Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-03-09
TheVictorious
Defeat
e.
By KATHERINE HOWE
Copyright, 1917, by w. G. Chapman

1--WE got to play ragtime in a cheap
cabaret-or starve."
Philip Hutchins looked at the girl
before him with an odd mixture of
humor and despair.
ooh, Phil! That's awful! It's heart
breaking-disgracef
"Not as disgraceful as borrowing
money till people get on the other side .
of the street; or--or being carted off
= to the mOrgue." He tried to speak
lightly, not wanting her to know how
much it cost him. In Germany he had
been the great masters best pupil. At
his first concert he had made the piano
speak the poetry of Chopin and List
till the critics had cried Bravo" But
the war had come, and also the end of
his income, and he had returned to
New York to try to make living with
his art, with this result.
But you, little girl! If 1 could only
make them give you your chance. 1t
wouldn't be long before Ruth Lambert,
the violinist, would be blazoned in big
letters On the billboards."
I'm afraid that'n never come" The
tears gathered in her eyes, and her
voice was so near the breaking point,
she could not trust herself to go on.
Don't say never" he cried, with
an attempt at being courageous. II
tell you, Ruth, I've heard great artists
in Berlin, and yOu-you have it in
you"
"But no one will pay me for playing.
l can play before these clubs, and at
afternoon teas till the end of time, and
it never occurs to them have to pay
room rent and have at least two meals
a day. l don't know how to get rich
people interested in me-somehow |
can't do it, and l have haunted the bu-
reaus and agencies till the very
thought of one makes me sick. It's
just about as pleasant prospect to
think of going home-a failure-as-
as what you said"
But you're not failure!" he as
serted. 81 know fine playing when 1
hear it! You are bound to make your
mark! Go home for little while. Call
1t needed rest, short vacation, and
maybe before long 1 shall be making
enough for both of us. Then you
shall have your concert, and we shall
be together all the time"
For answer she put her hand in his
and he drew her to him. 1t had been
understood now for several months
that "some day" they should be sal
ways together" 1t began with their
first meeting at Burleson's studio re-
ception, when her accompanist failed
to appear, and he offered to be a SUBJ
stitute. How wonderfully he had
played, following, helping her till the
violin and piano seemed to talk to-
gether and understand each other.
"Oh, if you could only get the ear Of
Merriden" he exclaimed. "He could
make yOu!"
"You might as we'll try to get the ear
Of the car of all the Russias. I'm not
going to attempt it again. Yesterday
when l called, after making an ap-
pointment, the secretary said Mr.. Mer-
riden could see no one, as he was not
well and was going away for rest.
So what's the use?"
"You ought to have called yourself
Mile. LAMBERT, or something foreign"
laughed the young man.
THAT'S itw she exclaimed, indig-
nantly. eff, instead of Hutchins, you
had posed as the great Hutchinoff, or
any sort of Russian, with long hair,
you would have been having them at
your feet by now. Oh, it makes me
furious to think that Americans will
let their own artists starve while they
just shower flattery and money on any
thing with foreign name"
at won't always be So" he said.
Maybe not; but I've got to give 1t
up and go home. Phil, don't believe
you quite understand all that means
You see, my mother made sacrifices
for me to come to New York to study
My father was always against it. He
made 1t pretty hard for both of us
Now mother hasn't any more money to
send-and I wouldn't want her to-if
she had. l meant to be earning some.
thing by now. l didn't want to go back
till l had. You see, father Is bent on
my marrying man-an old friend OF
his who has barrels of money. He was
terribly angry because refused. He
said l would come to my senses yet
and come back. This man writes me
every little while saying he is wait
ing. 1t doesn't seem to make any diff
ference that / have refused him, anG
send back the letters unopened"
'Well," smiled Hutchins, II like his
grit; but" and his face grew serious
''you wouldn't"
"Never, Phil Never" she broke in
|sBut you see now"
"Oh, dearie! You mustn't col Yor
mustn'tW
It was her turn now to look thu
problem fairly In the face.
II must. l can see there is no othel
way" she said firmly. "But I viii
come back when you send for me-"
"Perhaps they will ask you to pla!
tagtime in Glendale" he said. grimly