The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1917-06-29

Dalzeli Is by no means q crank or
faddist, but he thinks he knows music
and has tried to instill his ideals in
that line in others. He has really
written some fine songs. In all OF
them, however, the publisher who
bought them took the liberty Of chang
ing some of the construction. That
was enough for Dalzell."
"What did he dor
"Simply quit providing any more.
He said If his souls productions were
to be mutilated, he would lock them
up, or burn them up, or anything else
to keep them from IN unappreclatiye
public"
TOO bad, for music was his life"
"And his fate. l think he now deems
1t his curse, for 1t led to an %acquaint-
ance with La Tempeste, the French
singer. She led him on until he really
fancied she loved him. She suddenly
married a handsome scene shifter and
cruelty laughed at him."
"And then"
you've heard, haven't you-he went
away"
"Where?"
"That is his secret. Rob Decker,
who was his closest friend, tells me
that Dalzell has decided to entirely
isolate himself from all the rest of
humanity"
Thus a cursory discussion Of the
Punishment from the social armament
Of Vance Dalzell which had cherished
culture, genius and bohemian procuv-
tiles for many a year. Dalzell had
been a true deyotee at the shrine of
fame. He was really a sklllful and
original musician, some of his compost
tons showed traces of an unusual tai
ent. The critics told him he was ahead
Of his time, however. There was beau
ty, rare and clear, in what he wrote,
but the great public had not yet been
educated up to the supreme art which
Influenced his efforts.
There was a bewitching little beauty
to whom Dalzell had gone whenever he
had a set of verses or a musical score
to copy. Her name was Amarylis-
Amarylis Tresham. She took In
casual copying at the home Of her
aunt, who was as poor as herself and
who had an unreliable income from an
old tenement house she owned. If 1t
had not been for La Tempeste, who
for a time Dalzell looked upon as the
bright and particular star Of his fate,
he would certainly long since have
noted that a pearl Of great price lay
at his beck and call, for, secretly,
Amarylis fairly worshipped him. To
her simple, artless soul he was the
poet and maestro supreme. His senses
revelled in music, and his productions
inspired her to believe that the world
would yet award him the fullest need
Of praise and appreciation. There was
something more than enthusiastic In
terest in her pure, earnest nature
there was love, a love that would
have glOrlhed his life had he but
fathOmed the depths of that loyal, de-
voted little w~Orshipper at the altar Of
his genius.
Poor child Her heart was quite
broken that last evening when he
called upon her and her aunt. He was
wont to open up his real nature to
these humble folk. There was more
than bitterness In his mOod-there was
disappointment, pessimlsm, a species
"t DESPAIR. Society was a hollow
snam. the art and poetry or the nay
a wretched tumble of fads and fancles.
Yes, he was going away. A hermit
life in the lonely Minnesota woods
presented the longed-for haven of rest
and %obseurlty, and
by the way, Miss Tresham, l am
going to send you over my writing
cabinet. And all there Is in it." he
added drearily. "You can burn up that
the scraps. The cabinet Of itself Is
rather pretty and useful. l wish to
store nothing and you have been SO
friendly and helpful to me, / would
feel right to have you accept It."
"You-you near your music, your
compositionsr breathed AmarylIs
aghast.
"Alll ALL" declared Dalzell almost
tragically. II wish nothing to remint
me of the past" and swung ava,
ruthlessly, and with a sorrowful, chok
Ing wall Amarylis felt that the worl,
was fading from her.
Then came a strange period in tn,
young girls life. She could scarcell
analyze the constant alienation q
pain and pleasure, disappointment an,
longing, hope and despair. She dI,
not hear from Dalzell, and his forme
friends casually dismissed him iron
their minds as a soured mlsanthrop
turned hermit and forgot him.
But Amarylis did not forget hin
She set herself at work to find q mean
of keeping track Of him. Besides thu
she began to utilize the composition
which had been the children Of hi
soul and so cruelty abandoned. MusI
had been her hearts desire, but wor
had been her lot. There came
change, unexpected and ~entrancin,
Amarylls one day received word tn,
IL. ~