Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-01-22

legin.
For several minutes It was quite
| Impossible 10 play. the overpowering
thought that the great Ebert Smith
was listening stiffened her fingers.
| Then the odor of cigarette reached
| her nostrils vaguely il comforted.
| snofhed her. After all he was only
| human being ENJOYING a smoke and
wanting a lit'le music. She played.
| and better Than she had ever per
| formed before.
Finished, she wheeled around TO
| meet a pair Of blue eyes grave with
| appreciation, hungry for more. Some
how il happened that they settled
down upon a comfortable davenport,
and Elsette told him Of her music,
| her studies. her little concerts and her
great ambitions. He was intensely
interested, and what was more, he
understood. An hour slipped away be-
| fore they remembered that they must
return TO the festivities below. Re
| luctantly they rose scarcely daring to
meet each others eyes, so sweet, so
new, was this bond of sympathy be-
tween them.
Dallas quite excited, met them at
the foot Of the stairs. I've been
searching for you everywhere" And
giving Mr.. Smith the shortest of mods,
drew Elsette away. You know
want TO introduce you to Ebert
Smith"
But, Dallas, I've been with Mr.,
Smith all evening""
"You goose That young scamp was
George Smith, Mrs. Loves neighbOr
/ mean Ebert Smith, the pianist"
And before Elsette could recover
her breath she was being presented TO
the right Mr. Smith, whose reserved
dignity and patronizing graciousness
was somewhat chilling, coming, as she
did, direct from the sunshine of ardent
admiration.
Mrs. Love has spoken to me about
you Miss Dwight" Mr.. Smith was
saying calmly. II understand you
play little. No doubt you will be
interested in my performance later in
the evening. or course | cannot give
you the concerto played last week in
Cleveland. had a wonderful pro-
gram T." And he launched into a
detailed account of his selections and
concert tour.
Just before noon the next day Ell
settle sat in Dallas sunparlor holding
IN her lap two boxes of flowers. In
The one pale lilies and card-Elbert
smith scrubbed underneath. 81 hope
| may play for you very soon again.
In the other box one Of those darling
old-fashloned nosegays, and on the
accompanying pastebOard George
Smith. Jr. "If come over this after
noon would you play for me, please?"
"Elsettew Dallas sparkling voice.
"You lucky girl Everybody spoke OF
II last night-what a hit you made
with Ebert SMITH The girls are
Jealous, ElSette Do you know I'm
going to give a dinner for you, dear,
and. Of course Mr.. Smith, viii be the
other guest II honorw
Elsette gdzed dreamily at the lilies
and. as though hidden in them were
little mirrors OF the future, she saw "A
series Of pictures. she was the wife
of Ebert Smith the celebrity. At
the concert. his concert, she sat in a
box with his friends and listened TO
their praises Of her husband. After
the performance she lowered a little
In the background while the throng
Caid homage to the lion of the day.
AT the supper that followed she
heard it all over again-the chorus
of praise.
And when they reached home her
husband spoke Of his success of the
evening. In the morning he read
aloud the criticism and discussed it
throughout his breakfast.
Then he retired to practice and she,
his wife, must caution the servants
TO be noiseless and then run to amuse
the baby so II would not cry, because
father, the great pianist, must pre-
pare for his next concert. Callers
came and the chief topic was her hus-
bdhu = utllENil VI ItClldls III the eve
ming dinner guests listened IN soft
ecstasy 10 his playing. Everybody
had forgotten that she ever played
the piano; anyway, who would possi-
bly, attempt to play after Ebert
SMITH
Then in the old-fashioned nosegay
was another picture. She was mar
ried to George Smith, Jr. It seemed
there was benefit concert in the
town hall for an orphanage or some
thing md she. Elsette. was to play a
solo, some other home talent made up
the other part OF the evenings pro-
gram All a-futter, feeling delight
fully important she left the house.
George carrying the music roll
She stepped out on the stage a lit
tie later, rosy with suppressed ioy.
All the town people were there. Dali
las snd her husband. Mrs Love, and
George, with adoring eyes in the
front row. Afterward they gathered
around her and She slipped tn their In.
toxicatng words OF commentator.
And the next morning at breakfast
George told her agnin how he Ind en-
4 l.