Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-01-30

81 SAAN - 49,
the property would barely cover a
well-remembered mortgage, after nee
essary debts were paid. But today as
she returned from encouraging the
Stimid patient a long envelope lay face
upward on the Doctors desk. 1t was
addressed to herself and when Eliza
beth had perused its intricate word
Ing she found this same old property
to he hers absolutely by grandmother's
will.
There had been extra money, 1t ap-
peared, to meet those other demands.
Elizabeth, her dark eyes widening be-
meath the gold-brown hair, stared at
the written document and moved I'M
pulsively toward the Doctors private
office.
"You must let me 60" she told him
when he had read the paper. II want
to zee what I can do with grandmoth-
er's old place."
"Raise chickens and live by your
self?" laughingly queried the physi-
clan who had been her fathers
friend.
"oh-do you think that I could?"
she asked.
Later when she passed down the viii
lage street inquiring glances followed
her graceful figure. But Elizabeth was
all unaware. She was living again in
fancy the happy days in that square
cid house at the end of the road.
But as she passed inside, regarding
all those familiar objects which We're
now her own, into the girls heart
came q passion Of longing for posses
sion, to live here. to have Il real
home. Some n would give her COM
partnership surely If she could but
keep the old place up.
"H0w could that be done" she
asked herself YEARLY, sinking into the
soft depths of n of grandmother's
chairs. The dreams and longings of
that confident girlhood came poignant
~ back in the atmosphere of grand
mothers home-the great house re-
paired and beautiful, the garden Won
derful to see with sun-dial and foun-
tain-as they used to be-and In
grandmother's drawing room, herself,
seated before the piano playing, COM
posing the harmon:es that had never
quite ceased singing themselves
through all her busy years.
In the background Of the very young
Ellzabeth's fancies q mans figure had
lowered. Must not every happy maid
en- have her lover? Elizabeth 10Y had
forgotten the loverl All at once her
tipping fingers eager, insistent to
touch the piano keys. So in the shad-
w foated q "Song Without Words"
the unspoken dream, perhaps, which
had lain hidden so long In her heart.
Through the diamond panes the sun
turned the musicians hair to a golden
halo. On and on she played. When
her music had reached Its last vibrant
note the man arose and unhesitatingly
passed into the DON
"Repeat that last passage" he COM
manded, and Elizabeth, glancing about
absently as though still under q spell,
obeyed.
When she turned around upon the
piano stool the strange man stood Owe
her searching her face excitedly.
Your own composition?" he asked.
"Why yes" Elizabeth replied won
dering.
The mans tone was still abrupt.
"What will you take for it?"
II am afraid" Elizabeth replied,
shat l do not understand your mean
Ing, or" she added, who you are"
The man laughed and his low laugh
ter had a pleasing sound. you must
overlook my intrusion and my abrupt
request" he said. Enthusiasm and the
joy of discovery carried me away. The
name Of Lawrence Barry may not be
unknown to you. Today I have been
visiting the town of my birth. Soon ]
return for my concert tour. In vain
have searched for new melodies, sweet
haunting tunes to the themes ! love.
Each writer disapp0ints; his music. is
stereotyped. But yours tonight-Ah!
yours!-" The great singer smiled
III you would hut sell that last ex.
quislte fancy to me-" he said. .You
might lame an extrnvagant price"
Elizabeth stood before him. she was
trembling, but she laughed softly
my playing" she said, twas but the
expression of a wish to keep this
place my home; home! Do you know
what that means?"
! :" know" the man answered de
cfdedly, "that l will buy up everything
of that sort that you can compose.
And so E%lizabeth's dream -all CAME
true. And when Lawrence Barry is
singing at his best you may be sure
that he is thinking of Il wonderful ole
place he calls home and of Elizabeth
the gifted wife. who Ia his inspiration