The Washington herald., 1916-07-02
NINTH STORY

When Tom Price asked Luara Bel
den to marry him, he set forth to
her the following account OF his for
tune:
In two things" he said. 'I am a
millionaire-in love and hope As
far as actual cash goes. I've nearly
seven Kindred dollars. As for pros
pects-a fairly efficient young arcnI-
tect ought to be able to pick up liv-
ing. even in a small upstate town
like this. All ask is a chance. Ans
some day or other, that chance is
bound to come"
Perhaps more mercenary girl
than Laura would have hesitated a
long time before linking her life to a
man of such meager prosnects. But
Laura Belden was anything but mer-
cenary.
To her Tom Price was the hand
soonest. the cleverest, the most won
derfuI man in all the world. She
never for one moment doubted his
future success as an architect or at
any other pursuit to which he might
care to turn his genius
So they were married.
They set up light housekeeping in
a tiny house that Laura made very
pretty and homelike. And Tom spent
eight hours a day in his cheap little
office with its glaringly new sign)
waiting for the big orders that were
to make him rich and famous.
The orders, it is true. seemed in
no hurry to arrive. But Tom waited.
hopefully. As for Laura. she outdid
Tom himself in the art Of hoping.
II would not have surprised her at
all to learn. any day. that her won
derful husband had secured a con-
tract to design a cathedral; or at the
very least a pork kings summer pal
ace.
Meantime, she went on with the study
of music; which she had taken up long
before her marriage. She had a really
unusual lyric soprano voice. And Prof.
Sargent. her teacher, prophesied a great
career for her.
Tom was tremendously proud of his
pretty little wife5 singing. He never
tired of listening to it; even when she
spent half an hour at a time practicins
aninteresting scales and detached bits of
difficult phrasing.
But when Sargent spoke OF a career for
her. tho bridegroom would scowl and say
tersely:
II can support my wife, thanks, with
out sending her out to be ogled by an
audience OF strangers"
At last came Toms longed-for
'chance." \ small office building was
going up at the corner OF Temple and
Maple streets. And. among fifteen archi-
tests bids for the Job. Tom Prices was
chosen
He was radiant with delight. He re.
solved that that cheap fve-story edihce
should serve as a model OF beauty and
efficiency for the whole city.
Day and night he Iabored over the
task.
As the buildings unsightly framework
arose. foot by foot. he and Laura used to
saze upon it in silent rapture! as at a
fairy castle.
One morning as the Prices sat at the
breakfast table. Laura said, rather visit
fully:
You aren't the only member OF this
family who has a Chance Tom. Only,
you can take advantage Of yours. And
have to reject mine"
What do you mean?" asked Tom, look
ing up. curiously, from some notes he was
scribbing on the back of an envelope.
Yesterday, when I went to Prof. Sar-
gent for my lesson said Laura, "he
made me a splendid offer. He wants me
TO so on a concert tour"
Concert tour" echoed Tom. frowning.
Nonsense
7 was afraid you'd say So" she sighed
II told him you wouldn't allow me to. He
was ever so disappointed He said it
was one opportunity in a thousand. You
know Paul Legrand, the composer?"
NO" snapped Tom, "and don't want
TO. He has the name for making love to
every woman under fifty and over If
teen. I've no use for lady-killers."
'I mean" she corrected, you know his
work. You like his songs, too. Professor
Sargent has given me dozens of them to
learn. He says they fit my voice better
than any others and that sing them bet
ter than any other soprano"
you sing everything better than any
one else can, little girl" put in Tom.
"And-"
And yesterday" continued Laura,
Mr.. Legrand happened to be at the
Sargent studio when was taking my
lesson. Professor Sargent made me sing
several OF his songs. And Mr.. Legrand
went wild over the way I sang them"
The puppy" grunted Tom, "of
course, he'd"
Then he called Professor Sargent
aside" went on Laura, "and they whis-
pered together for a long time. Then
Professor Sargent came back to me and
said that Mr.. Legrand is planning to
finance a concert tour to push the sale
of his own songs and that he has been
looking everywhere for the right soprano
to sing them As soon as he heard me,
be decided no one can do justice to the
songs as I can. And he wants me to
make the tour. He's to play the accom-
paniaments himself. The tour starts in
two months. Oh, Tom" she finished, in
ehildlike appeal cant I go? I want
TO. so muchr'
Tom Price came around to his wire's
side by the table. She had risen. He
PUT his arms tenderly around her, as
he made answer:
''Sweetheart, I feel like brute, to
refuse you anything in the world. And
IL 1t were really for your happiness, j
wouldn't stand in your way for one mo-
ment. But II isn't dear. The truly happy
woman Is the woman with home and a
husband Of her own. Not the woman who
must knock around the country on stufry
trains and sleep in cheap hotels, picking
up a living as a singer or an actress
Can't you understand that? 1t would
Bpoil our sweet home-life. It would sepa-
rate us, for weeks at a time. It isn't as
though couldn't support you comfort
ably, Now that my chance has come,
well be well or-for people of our age.
And ! want you at home with me-"
"Just as you say. Tom" she agreed,
meekly.
Besides he added, in reluctant con-
fsssion. Tn ashamed to say I'm jealous.