Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-15
"RONEY LOVE"
(Copyrignt. llil. hy tho M1Cluro NeWlla
nnr syndlnalel
ey eILoA ACCORD.

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Leone banged into the chorus With
great gusto. 10 wns her business to
play the latest mgtime hits 50 that
everyone would want them, aud she
meant TO earn her salary. The song
ended with great blare Of sound.
and Leone sl.i II from the rack and
set another Ia its place.
The suave voice of Mr.. Beckley in
tervercl "AlIss Parker here Is the
repre- atatlyc u Pierce q Ware. VIII
you plcuse give him "a few moments Of
your timer"
Leone willingly assontcd, and turned
TO the pleasant-faced young represent
alive OF the wcll-known popular song
publishers. She knew him quite well.
lie came every week In the same way,
to get orders for songs and he had
called several times. and taken her to
the movies several times more. To-
gether they checked over the list OF
new songs. At last the order was made
out. and Leone returned TO the piano
bench. She thought Mr.. Wilding
looked as II he had wanted to say
something very particularly, and then
changed his mind. She looked after
his retiring figure dreamlly, as she
played mechanically the opening bars
of "IIoney Love-" What nice young
man hc seemed to be. contented TO
deal with ragtime all his life. But her
love was classical music She put aside
"Honey Love" and began 20 the Roses
In the Moonlight" II was part Of her
ethics to let no one know that she
loathcd ragtime and worshlped grand
opera. Because the death Of her pa
rents, leaving her pennIless, had forced
her 10 take the first position she could
ind. which happened TO be playing
ragtime In Beckley's department store.
there was no reason for her to COM
PLAIN about IL.
n 30 that afternoon Leone slipped
on the piano bench and stretched out
her tired arms. In tho locker room
she got out her new jacket and new
winter hat and put them on before the
cracked mirror In the dressing room.
The car was slow and crowded. as
usual. but Leone reached the boarding
house at last and ran upstairs. She
flung open til. door Of her room, ran
10 the mantel and reached down a
china doll In a gorgeous tcd satin
dress. The head came OF under the
pressure Of her eager fingers. inside
was revealed convenient hollow, from
which she shook out little heap OF
nickels and dimes She counted them
with fingers trembling with anxiety
One dollar and bali Yes, there was
enough.
Leone ate supper in a state OF pal
pitant expectancy. Afterward she wen'
downtown again with the Morgan sis
iers who worked In a large store.
She was going to grand operate
-Carmen"-and she had a seat In the
frst row of the balcony. The money
she had saved nickel by nickel from
her lunches and carfarcs.
A week later Leone was hurrying
home from work In wild state of
anticipation. Mr.. wIldlng had been
there that day, and she had treated
him with iciest coldness. The pros
pect Of Carmen" made him appear
frightfuIly cheap and common as be
tried to argue her into ordering more
copies OF Its Only Light When You're
IN Sight" But he had slipped COM
pletely out OF her mind now. She could
hardly Cnlsh her supper. Upstairs on
the bed lay her best georgstte waist
freshly pressed for the occasion.
At last Leone was dressed and had
started downtown. She felt almost
TOO excited to walk TO the car with
propriety. The usher showed her tC
her seat--Quite the best In the house
she felt sure.
People poured In rapidly below her
men In evening dress and women II
rich furs and Jewels. But Leone drew
no comparisons Her eyes scarcely
left the purple velvet curtains. At las
the overture began, and with nttl'
sign Of happiness Leone gave herself
up TO complete bliss. AT tho end o
the first act she became aware tina
some one had taken the seat next Il
her. Turning, sha looked into the sur
prised eyes OF Roy wilding. They ha'
not recovered from their mutua
establishment when the curtain wen
up for the second act. Leone fel
amazed and uncomfortable. Her pleas
ure was dampened, somehow.
When the opera was over Leone ros
slowly. with a quick breath Of wonde
Roy wildings face wore very strang
look.
r-"Do you really like operai' he d
mandsd
'Lfkei adore II I" answered Leon
resolved TO be truthful for once. II
your
OF course But l never dream'
you Leone, 1--we wanted to al
you something for long time but
thought you were crazy about ragtim
and / hate II so. / was afraid"
"And / thought you were crazy abo'