The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-17

curve. For five minutes he stood at
the station, detected and lonely; for
Sam and Amelia had been sweethearts
since his advent into Glendon three
years ago. He wished he could
resurrect his life of five year@be-
fore he lost his voice. Sam had never
told Amelia. much about it, because it
worried him, in spite of the jovial
attitude he appeared to take towards
his frog in the throat"
He drove slowly back along the
road. The sunshine of spring, and the
flowers and foliage and birds that II
brought, cast a spell over him, but it
was a spell of moroseness rather than
gladness. That is, he endeavored to
drive slowly, but the horse. which was
full of life and had not been in the
harness much lately. did not relish
the idea.
As she watched the scenery flash
past, neglected magazine in her lap,
Ameha's mind was full of thoughts of
the future. She knew her voice was
good and she was confident she would
realize her ambitions.
If she had known what was taking
place on the country road, however,
her thoughts would have been less of
herself and more of Sam. Had she
possessed magic glass into which she
could look and see whatever she
! wished, she would have witnessed
! horse running away, dragging a man
on the ground holding fast to the lines
and paying for his tenacity with bumps
and bruises and much dust and CRIME.
! In the city Amelia made her home
with a second cousin. She accepted
some few attentions from young men
who were Communicated for her es-
pecial benefit, but seldom received any
one of them more than once. and she
always wrote and told Sam about
| them.
After a year of conscientious and
| concentrated study with one of the
| city's leading vocal masters, Amelia
had progressed SO rapidly that her in
structor told her she was qualified for
grand OPERA minor part, of course,
but with opportunities to make rapid
strides to the zenith. He promised to
| intercede with some of his influential
friends in the profession.
While this matter was brewing
Amelia received the surprise of her
life in the form of a letter from a
noted impresario, informing her that
he was willing to try her out for the
leading part in new production. She
was not aware that she had become
known among the higher-ups.
There is no question about the adj
visibility of accepting" her instructor
told her warmly, as much surprised
as she and somewhat puffed up be-
cause >of the credit he felt was due
him. when Mr.. Densmore makes an
offer like that, it means something"
| Correspondence resulted in an APP
pointment being made at a theater
and with pounding heart Amelia
went to keep it. She realized that her
big opportunity had come.
A rehearsal was in progress, but
Mr.. Densmore was summoned to the
box office and she introduced herself
to him. He escorted her back of the
stage and sent a boy to a dressing
room on and errand. The boy returned
with q, young man costumed as a
gondolier.
Hello, Amelia" said the young mar
in a musical voice, bowling low. She
istared at him, stunned. He looked fol-
all the world like Sam Bristol; but
of course. Sam was back in Gfendor
selling shoes with his whispering
voice. She had received a letter from
him only a week ago.
"Oh, it's all right, Amelia" he said
clasping her in his arms and imprint
ing a kiss on her lips. I'm Sam
This is my company. I used to be
in opera before the frog crawled into
my throat.
my voice? Well old Nebuchad.
nezzar is responsible. When I was
driving back from the station passed
the pond. and Nebuchadnezzar sa-
luted me With a 'gezunk,,s or a word &c
that effect. The horse was feeling
kittenish, and it didn't take much t.
get him started. I had been day
reaming-mostly of you-and I wa.
pretty well scared. Before I knew
what I was doing 1 had called whoa,
good and loud. Since then I've hat
my real voice. The doctor says i
never would have happened if i
hadn't been for the strain in calling
! | whoa"
; Good old ACKNOWLEDGMENT" whis
pered Amelia, returning the hug tina
would have made a bear turn TIL,
! color of a frog. out of envy.
: Copyright, 1920. BY the Mcclure News
Il paper Syndicate.)