Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-27

he sing halt1ngly hall way through anu
sometimes pause in the middle OF q
measure, and sometimes hurry 1t to q
conclusion? He must be engaged In
some occupation which absorbed his
mind to the point of making him I'M
conscious of the song on his lips. Then
Anne Redeemed at finding herself curl
GUS about her neighbors, to whom she
had resolved to remain entirely fndif-
ferent, whatever their status.
She stepped into the kitchenette,
placed her teacup In the sink, and put
the remaining waters into their tin
box. Returning to the living room,
she seated herself at the piano, which
was her chief luxury and companion.
Just as she was ready to lay her
hands upon the keys to play the old
time melodies for which her present
mood called, once more there came to
her that insistent singers unframed
baritone mumbling the doggerel about
Anne.
AS she sat listening to the now fa-
niliar air, she began unconsciously to
play soft accompaniment to it. Not
until an abrupt silence followed tina
closing words of the stanza did she
fully realize what she had done. She
sat tensely listening for a sound from
the next apartment but none came.
She wondered whether the young
man were listening, too. Then she
wondered why she thought Of him as
a young man, but finally deciding that
neither his age nor his identity were
, of interest to her she tossed her head
indifferently and began to improvise
music suited to her mood. Consterna-
ton overcame her a moment later
when she found herself playing that
chugging accompaniment in spirit
| ed way, and realized that the singer
had bodily taken up the words and
was singing gaily to her accompani-
ment. She stopped short in the midst
of it and broke giddily into Dvorak
\ "HumoresQue"
| Anne was to be dinner guest that
evening of her Cousin Emily Mason,
famous as giver of delightful little
spreads at which interesting people
were brought together at perfectly
appointed and supplied. board. Mrs.
Mason had telephoned Anne the night
before to look her prettiest as the
guests would include charming bach
elor architect and a rising young law,
yer, while Anne would be the youngest
and prettiest girl present.
! Anne smiled as she remembered her
cousins bantering words, and she went
from the piano to the closet and took
out her only two evening gowns. One
was soft, pale green chameuse and
the other fluffy black net. She view
! ed each critically. She decided to
wear the pale green gown, but its gold
trimming lacked life, so she deity
added some touches of black velvet
at girdle and blouse front. ~....,
There! That gives chic!" she mus
ed. Nov for some color to suggest
spring time! I'll, just have to have
about three punches Of those butterfly
sweet peas, shaded from pale pink &C
deep rose color" -y e..
Five minutes later, she was on he1
way to the florists shop around the
corner, and an hour afterward she was
at the door of the Masons. -. -
You're dream, Anne whispered
her cousin, as the long black coat was
removed and the dainty sweet peas
were placed against the pale green
gown. "If you don't set the lawyer OF
the architect to dreaming of you, I'm
no prophet" ~>.'. 1..n-..
John Moore, the architect, proved tc
be fat, florid and forty. Edgar Worth
the lawyer, was slender and strong
possibly thirty, but with the twinkle OF
bow Of twenty in his brown eyes
Edgar Worth took Anne in to dinner
and John Moore was seated on her
other hand The dinner started of
with light conversation and laughter
but presently Anne. and Edgar found
themselves talking about music.
"In what kind of music do you find
most enjoyment?" asked Anne. -
"All depends on my mood said
Edgar. can hour or two ago, I'd have
chosen a 'Humoresque' lightly played
on a piano, but now could tolerate a
whole symphony orchestra in some.
thing more soulful.
Anne's eyes were full of surprised
inquiry at his mention Of the -"Hn
moresque," but just at that. moment
the architect spoke to her: ...-..
"Mrs. Mason tells me you are doml'
ciled at the new Selkirk studios, my
pet architectural achievement Of the
year" was his half comment, halt
question. ,-.- N.a'.- ~--'''s',
eyes" answered Anne and Edgar in
/ the same breath. Then they looked al
each other in wide-eved bewilderment,
which slowly gave way to understand
ing.
$50 you are my musical neighbour
he almost gasped. Il offer my pro
found apologies for my execrable sing.