The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-10
HIS FORESIGHT
BY ERNEsTINE COBB.


being settled in a brand-new three /.
room apartment. The wicker furni-
ture. cretonne hangings. woven cot
ton rugs. and fragile teacups were the
things Anne had not found in her va |
ried experience in boarding houses,
though they were the things for which
her soul and body. too. had yearned.
She turned her eyes lovingly from
one object to another all about the
cheerful living room. The cup of tea
she had just finished had banished
the fatigue of her days work at school.
Suddenly her serenity gave way to
q puzzled expression. She bent her
head listening to a song that seemed
to come from the adjoining apartment
and seemed to contain something
about somebody of the name Of Anne.
AS the song was repeated at irregular
! intervals, Anne made out the following
words:
How old is Anne? Don't ask me, man;
But, be she five or fifty,
I'm sure with me you will agree
| That Anne is rather nifty"
''Of all the nerve!'' thought Anne,
as she first caught the words. Then
she laughed bit sheepishly as she
I reflected that the singer did not know
, of her existence, much less of her
name.
/ She seated herself at the piano,
which was her chief luxury and COM
panion. Just as she was ready to lay
her hands upon the keys to play the
old-time melodies for which her pres
ent mood called, once more there came
to her that insistent singers unframed
baritone mumbling the doggerel about
Anne.
AS she listened to the now familiar
air, she began unconsciously to play
soft accompaniment to it. Not un-
til an abrupt silence followed the clos
ing words of the stanza did she fully
realize what she had done.
She wondered whether the young
man were listening, too. Then she
wondered why she thought of him as
young man, but finally decided that
neither his age nor his identity were
OF interest to her, she tossed her
head indifferently and began to inn
provise music suited to her mood. Con-
sternation overcame her a moment
later when she found herself playing
that chugging accompaniment in spir-
tied way, and realizing that the singer
had boldly taken up the words and
J was singing gayly 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.
Mrs. Mason had telephoned Anne the
: night before to look her prettiest as
the guests would include a charming
bachelor architect and q rising young
lawyer. 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 charmeuse
/ and the other a fluffy black net. She
decided to wear the pale green gown.
An hour afterward she was at the
door of the Masons.
} You're a dream, Anne" whispered
; her cousin, as the long black coat was
/. removed. IF you don't set the lawyer
or the architect to dreaming of you,
} I'm no prophet"
4 In MAapa Aha
i to be fat, fiorid and forty. Edgar
: Worth, the lawyer, was slender and
: strong, possibly thirty, but with the
: twinkle of q boy 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 on with light conversation and
laughter. but presently Anne and Ed
) gar found themselves talking about
J music.
In what kind of music do you find
! most enjoyment" asked Anne.
, All depends ON my mood" said Ed
: gar. AN hour or two ago I'd have
: chosen a 'HumoresQue' lightly played
on a piano, but now l could tolerate a
{ whole symphony orchestra in some
I thing more soulful"
Annes eyes were full of surprised
J inquiry at his mention of the "Hu-
! moresque." but just at that moment
: the architect spoke to her.
, Mrs. Mason tells me you are domi.
ciled at the new Selikirk studios, my
pet architectural achievement of the
year." was his half comment, half ques.
, ton.
: Yes" answered Anne and Edgar in
} the same breath. Then they looked at
} each other in wide-eyed bewilderment,
! which slowly gave way to understand
: ing.
} So you are my musical neighbour
| he almost gasped. Il offer my pro
: found apologies for my execrable sing
. ing, which was pure rapture poorly ex
} | pressed over my escape from boarding
} house life to a place l was able to
J make bit homelike'
/ Since you didn't know my name
/ was Anne, suppose | must forgive
! you." she replied blushing. Then the
architect once more claimed their at
tention.
AS recall the plan Of that build
ing" he ehuckled. 1T will be simple
I matter to cut a door between adjoin-
I ing apartments in case more space
should be required
; A few months later the alteration
! / was made.
! tCopyright. by the Mcclure Newspaper
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