Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-10-06

bhe could not nave fold Why, except
that she had been overcome by Il mis-
erably forlorn feeling. All the mental
props she relied upon were knocked
out from under her. Somehow those
few scrawled words had flung swiftly
before. like picture on n screen, a
vision of her baby toddling uncertain
ly across tho porch Of the white Dunga-
Of that.
When the elm before her window
broke into leaf and tho sodden winter
skies were transformed into n warm
spring vista of blue Stella was singing
special engagement in a local vaude-
Vile house that boosted a "big time"
bill. She had stepped up. Tho silvery
richness Of her voice had carried her
name already beyond local boundaries,
rs the singing master under whom she
studied prophesicd 1t would. In proof
thereof sho received during April n
feminine committee Of two from Van
couver bearing an offer Of $500 for her
appearance IN series Of three con-
certs under the auspices Of tho Wom-
ans Musical club, to be given In the
ballroom Of Vancouver's new million
dollar hostclry, tho Granada. The date
was mid-July. She took the offer un-
der adviscment, promising q decision
III ten days.
The money tempted her. That was
her greatest need now, not for her
daily bread. but for an accumulated
fund that would enable her to reach
New York and ultimately Europe, IL
that seemed the most direct route to
her goal She had no doubts about
reaching 1t now. Confidence came to
abide with her. She throve on work.
And with increasing salary her fund
grew. Coming from any other source,
she would have accepted this further
augmentation Of 1t without hesitation.
since for 4 comparative beginner 1t
was liberal offer.
But Vancouver was Fyr.'s hun,.
town. 1t had been hers. Many pc. pl,
knew her. The local papers would fca.
ture her. She did not know how Fyfe
would take 1t. She did not even know
IL there had been any open talk Of
their separation. Money, she felt, was
d small thing beside opening old sores.
For herself, she was tolerably indiffer-
ent to Vancouvcrs social estimate of
her or her acts. Nevertheless so long
as she bore Fyfc's name she did not
feel free to make herself a public flg-
ure there without his sanction. So
she wrote to him In some detail con-
corning the offer ind asked point blank
If 1t mattcred to him.
His answer came with uncanny
promptncss, as IL every mail conncc-
tlQn had been made on the minute. lie
wrote:
II 1t Is to your advantage to sing here
by oil means accept Why should 1t mat
tor to met would even DO glad to come
and hear you sing IL I could do so without
stirring up vain longngs and useless re-
grets. AS for tho other considerations you
mention they are OF no weight at oil.
mover wanted to keep you in q glass case.
Even IL oil were we'll between us wouldn't
have any feeling about your singing In
command public favor with your voice.
It's q wonderful voice. too big ana fine a
thing to ROMAN obscure. JACK.
Stella sat thoughtfully gazing at the
letter for n long time.
II wonder?" she said aloud, and the
sound Of her own voice galvanized her
into action. She put on coat and
went out into the mellow spring sun
shine and walked till the aimless stray
ing Of her feet carried her to n little
park that overlooked the far reach Of
the sound and gave westward on the
snowy Olympics, thrusting hoary and
nloof to perfect sky, like their broth
er peaks that hinged Roaring lake. And
all the time her mind kept turning OH
q question whose asking was rooted
neither In fact nor necessity, an inquiry
born of Il sentiment she had never eX-
pected to feel.
Should she 90 back to Jack Fyfe?
She shook her head impaticntly when
she faced that squarcly. Why Tread
the same bitter road again? But she
put that self interested phase of 1t aside
and asked herself candidly IL she could