The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-01-09

.OCbius
For several minutes It was quite
impossible to play, the overpowering
thought that the great Gilbert Smith
was listening stiffened her fingers.
Then the odor of cigarette reached
her nostrils; vaguely 1t comforted,
soothed her. After all, he was only a
human being enjoying a smoke and
wanting little 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 1t happened that they settled
down upon 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. "Pve 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
7 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. 81 understand you
play a little. No doubt you will be
interested in my performance later in
L
you the concerto I played last week in
Cleveland. / had wonderful pro-
gram. L" And he launched into a
detailed account of his selections and
concert tour.
Just before noon the next day FL
settle sat in Dallas sunparlor holding
In her lap two boxes of flowers. In
the one pale lilies and a card-Elbert
Smith scribbled underneath. 81 hope
may play for you very soon again."
In the other box one of those darling
old-fashioned nosegays, and on the
Smith. Jr. "If come over this after
noon would you play for me, please?"
"Elsettel" Dallas sparkling voice.
'You lucky girl Everybody spoke of
1t last night-what hit you made
with Ebert Smith The girls are
jealous, Eisette Z! Do you know I'm
going to give a dinner for you. dear,
aud. Of course, Mr.. Smith. will be the
other guest CT honor"
Elsette gazed 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 little
In the background while the throng
fn fha IF fha La "
: 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 it would not cry, because
father, the great pianist, must pre-
pare for his next concert. Callers
came and the chief topic was her hus-
bands delightful recital. In the eve
ming dinner guests listened In soft
ecstasy to his playing. Everybody
had forgotten thai she ever played
the piano; anyway, who would posi-
bly, attempt to play after Ebert
Smith?
Then in the old-fashioned nosegay
was another picture. She was mar
ried to George Smith, Jr. 1t seemed
there was benefit concert I'm the
town hall for an orphanage or some
thing, and she, Elsette, was to play
solo, some other home talent made up
the other part Of the evenings pro-
gram. All a-flutter, feeling delight
fully important she left the house,
George carrying the music roll.
She stepped out on the stage 1T
tie later, rosy with suppressed Joy.
All the town people were there. DIAL
las and her husband, Mrs. Love, and
George, with adoring eyes, in the
front row. Afterward they gathered