The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-21
EVENING STORY
A Tonsorial Genius.
BY GERALD ST. ETIENNE.

There it was again. Mildred tiptoed
to her door and opened it quietly. The
soft strains of the violin descended
from the room above-rich, soothing
notes forming the most beautiful mu-
sic she had ever heard. The violin
was in the hands of a geniuS-some
undiscovered wonder-Miidred felt
sure, and Mildred Cushinging, prima
donna, was naturally a judge of music.
With the last note Mildred realized
that she had left her room and was
standing before a door on the floor
above. z
The music had SO entranced her She
had not been aware of her own move
ments. In the hope that the musician
would not become aware of her pres
ence, she backed from the door, mis-
judged the stairway and with a cry
of fright followed quickly by one of
pain, pitched to the landing below.
Her. ankle twisted under her, her head
banged against the wall and everything
went black.
Fifteen minutes later she recovered
consciousness to find herself propped
up in a chair in her own room and
strange man was applying damp cloths
to her head. 1t was the musician, she
could tell by the gentle touch of his
hands. When her eyes opened he was
smiling down at her.
I knew you would soon come
around" he said, in a rich, even tone,
much in keeping with his appearance.
You are not badly hurt, are you? ?"
Just my ankle" she breathed, pain
fully. TT hurts terribly
He had her slipper Off was bapdag-
ing her ankle and apclogizing for not
noticing the swelling, before she could
worked gently about the sore spot
Mildred sat back and admired his
carefulness. He seemed to charm the
pain a trifle.-
The pain will keep me awake to-
night" she fretted, as he prepared to
| leave.
Without word he opened the door
of her dumb-waiter and then turned
to explain. My room is Just above -
| he said. THE sound is sure to come
down here. I will play an air that L
guarantee to put you asleep. Now are
| you satisfied?"
THAT will be beautiful" she smiled
in spite of the pain. st do SO like to
| hear you play. 1 will tap on the wall
when 1 am ready for the music to be-
GIN
Fifteen minutes later she tapped on
the wall. He had been waiting for the
signal; the music started at once.
Sweet and low, sweet and low,
| Song of the summer breeze"
The violin in his hands seemed to
spell out the words. Mildred closed
her eyes mechanically. Sleep was not
! so easily won. The music took her
mind off the pain of her ankle, tho,
but many other thoughts crowded into
| her brain to keep her awake.
! This new venture of hers troubled
| her. In two weeks she was to begin
! work on her first motion production
| and she wondered if a triumph await
| ed her there. She was going to make
it triumph if it was at all possible
She had begun work on it already
/ An idea of the part she was to play
in the first picture had been given her
and she was staying at the roomine
house to get atmosphere. She had
found points toN successfully create
types in opera by living as the charac-
ters had lived. as nearly as possible
So why. wouldn't it work out inmovies
she asked herself.
/ What kim. of leading man would
she have to put up with? She wished
now he had been clause in her con-
tract. The thought of being supported
acting for its commercial value only
troubled her.
She was almost convinced that this
was the kind she would have to en-
dure. oh, for a tall. handsome man
i with ability and real sense of the
stefan was. The soothing notes of the
violin got in their work gradually.
while my little one, while my pref
: ty one sleeps" Mildred dozed off tc
sleep.
Next morning. bright and early. the
, musician called to see how the ankle
Jared. That call led to another and
. so on. until by the time Mildred wa,
able to walk without a limp they were
!, fast friends As their acquaintance