The Washington herald., 1916-07-02

singing teacher The younger was a
strikingly handsome man, scarcely thirty
years old and with a graceful, self-as-
sured manner which Jared on Price.
Laura welcomed the newcomers cordi-
ally. Professor Sargent was warmly
sympathetic in his greeting of the inva-
lid Laura introduced the stranger TO
Tom as Mr.. Paul Legrand." Her hus-
band found difficulty in making himself
barely civil to the composer. He hated
Legrand at sight. He did not know why.
II was one of those sudden antipathies
so hard to explain and so much harder
to overcome.
Professor Sargent came at once to the
object of the visit.
Mrs Price" he began, this is prob
ably no sort of time to come here talk
ing business. But Legrand badgered me
until I consented to. His tour starts in
a week. He still declares that no soprano
but yourself can do Justice to those songs
of his. And he seems to think l have
enough influence over you to make you
change your mind. He also authorizes
me to add twenty-five per cent to the
terms he offered you, before, and to
promise you, as bonus, percentage on
the receipts"
Pm afraid it's no use. professor" said
regret that did not escape Tom. MY
husband does not
mfr. Price," broke In Legrand, impul-
sively, perhaps you don't realize what
this means to your wife. AS a mere busi-
ness man, you may not know that l am
just now one of the most popular music
composers in America. The concert tour
Is to exploit my songs; sung as ! in
tended them to be sung. I, myself, shall
the success of the tour. / am offering
your wife an opportunity for which many
lyric sopranos OF established reputation
would be humbly grateful. I am confer
ring a high honor on your wife by ask
ing"
THE highest honor a man can confer
on another mans wife" interposed Tom,
rs to let her alone. At least. that is
the way regard such things. I may be
hopelessly old-fashioned. But"
You are" Legrand assured him. quite
untouched by the snub, "and, let me tell
you, II she sings in these concerts Of
mine and IL she scores a success in them,
her fortune Is made. She will be be-
sieged by offers from managers. She"
That is true, Mr.. Price" said Pro-
fessor Sargent, 'it Is stated rather less
modestly than you may care to hear It,
But it is entirely true. Mrs. Price viii
not only receive far higher terms for
the tour than ever have known an un-
tried singer to get. but she will also
have chance to make a name for her
self. A name that she can coin into
money. With a voice like hers"
She has already made a name for
herself, sir" retorted Tom, "she made
1t at the altar The name of Price Not
an exalted name. perhaps. But I believe
and hope she Is quite content with IT,
She needs no other"
You understand me-" answered Sar-
gent, II meant to say"
But Legrand cut him short, by inter
rupting:
Look here, Mr.. Price. let's speak
plainly. I've made inquiries about you
I learn that you're fat broke that you We
got nothing laid by-in short that you're
up against it. and with no hope of going
out to make a living for some months
to come. /"
That is my affair." snapped Tom
1T isn't" contradicted Legrand, "lt's
your wife's. It's she who suffers by It.
long shot worse than you. All this
SNUG oldfashioned talk about a wife's
place being in the home may be correct
enough, as long as her husband has
fairly comfortable home to give her But
you can't give her anything. Sargent
says she has even had to sell her plano
to keep you from starving. II you were
musician you'd understand what that
means to her. It's like giving up her
right hand. You can't give her anything
She'll starve to death with you. Yet you
refuse her a chance to make a living and
4 reputation"
You are mistaken" said Tom. coIdIy,
I am giving her a chance to keep her
reputation. AS for my not being able to
provide for her, that Is no concern Of
yours"
Tom" protested Laura. troubled at
her husbands rudeness to their guest
Prices eye met hers. He saw, in her
face, the sharp disappointment involved
by his refusal He recalled all she had
done for him-all she had suffered and
sacrificed on his account-all that this
chance" meant to her.
How long is the tour?' he asked, hesi-
tatingly.
Ten weeks replied Legrand. with
sudden eagerness. I'VE open next Mon
day night in Galveston. We close in New
York just ten weeks later"
Tom" cried Laura, joyous incredulity
bringing flush to her checks and a new
light to her eyes as she read Prices ex-
preston. Tom! Do you mean you are
really going to let me go7'
Tom nodded, in silent wretchedness
Good for you, old mani" applauded
Sargent
Il congratulate you on coming at last
to your senses, Mr.. Price," added the de-
lighted Legrand. You will never be
sorry for this. I thank you with all my
heart"
Il don't want your thanks" growled
Tom, unGraciously. I'm doing this on
her account. Not on yours. l owe it to
her. And I pay my debts
Three days later Laura Frice set forth
from home to join the Lesrard Concert
company at Galveston.
Tom could hobble painfully around the
fiat by this time. The funds from the
pianos sale would provide for him, for
the present, and for the wages of an
elderly woman who had been hired to
keep house for him IN his wife's absence
Before the ready money should be
gone the family exchequer would be re-
enforced by such sums as Laura could
forward to him from her salary.
Laura was Jubiant Her life-dream
had at last come true. The voice Tom
loved-the voice her friends and teacher
praised-was to be heard by the music
world at large. She would be able to
take her place among the recognized
singers of the day.
If she should make good-and there
was no doubt of this, in her heart-her
foot would be firmly placed upon the
ladder of fame; the ladder on whose
lofter rungs stood Melba and Tetraz-
zini and the rest OF the immortals. Her