Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-13
CONTINUED from Wednesday,

NS"''iiHeh from w CunCSlaN.)
Little sweetheart" he faltcrcd. hold
ing her very close to him. Promise
me something. Something that means
more TO me than could mako YOU
understand. even If wanted to.
Promise me-
why. darling" she answered in sur
prise at his iil-rcprcssed vehemencc,
I'll promise you anything III tho
world. You know that. What is it,"
Promise you'll be true to me while
you're away--and forever and ever"
She drew back from him, and looked
flush of indignation.
why Tom" she exclaimed, do you
know YOU arc insulting me2 It is an
insult tor any man to doubt his wife's
loyalty"
Forgive me-" he begged, but YOU
know how foolishly Jealous / am. and
how | shall be worrying. Make my
mind easier by PROMISING
She saw the pitcous appeal in his
eyes, and her heart softened AS
though speaking to a frightened child.
She made answer:
II promise. Tom. 1 promise. faith
fully. Quits absurd Of you to think
Tor moment that ! need such a
promise to keep me true to you"
L KNOW he said. humbIy. II know.
dear. But-you have made me very
happy. just the same, by giving me
your promise. For l know you never
break your word. I'll feel easier
now"
You're silly. silly boy. she child
ed, but, somehow. ] love you all the
more for it, And" she broke off,
when 1 get back, you'll be all we'll
and strong again. Isn't that a Won
derful thing to look forward TOT"
THE most wonderful thing TO look
forward to-" he said. kissing her. lis
you"
From the outset the concert tour
scored a genuine success And the
success piled up as the tour continued
and as its fame preceded 1t from city
to city.
The bulk of the honors went to the
hitherto unknown young lyric soprano
Laura Price. Her beauty and her per-
sonal charm. almost as much az her
marvellous voice. carried her straight
onward to complete and unmistaka bic
triumph.
Before the tour was half-cnded, she
was overwhelmed by offers from man
ayers and agents. Her name and fame
and fortune were made.
owing TO her personal success, the
tours receipts swelled beyond Lee
grand's most airy hopes Laura's per-
centage OF the profits assumed size
that dwarfed the memory of all the
money she and Tom had ever pos
sessed Her months salary alone
apart from percentages, was moro than
poor Tom Price had earned in q year.
Throughout she did not let victory
go to her brain or make her other
than the charminEly Girlish and simple
woman she had always been. Her
daily home letters TO Tom were full of
innocently vain accounts of her
triumphs, but they were also full Of
the almost maternal love she bore the
invalid, and of her longing TO be with
him once more.
One cloud alone-apart from an
sence from Tom-marred tho sunshine
OF the trip. From the outset Lesrana
had assumed toward her an air ~
half-protective tenderness. that was so
subtle sto render II difficult to pre-
vent and still more difficult to resent.
He was always at Lauras side. un-
der some preteNt or other, always
guarding her welfare and looking out
for her comfort. beyond that of the
other members OF the troup.
Legrand's manner toward her was
! wholly deferental, but 1t was proprl-
etory. too. Laura felt that the other
singers and the manager must certainly
draw erroneous conclusions from it,
Yet she could do or say nothing to
deter her admirer.
Legrand was shrewd student OF
womankind, and a postmaster In the
are OF lovemaking. lie was far too
clever to wreck his supposed chances
with Laura by openly declaring his
| feelings toward her SO early in The