The Washington times., 1920-03-01
The TLUO Voices
By VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN DE WATER

trembling with nervousness at the
thought OF playing or singing for
Hugh Rodney. She had always had
the neutrality-suspicious. to certain
people-from performing in the
presence OF stranger. Especially
she dreaded having Hugh hear her
do so. AS Ruth Courtney, she knew
she could not stand the ordeal. AS
Doris Courtney. she must stand 1t.
She Has to Sing.
She had almost hoped that Mr..
Rodney would defer getting the
piano. While she had accused her
self Of selfishness in this hope, she
could not help entertaining IL.
Now she must do more than face
the music" She must make it her
self
1t was but one more ordeal
through which she had to pass. II
she were worthy Hughs friendship.
she would meet this new situation.
What are you going to sing"
Hugh asked when she had returned
to him, and closed the door of the
library. She was glad Laura was
out.
81 would rather play something
first" she said, until / get my
breath from walking so rapidly"
al right. Play what you like,
won't your
Her heart beat with the sicken-
ing rapidity familiar to the nervous
musician. Ever since her child
hood, her seemingly uncomfortable
stage-fright had been the reproach
OF her mother and the regret of her
music teacher. Now she had come
to the point where she must mas
ter 1t. She had never been able
TO do SO before. Could she now?
Seating herself at the piano, she
struck a few chords.
What sweet tone this instru-
ment has. she commented, to gain
time.
Yes, it has. Please play some
thing, Doris" the blind man urged.
The name he called her by acted
as spur.
He would be listening to her as
Doris. not as Ruth. That made it
easier. She knew she could play
and sing better than Doris could
when only her own family were at
hand to listen, Doris herself had
said that.
Very softly she began to play
Drdla's Souvenir" 1t was a piece
she loved. She had heard Mischa
Elman play it last year, and had
never forgotten the joy of the ex-
perience. She had been delighted
to find that she could secure an ar
rangement OF the piece for the
piano.
Almost caressingly she touch, j
the notes. She felt as if she and
Hugh were alone in the world. She
closed her eyes and drank in INs
heantV nf fhn music
derful to let herself go with the
harmony that flowed from her fing-
crs.
AS the last note died away into
silence Hugh spoke, his voice
trembling with emotion.
Doris, darling! That was just
what l was longing to heart And
you played II because you and I
heard it together FIST after we
were engaged, didn't you? You re-
member that wonderful evening.
when we heard Mischa Elman.
and
He stopped abruptly, as Ruth's
hands dropped with a clashing dis
cord upon the keys.
II beg your pardon!" she ex-
claimed. THAT was an awkward
thing to do. In getting up from the
stool, slipped and caught at the
piano to steady myself"
"You did not hurt YOURSELF" anx-
| iously.
"Oh, no." she assured him-"not a
bit"
Don't stop playing" he begged.
as she came across the room toward
him. "While l listened to that
souvenir" l felt as IL you and l..
Doris, were alone together In all
the world--just as felt when you
and / heard IL last year.
And, darling, 1 know that you
were remembering, too-or you
would not have played 1t. And |
knew that you were living over
again that unforgettable evening.
Isn't that true?"
"Yes, Hugh: l played II because
heard II that evening last year
and loved It," she muttered.
To No continued