The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-06
EVENING STORY
Then and Now.
BY INES MACDONALD
Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure NewspaI
Syndicate.}


once a scarf, twice handkerchief.
! Seven times in all Laurens had return
/ ed late to his apartment to discover
| the air shaded with that indefinite
perfume-and some article of femi-
/ nine apparel carelessly flung on his
table. And always, from the slim
| vase on his mantel. there dropped
| fresh rose.
/ He, Edward Laurens, was buried up
to his eyes in a >iystery, bewildering
| opalescent, violet-scented mystery
! that was sprsnkled 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 ooor
| was drawn slowly open and he stood
| face to face with strange young
woman who looked at him out of her
| glorious eyes in sort OF pefpiexed
wonderment.
For a moment he thought ne hau
made a mistake.
I'm sorry" he said, L thought TINS
was Laurenss apartment
at is she smiled slightly, gather
ing herself in hand, am MIS-
, Laurens."
II didn't know there was Mrs.
Laurens, but I've been out of town Tor
some time. My ame's-Barton, neo
Laurens. perhaps you've heard him
mention me-"
.sThe name is familiar" she agreed
| Int made no move to ask him IN
.sMr. Iaurens is out of town for rev
DAYS. am Just expecting some frienos
ON nv way to the opera. in fact
! I'm that case, I'll not detain you,
te said grayeIy and took his depar-
ture.
In an hour he returned and sno was
/ gone but pinned to the curtain tnat
shut off his music room was no.e'
| friend Mr.. Barton. called and
! caught me as 1 was leaving. peg
| of Won to forgive me if any COM
plications should arise from the a"-
/ full fib I told him.
| vour new opera that first drew me
down from the apartment above
| must caution you to have the latch
| fixed on the window on the IRE
| escape.
| .J1nder the circumstances I'm
| leaving the apartment upstairs to-
| light. This of course, is goodbye
and I'm sorry.
with her note in his hand he stood
there thinking of the loneliness OF her.
and. as he recalled the glorious golden
| tones of her speaking voice, ne won
| dered vaguely if she could sing.
The next morning he was somewhat
| surprised to open his uptown studlo
door to an elderly man whom he re-
or other but could not place
81 hate to presume" said the old
gentleman land I hate to ask favorS,
Mr.. Laurens. but I've niece who has
studied abroad for three years. She
| thinks she can sing. I do not know,
perhaps she can. She has heard of
YOUR new opera, and wants to be given
a chance at a small singing part.
why" said Laurents, cordially.
I'D be very glad to give her voice a
! TQ-fr, he n q
| if it is convenient.
And so the next day at they came
and Laurens was astounded, Tor 1t was
none other than the girl who claimed
to be Mrs. Laurens. After hurried
| introduction the uncle left to I'LL
business engagement then she turned
on Laurens impulsively, but he only
smiled negatively.
81 was sure you could sing" he in
terrupted. us there anything in par
ticllIar YOU would like to try?" And
he sat down to the piano, running over
the keys absently-
THE = opening song of-of-
'Riane,'" she said. hesitatingly.
How did you know about that?"
he demanded. Not more than three
of my est friends have heard it as
yet
She dropped down on the bench be-
side him. Tt stole the score from
your apartment That isl copied as
much of it as I could-and I've been
working-working like mad on it.
You were $3.50 nice toto pretend
that you were not you. the other night
1t was very considerable.
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 misunder-
stand she went on. The roSeS-and
things were a tribute to your genius,
to the soul of your music, not a token
to you as a man. Please understand
that" she finished gently.
"Of course he said in an absent
detached way of his And then he
turned to the piano and burst forth
into the brilliant prelude of his opera
Then he swung abruptly into the mel
ody of the first number-and she
! sang 1t was what he called to him
self THE Virgin Song and it
breathed of the open woods and clear
sizes of girlhood, yet it was rich with
the promise of love and life to come.
Her pure voice wrapped the theme
about him in an ecstatic gauze of gold
The last note died away like a distant
sigh and he turned toward her with
shining eyes to find her standing there
with bowed head, her own eyes hid
by their dark lashes.
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 Pas
sion Song of the third act
The flexibility of her voice was mar
velous. 1t was so much a part of her
that unconsciously she acted as she
sang She couldn't help it. AS she
began the second song, a stocky. griz-
gled little man stood just within the
door listening intently while she
poured out the pent-up love of all the
age. And when she finished with an
impulsive. passionate outflinging of
her arms the little German Jew
rushed forward, seized her by the arm
and jerked her around.
were you got such a voice-hein ?''
he demanded. And he thumped her
muscular back, punched her chest and
kneeded his knuckles into her difA-
phram Never before had a man tak-