South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-22
The Book of Youth
By A. Maria Crawford

/
Her voice was like q jeweled
thread running through a fabric OF
gold brocade. Marshall Payton had
gone 10 the drawing room concert
under protest. such affairs always
bored him terribly but at the first
note OF Anne Jourdon's song. he
had turned his head quickly toward
the young coloratura soprano. in
terested at once. She was very young
and very pretty. Under her mass
Of dark hair. her rowing blue black
eyes met his own. rested there and
challenged him He felt the fire
Of her in his veins There seemed
no longer a room filled with spec
tatOrs. He saw only the 1.-the. viii
lowly figure OF girl whose voice
was waking echoes in his lonely
heart.
Why don't you applaud. Mar
shail?" asked Mrs. Payton nearby.
You VIII surely admit that,the girl
has wonderful power"
With difficulty ne turned his face
ne agreed quietly she has-power"
Isn't he iacorrigibIe 20 Mrs. Pay
ton demanded Of another guest Il
have never seen such an Indifferent
person. Why. Anne Jourdon thrills
me! To listen 20 her voice. singing.
IS like hearing the first burst Of
melody in some blossOming tree, an
nouncing the advent of spring II
breathes the spirit of youth, Of new
life"
II didn't know that you were so
poetical." said Marshall a little
amazed. Your comparison Is -ex-
cellent. Her voice has the freshness
and vfgor OF youth. as you say"
Shall we go over and meet herr"
asked Mrs Payton rising.
Il think I'll take a turn on the
gallery while I smoke, II you don't
mind. You go with Mrs. Hamilton
TO greet the celebrity" He was a
bit shaken by new emotions No
glance OF a woman, however beau
tiful, had ever before stirred his
pulse 20 a quickened beat. No wom-
ans voice had ever before swept
his heart strings into the lifting mel
ody OF love song. Alone. pacing
the wide gallery under friendly
stars. ne would pull himself to-
gether and forget the madness of
"a moment. He was too old TO
listen to the enchanting music Of
youth that somehow, in the right
season. had passed him by. He
would put himself out OF the way
Of .Nu - he Fn1 n i'm
would be madness indeed.
A few steps led from the gallery
into a sloping garden. heavy with
the fragrance of many flowers. At
the end OF a path, he stopped, turn
cd and stood there. as II ne were
waiting for someone TO join him.
And presently a shadowy figure
crossed the gallery and came
straight down the gravelled walk
toward him
He tossed away his cigar and held
out both hands
"Of course you saw how deeply
impressed ! was with your singing
and-with you" he added almost
the pipes OF Pan and followed
with my heart"
81 am glad that you liked my
music" she answered quietly a soft
singing quality evident in her tones.
Shall we sit here on this benclIi II
Is a lovely place. the river there.
the wooded slopes opposite and this
terracsd garden silvered in the
MOONLIGHT"
A light scarf blew airly from her
shoulders and he bent quickly 10
help her adjust 1t. Their hands met
for a moment, a moment tingling
with rapture for him. An hour be-
fore. he would have laughed at the
absurdity OF a man Of the world in
terested only in business and in the
reluctantly. 1T was as II I heard
Rmassing OF fortune. falling In love
AZ first sight. He had no right, of
course. 20 touch her hand, resting
there like a petaled flower against
her dark gown but some new born