The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-04-15
e b ALL e
!s:s'Il!I0E: STORY
Frog in the Throat.
" a. RAY BAKER.

~ sE4UNlS! called the bulltfog ir
the pond.
- Sam Bristol, lying nat on his
rack; his face turned toward a ok,
Unmarried by clouds, smiled good.nu
!iitedIy..
Good old Nebuchadnezsar," h,
whtepefed. Eebuchadnezzar was
SANS name for tho frog. There was
2 10 apparent reason for that appella
ION, UNLESS It was that the animals
hack WAS OF the tame color as the
Yield fodder the ancient king was said
y % have eaten at one erratic period Of
sbis cafeef.
= dstsst that fros," said Amelia
Wilton, citing nearby. Frogs are
& 70 honely, that their voices are worse
except when they sing at night, aud
Nabtfchadn ezzar never does. He ;nsi
ctoaks all day long. l don't see wha,
tsyou can find about him that IL 80
charming I can't tolerate any sound
hat isn't musical
Sam ptrsed hts lips and .whistled
& editatively.
That's not mu6ical, either" Anne.
ia observed. =
.sThsre isn't much about me that "a
any more he whispered. Ever since
Efcaught that severe cold five years
ego haven't had even speaking
ycicA i don't see how you can stand
u 10 have me around, Amelia; I'm 30
4 ;iinShnAinal.,,
spt course, you know care for
you she said, "in spite of the fact
that you have no voice. should have
liked TO know you when you could
|I Ioaf
ranedys
The doctor says no. he rasped;
so you see. II you marry me you'll
either haverto do all the talking your.
sell on have me for constant note
ot ldtscord In your life Of harmony
y wish You could sing, as folks soy
You used to-" Amelia sighed. 81 think
~ would reconcile me more-to my
fate% and she finished with a laugh
musical laugh.
Her sfatec was her marriage 10
Sam, which was to take place as soon
as she finished g. course in vocal har.
moly she was about to commence.
would be fine Il we could 90 to
the city together and study music"
The went on
Yes, IL would. To tell you the
truth Amelia, I'm afraid to let you 70
hicnA. You'll land in some big opera
company and fall in love with the
stAr md you'll forget about little
Sammy In his very. prosaic but pros.
pefona shoe store back here in Glen
she shook her head. "No danger
SAM. I'm not that kind. But wish
you were going to study with me.
When We finished we could get mar
riea aud teach voice-if you could
make some arrangements about your
shoe business.
That wouldn't be difficult" he
gaid Johnson practically runs the
pusiness now; and I'd give him half
Interest. But. what's the, use? l
! haven't any more voice than our friend
Suchadnekzaf: i have frog in my
unk," chimed In the bullfrog, as
say who says haven't q
la shuddered. Let's 60. Your
frcg gets on my nerves. / used
ar like him when we used to
is little glen, but since I've
harmony I've lost interest in
liking"
went back to the village, and
liter escorting her home, hur-
pshis store.
trunks and three handbags and
out Tor Chicago, where she would
ss,lddy voice with the masters.
Sam took her to Prescott. village
ten miles from Gendon, for the rail-
road on which she was to make her
Journey did not touch the latter place.
he lhggage, except one handbag,
vent ahead by motor truck and the
e1tepton followed with Amelia and
sam In his buggy. Sam never hau
been able to give up his spirited div
tpE horse for an automobile.
Good luck to you," he whispered
~ he kissed her good.by, and leaped
rom the train as It startedo She
waved g hand from the window and
he responded similarly, and stood and
watched the train vanish round a
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 resur.
rect his life OF five years-before he
lost his voice. Sam had never told
Amelia much about 1t, because It wor.
fted him, in spite Of the jovial attitude
he appeared to take toward his frog
In the throat"
He drove Slowly back along the
road The sunshine Of spring, and the
Mowers and foliage and birds that II
breusht, cast spoil over MIN, but Il
was Q spell OF moroseness rather than
gladpess. That is, he endeayored to
drive slowly, but the horse. which was
ful Of life and had not been in .the
harness much lately, did not relish
the idea
AZ she watched the scenery flash
past, neglected magazine in her lap,
Z Amelia's mind was full Of thoughts
OF the future. She knew her voice
sWte,Eood and she was confident she
would realize her ambitions.
I y she had known what was taking
PLACE on the county road, however,
her thoughts would have been less of
shefssf and more OF Sam. Had she