what 1 missed.
So for four years Mildred was trot-
ted around from city to city in the new
world and parts of the old, seeking the
perfect teacher for her music, ana
always with the memory of the nttle
home town warm in her heart ana OF
one boy sweetheart there who had
ssked for a lock of her hair and a post
card now and then.
They had spent the last year in
New York, and now had stopped over
at Aunt Annals in Chicago on the
drive, Mildred followed her mother up
The steps of the big, gray stone
house, looking back at the lake. wish
ng she could swing along its shore
Tor good, brisk walk all alone, just
10 think of something besides music
There would be guests for dinner, and
she would have have to play. She SET
ler teeth and went into the shadoWy
lau slipping out of the white coat.
And then she stopped short. Her ia
her was standing in the reception
Dom before the fire logs, talking and
aughing with somebody, and the ;
mere sound of that somebody's voice
ent the blood racing to her cheeks
you remember Hal, Mildred, OF
her father said Little HaI
to live in the old white
house back in the pines below the .
hurch.' ,
Il remember" Mildred said. looking
nto Halls ca ger eyes. Il never for
ret anything or any one back home
Aunt Annals face was radiant She
vas Mr. Tankerville's sister, and to :
Ter Mildred was never possible
a dear lovable girl at the
mercy of her parents loving kindness
he invited Hal to luncheon the next
lay, and ordered him to take Mildred S
ut for walk up the drive every I
to get the color in her
heeks.
.sHe seems sensible and impersonal, s
Anna'' Mrs. Tankerville said doubt 7
ulIy watching the two as they walked
own the street you don't think =
here's any danger of AIildred's being y
lily. do you? ?"