Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-01-16
devotion"
By ALVt.H JORDAN GARTH
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper union.)


IL II is true"
Then why have you encouraged
him? He probably has not heard that
you are to marry barley Brice- l
think II cruel to play thus with the
poor fellows affections
Airline Gray's breath came quick, her
face was sUffused She looked the
culprit, then defiant Il have not led
Alan Blair on" She disclaimed. II
was lonesome. He Is good company:
more. n bright, sparkling genius. His
music is divine. And, oh, Beatrice |
was so wearled of all the false glamour
of the superficial life have been lead
ing"
1t was the cry Of a tortured soul.
Airline Gray did not love the man to
whom she was engaged and had dis
covered 1t too late to withdraw from
marriage of convenience She mad
passed many happy eare-free days
with the handsome, melancholy eyed
young musician, listening to his beau
tiful improyisations.
You must tell him about Brice," in
sisted her sister-in-law. "Alan liz
scarcely of our set. but he is very
much of a gentleman and his devotion
TO you is almost pathetic"
A sudden cloud seemed to have come
down over the life of airline. Alan was
to call that afternoon He had told
her that at last his great composition,
inspired by her, dedicated to her, was
finished. In Il sweet, secluded part of
the garden, she, seated in the shade
of a great Towering bush, he before
music stand and score, his treasured
violin in hand, amid the sacred flower
perfumed stiffness of the spot he
poured forth his soul.
1t was love repressed that the mel
low notes conveyed The composition
interpreted the sentient emotions. OF
a shy, shrinking soul. Then, as It
ended in q lone wailing threnody, as
though depicting hopelessness, Airline
buried her face In her handkerchief
and sobbed out the truth.
He grew white to his lips. II under
stand he said softly, "but it is well.
for have known you, and even though
we never meet again life cannot be
utterly barren to me. Do not forget
this-if the hour ever comes when you
need my help, my life, will come"
II was two months later upon the
wedding eve of Airline. 1t was after
the ceremony, and the guests were in
the garden, when from the near wood
land thpBp gtpln ba nY,,hi
air the sweet strains of Devotion"
Alan Blair had disappeared long
since. Only TO Airline was this final
tribute of remembrance interpreted
and she shuddered as She glanced at
the callous, Wanting, wine-muddled
man she had welded
barley Brice had married Airline
Gray for her fortune. Within two
years he had Squandered Ii. At the
end of sour years he was dead from
his excuses. Arkne and her little
child had been glad to find shelter In
poor cottage, all that was left of
once opulent estate.
She had lost all trace of Alan Blair
since the eve of the wedding when the
soft mournful strains of Devotion"
had seemed to convey to her the trib-
ute Of a crushed but patient soul.
The weather was cold, the poorly
heated cottage cheerless and uncom-
Portable. Little Gladys was lying asleep
in her cradle, drawn close up to the
crate, titfully supplied with fuel.
airline sat gazing into the fire, eyer
weaving In and out amid it's capricious
flames the romance and tragedy of her
young life. Suddenly she started up.
Abruptly there was waited upon her
hearing strain of music. First it was
dim and far away. 1t came nearer and
nearer, growing in volume-'Devo-
uon!' Yes, the beautiful tribute OF
the discarded lover she could not mis-
take, nor the perfect touch of the one
master hand that had played those en-
trancing strains upon her wedding eve.
At the very threshold the wild appeai
ceased. There was knock at the door.
She dared not resist opening it. Be
fore her stood the man she had not seen
for nearly five years.
May ! enterf' he asked gently. rev
erently, passed into the room. went to
the cradle, bent over II and pressed his
lips to the forehead Of the little one
sleeping there. Airline had sunk to a
seat from sheer weakness. Unbidden
ne sat down opposite to her.
i learned of YOU only week ago"
ana his tones trembled with pity and
yearWng The world has given me
fam fortune, success The inspiration
love for you brought to me has made
OF me great musician am WenceI.
kaS."
She recalled the celebrated name I'M
der which Alan had hidden his true
Identity There was no hoastful tone
IN his words. His whole attitude was
that Of devoted friend.
And then he poured out his s,nI 10
her, ana She sat overcome ut 4 proven
devotion that amazed her. con. ! am
unworthy Of such great lover She sob.
bed, but he held out his hand clasped
her own and hts eyes, tendor!y loyelit.
seemed 70 enforce a responsive glow
from her own.