The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-17
Eoenirlg Story
Frog in the Throat.
BY r. RAY BAKER.


a BY r. RAY BAKER.
"Gezunki" called the bullfrog in
the pond.
Sam Bristol, lying flat on his back,
his face turned toward a sky I'M
marred by clouds, smiled good ma
turedly.
GOOD old Nebuchadnezzar. he
whispered ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was
Sans name for the frog There was
no apparent reason for that appella-
ton, unless it was that the animals
| back was of the same color as the
field fodder the ancient king was
said to have eaten at one erratic
period of his career.
81 detest that frog!' said Amelia
Whitton, sitting nearby. Frogs are
! so homely, and their voices are
worse, except when they sing at night,
and Nebuchadnezzar meyer does He
/ Just croaks all day long. 1 don't see
! what you can find about him that is
| so charming. 1 can't tolerate any
sound that isn't musical"
Sam, pursed his lips and whistled
meditatively.
That's not musical, either" Amelia
observed.
There isn't much about me that is
any more he whispered. Ever
since I caught that severe cold five
years ago I haven't had even a speak
ing voice. 1 don't see how you can
stand it to have me around, Amelia
I'm so unmusical."
/ ..Of course you know I care for
you.'' she said, lin spite of the fact
| that YOU have no voice. I should have
| liked to know you when you could
sing. tho. Isn't there any remedy
1.-The doctor says no." he rasped ;
so YOU see, if you marry me you'll
either have to do all the talking your
self or have me for a constant note
of discord in your life of harmony"
IT wish you could sing, folks say
YOU used to- Amelia sighed. THINK
/ it would reconcile me more-to my
fate" and she finished with laugh
a musical laugh.
Her "fate" was her marriage to
Sam. which was to take place as soon
as she finished a course in vocal mar
mony she was about to commence.
ut would Be fine if we could go to
/ the CITY together and study music she
Yes, it would. To tell you the
truth, Amelia, I'm afraid to let you &c
alone. You'll land in some big opera
company and fall in love with the star,
and You'll forget about little Sammy
his very prosaic but prosperous shoe
| store back here in Glendon-'
She shook her head. NO danger
Sam. Pm not that kind. But 1 wish
yoy were going to study with me
When we finished we could get mar
ried and teach voice-if you could
make some arrangements about your
shoe business
"That wouldn't be difficult" he
said johnson practically runs the
business now; and I'd give him hall
interest. But what's the use?
haven't any more voice than our friend
lNebuchadnezzar. I have frog in my
throat"
"Gezunk." chimed in the bullfrog
as if to say, Who says 1 haven't q
voice?''
Amelia shuddered. Lets go. Your
friend frog gets on my nerves.
used to rather like him when we used
to visit this little glen, but since I've
studied harmony I've lost interest in
his croaking."
They went back to the village, and
Sam, after escorting her home, hur-
ried to his store.
Three weeks later Amelia packed
two trunks and three handbags and
set out for Chicago, where she would
study voice with the masters.
Sam took her to Prescott, a village
ten miles from Glendon, for the rail
, road on which she was to make hei
journey did not touch the latter place
The luggage, except one handbag. wen
ahead by motor truck and the ex
ception followed with Amelia and San
in his buggy. Sam never had beer
able to give up his spirited driving
horse for an automobile.
Good luck to you" he whispered
as he kissed her goodbye. and leapeC
from the train as it started. Sh'
| waved a hand from the window ant
, he responded similarly and stood and
watched the train vanish round {