The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-03

After that number BuSOn1 sent his first
violin to US. Every one in the au-
dience was interested, and it was quite
clear to every one that Busoni hao
been struck by the girls beauty. The
messenger told us that Busoni had
sent him to ask us if we wished to
suggest the next number; that he had
often seen us and could not fail to
see that we were lovers of music.
A pretty excuse, thought l. Gwendo-
line was really embarrassed for a mo-
ment, SO 1 suggested number in
order not to keep the messenger wait
ing. Gwendoline was dreadfully de-
Iberate. She was that way when or
dering things for dinner. She could
never realize that anyone in the world
had less leisure than she. / suppose
she treated her suitors much the same
way.
Much happened in that week. For
a few mornings the first violin came
always to ask for suggestions, and
! each time / named some favorite Sc
lection of my own, for Gwendoline
could never think of a word to say.
| Then Busoni himself came down be-
tween the numbers 1t was dreadfully
conspicuous and every one at once
| knew why, for Gwendoline was so ir-
resistible. I never knew a girl who
! appeared so well in the glazing light
of the morning sun at the seashore.
| Then BuSOni asked to call and I
consented. No, l didn't forget Gwen
doline's mothers injunctions. I SIM
ply decided that 1 could take matters
| in my own hands. BuSoni was no or
binary admirer and clearly Gwendo-
line did not want to have me refuse
for her. He called more than once
and then one evening we went driving,
we three, in the twilight through the
grove of pine trees just northwest of
the beach. OF course these things were
| observed, for Busoni was more or less
n ar n nl he 10
and watching the goings and comings
| of other people was a large part of
| every days occupations among the
| guests at our hotel. Busoni never
| seemed to become personal in his con-
versation and Gwendoline, for her
part assumed that strange childlike
reserve of hers that seemed to me ir-
resistib1e. If l had been a man l
would have loved her to distraction
| in that mood.
Meanwhile several letters had come
from the men at home. Then one
from Tom Lowther, who was to be
worth millions saying he was coming
down for the final answer that week
end, and the next mail brought one
from Gwendoline's mother, who had
heard of Toms intentions, saying that
she was coming, too. No doubt she
felt that L was not adequate to the
situation Perhaps she feared / would
| De too severe chaperon. For really
Mrs. Penfield was in great hopes of
the success of the Lowther affair
Then Busoni telephoned to the
hotel. Gwendoline was mapping indo-
lently, propped up in her chaise lounge
near the window where she could
watch the breaking of the waves on
the surf So 1 answered the call on
the room phone. If Gwendoline felt
any emotion when l told her who ii
was she did not show it. Mr.. Busoni
said he wished to call that evening.
He had something important to say.
He must come. When / tried to make
excuses he would not listen He would
come anyway.
OF course, knew exactly what tc
do as chaperon. In view of the COM
ing of Gwendoline's mother the next
day and of young Lowther, too, Gwen
doline ought not to have to face the
decision of a proposal from Busoni
I knew that was his object. 1t would
be enough to accept him-for how
could she do otherwise when she
had disposed of the other sutton.
Gwendoline seemed to understand
me perfectly when l told her my de-
cision. She laughed a queer little
whimsical laugh when 1 told her that
l would see Busoni and make he1
apologies, and then she went off to
bed. She said she might not go &c
sleep, but she would lie with her bed
near the window where she could hear
the ocean. And I went down to Blu
soni.
And then Busoni told me. Can you
ina CINE what? Busoui the genius. the
recluse-Busoni whom every woman
at the beach would have adored-Bu-
soni there and then, in the little pri-
vate reception room of our hotel, ac-
tually went down on his knees and
proposed to nle--poor little middle
aged, blue eyed me.
Gwendoline did accept Tom Low
Their and 1 suppose in her way she Is
happy But 1 sometimes WONDERFUL
no, How absurd, 1t is only because
love him so myself that / fancied
| every other woman at the beach
made an idol of Busoni.-( Copyright
1915, by the Mcclure Newspaper Syn
dicate-)