The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-04

THE SINGING TEACHER
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


ike running away WHell SHo ioSNH 49,
grown-up school. How different from |
the little girls and boys OF daylight!
To her surprise, quite NUMBER OF
the men were foreigners who knew
very little of the English language.
But their wholesome respect for her
put metal into her purpose and nght-
ing blood into her veins.
There was one man in the room VINO
puzzled Viola He went by the name
of Joe Brown. One thing she OWNED
instantly-he was gentleman; IN
fact, he had the manners of an arls-
tocrat. But the thing that drew her
to him from the first was his wonder
full voice. For Viola insisted upon hav-
ing singing. For fifteen minutes every
evening the halls of the old building
reverberated with the echoes of mas
culine voices.
And Joe Brown led them all. His
voice was clear and deep and full
of passionate appeal that gripped the
heart of the little teacher.
One evening she called him to her.
Joe, | know you are not an Ameri-
can. Won't you sing song for US
in your own language? You have
wonderful voice."
Joe flushed happily and bowed low.
with the most pleasure, Miss North
cott." He spoke slowly, picking his
words with care, but he seldom made
a grammatical error and was fast
overcoming his foreign accent. i
am German"
Joe Brown sang and it was so won
derful-the mellowness and richness
of his voice, the feeling with which
he sang, and as Violas quick ear
noted, the wonderful training he
showed-that for some time after he
had finished no one stirred.
Behind the tears in his pretty
teachers eyes was look of interest
that had never been there before.
The school did famously. Viola
worked hard with her class and daily
| the lessons became less irksome and
more interesting. Then there was an
! innovation to which the pupils looked
| forward eagerly, for every evening
Joe sang for them.
One night after the class was dis
missed, Viola opened the street door
| to go home. Suddenly gust of wind
! dashed fine sleet into her face and
the wind tried to lift her off her feet.
Then a man stepped out of the
shadow.
May l go home with you, Miss
Northcott? 1t is bad night"
Viola laid a hand gratefully upon
his proTered arm. Yes, indeed, Joe.
1t was good of you to wait
After that there was little chance
for them to talk. The storm increased
in violence, and, even with her es-
cort's help, it was all she could do
to keep her feet When at last they
reached her door she insisted upon
him going in. You must come in and
wait, Joe. No one can live in that
blizzard. I'm going to call mother to
hear you sing. You don't mind, dc
you? will play your accompani
ments."
So Joe stayed and sang so wonder
fully that both Viola and her mother
were thrilled
II Then Viola told him of her own
ambition-how she had stopped hel
musical education for lack of money
to go further, and her determination
to work day and night until she had
; enough money to have lessons Of the
wonderful Max Won Deerhof.
Max Won Deerhof!" he cried.
Yes. Do you know him."
Very, very well, Miss Northcott.
was thinking how happy he would be
to have you for a pupil
81 wonder" he went on, turning tC
her mother, IF | may give Miss
Northcott some lessons on Saturday
if she can spare me little time.
teach music myself"
So Viola's Saturday lessons began
,, and she soon discovered that hel
teacher was a marvel. Under his guild
ance her voice expanded and became
exquisitely beautiful The cold week!
flew and April came The days o
night school were numbered.
The last night it was raining,
> drenching April shower. When Viol;
!, appeared in the doorway Joe wa
= waiting to take her home.
a Miss Northcott," he began almos
p Immediately when he had suited hi
+ step to hers, you aren't my teache
, any longer, but with your consent II
!. remain yours. It's time, too, that l wa
l. telling you my right name. l am Ma
O Won Deerhof, or do you know it a
ready?"
Viola was silent, too amazed fo
speech.
He went on. 81 know what you ar
l. thinking, wondering rather. Well,
< will tell you. l could not learn En-.
l. fish well. l had teachers by tn
y dozen. No good! Then someone said
h Do like the others. Go to a goo
night school. They will make yo
,e learnt So made my name into Jc
a Brown, and Joe Brown is so gratef
j. to his teacher he is going to keep {
Y giving her lessons forever if he may
is I hardly know what to say, NJ
er Won Deerhof." faltered Viola "YC
n have done something for me l ca
n never repay"
lie Maybe some day you'll find tn
10 you can" he said softly. Il love yo
to Viola. | have always loved you. Al
perhaps you may find some time tn
US you could care little for me-"