The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-05-06
ssssssesss2sSsss sssesasss.ssas9ees:
THEN AND NOW
BY INES MACDONALD.

cover the air shaded with that indef.
mite perGume-and some article OF
feminine apparel carelessly flung on
his table. And always, from the slim
vase on his nsntel, there dropped a
fresh rose.
He, Eduard Laurens, was buried up
to his eyes in mystery--a bewilder-
| ing, opalescent, yiolet-scented mystery
that was sprinkled with rose leaves
and romance. He laughed softly as
he touched the knob of his door and
reached for his keys, when suddenly
the knob turned in his hand, the door
was drawn slowly open and he stood
| face to face with a strange young
| woman.
For a moment he thought he had
made mistake.
I'm sorry" he said. "I thought this
was Lauren's apartment
1T is," she smiled slightly, gather
ing herself in hand. 81 am Mrs. Lau-
rvas."
Il didn't know there was a Mrs.
Laurens, but I'VE been out of town for
some time. My name's--Barton," lied
Laurens.
In an hour he returned and she was
gone, but pinned to the curtain thet
shut off his music room was note:
Il came once too often. Yotr
friend, Mr.. Barton, called and caught
me as / was leaving. beg of you to
forgive me If any complications should
arise from the awful fib told him. 1t
was the wonderful melodies Of your
new opera that first drew me down
from the apartment above. l must
caution you to have the latch fixed on
the window on the fire escpe. Under
The circumstances I'm leaving the
apartment upstairs tonight. This, Of
course, is good-by-and I'm sorry"
The next morning he was somewhat
surprised to open his uptown studio
door to an elderly man whom he re-
membered to have met at some time
or other, but could not place.
81 hate to presume" said the old
gentleman, "and hate to ask favors,
Fll-. Laurens, but I've Il niece who has
studied abroad for three years. She
thinks she can sing. do not know,
perhaps she can. She has heard of
Eonr new opera, and wants to be given
q chance at Il small singing part"
Why" said Laurens, cordially, I'D
be very glad to give her voice a try
ogt. Bring her up. tomorrow at three,
! it Is convenient"
And 50 the next day ut three they
came, and Laurens was astOunded, for
it was none other than the girl who
claimed to be Mrs. Laurens.
Il was sure you could sing" he In
terrupted. us there anything in par
ocular you would like to try?"
"The opening song of - of -
Rinne,'" she said, hestatingly.
"IIow did you know about that?" he
demanded. "Not more than three Of
my best friends have heard it as yet"
She dropped down on the bench be-
side him. IL stole the score from
your apartment. That isl copied as
much of it as l could-and I've been
worzing--working Ike mad on it. You
were $3.50 nice toto pretend that
you were not you, the other night. 1t
was very considerate."
In an instant she felt the strong
grasp of sensitive hands on her own,
and she looked into his fine eyes and
marveled.
But you--you mustn't misundef-
stand" she went on. 1.-THE roses
and things were tribute to your gen.
ius, to the soul of your music, not
token to you as man. Please un-
derStand. that" she finished gently.
"Of course" he said in an absent
detached way of his. And he turned !
to the piano and burst forth into the
brilliant prelude Of his opera. Then he
swung abruptly into the melodies Of !
the first number-and she sang.
He controlled his voice with an eff
fort. "Katz must hear you tomor-
row." he said. He'll be crazy. Now
try this !" And he broke into the
"Passion Song" of the third act.
The flexlbility of her voice was mar
velous. 1t was so much part of her
that uncOnsclously she acted as she
sang. She couldnN help it. AS she
began the second song, stocky. griz-
gled little man stood just within tAe
door listening intently while she pour
ed out the pent-up love of all the ages.
''What do you think of her, KatzT
he chuckled.
'rYou ask vat l tink of such voice!
Laurens, 60 mad to find us a 'Riane'
unit she is here"
Six months later Laurens stood in
the stars dressing room face to face
with Riane.
"Well," he said softly, "are you sat
Isfied?"
mol" she said, in spite of the flush
Of victory on her cheeks. Il find that
besides success is necessary
to my happiness"
"You are a little carried away" he
said. soothingly. "You are not quite
yourself with all the excitement of sue
cess. Tomorrow, perhaps"
"No, nowl" she said tensely, her
hands on his breast. "You are more
necessary to my happiness than ever
believed any man ever could be-"
"Of course" lie smiled, 1--WE loved
you always, but you forget" he re-
minded her, "once you said that the
y