The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1920-09-09
FROG IN THE
THROAT
BY r. RAY BAKER

eddy
Good old Nebuchadnezzar." he |
whispered Nebuchadnezzar was
sans name for the frog. There was
uo apparent reason for that appella
,'on' unless It was that the animals
oack was of the same color ms the
held fodder the ancient king was said
~ nave eaten at one erratic period OF
his career.
detest that frogl" said Amelia
"hitton, sitting nearby Frogs are
so homely and their voices are worse,
except when they sing at night. and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS never does. He lust
croaks all day long. l don't see what
| you can find about him that is so
charming. | can't tolerate any sound
that isn't musical"
Sam pursed his lips and whIstled
meditatively.
That's not musical either" Amelia
observed
There isn't much about me that is
any more" he whispered. Ever since
caught severe cold five years ago
l haven't had even a speaking voice.
l don't see how you can stand II to
have me around Amelia I'm so UNI
musical"
of 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 sing though.
Isn't there any remedyT'
1.-THE doctor says no." he rasped j:
80 you see If you marry me you'll
either have to do all the talking your
self or have me for constant note of
/ discord in your life of harmony"
II wish you could sing as folks say
s. you used to-" Amelia sighed. 81 think
1t would reconcile me more-to my
! fate" and she finished with a laugh
! a musical laugh.
Her fate" was her marriage to Sam
t which was to take place as soon as
t she finished course in vocal harmony
: she was about to commence.
!, ut would he fine If we could go tc
the city together and study music" she
went on.
D. | les, IL WOuiu IO Icll yOu lilt
truth, Amelia, I'm afraid to let you &c
!. alone. You'll land in some big oper,
= company and fall in love with the star
and you'll forget about little Sammy IL
u his very prosaic but prosperous sho'
store back here In Glendon."
II She shook her head mo danger
D. Sam. I'm not that kind. But I wisl
Il you were going to study with me
81 When we finished we could get mar
= ried and teach yoice-if you coul
y make some arrangements about you
n shoe business"
81 THAT wouldn't be difficult" he sait
johnson practically runs the bushes
Y now; and I'd give him half interes
n But what's the user l haven't an
81 more voice than our friend Nebuchat
Z nezzar have frog in my throat"
y "Gezunk !" chimed In the bullfrog, a
n II to say, "who says haven't voicei
m Amelia shuddered. Lets go. You
8 friend frog gets on my nerves. | use
= to rather like him when we used
u visit this little glen. but since ~
nj studied harmony I've lost interest
a his croaking."
e They went back to the village an
y Sam. after escorting her home. hurrit
l to his store.
IN Three weeks later Amelia pack'
81 two trunks and three handbags al
Is set out for Chicago, where she won
gg study voice with the masters.
ll Sam took her to Prescott, Villa
IS ten miles from Glendon, for the ra
Is road on which she was to make h
u Journey did not touch the latter pla'
lTll The luggage, except one handbs
556 went ahead by motortruck and the G
T. ception followed with Amelia and Sa
" In his buggy. Sam never had been at
l@ to give I'D his spirited driving hor
56l for an automobile.
J6l Good luck to YOU" he whispered
~ he kissed her good-by, and leaped fr'
aQ the train as 1t started. She waved
55h6l hand from the window and he
gS sponded similarly. and stood a
IRl watched the train vanish round
7a curve. For five minutes he stood
S6 the station. detected and lonely;
Us Sam and Amelia had been sweethea
III since his advent into Glendon tn
1lg years ago. He wished he could res
Sh0l rect his life of Ave years-before
vs. lost his voice. Sam had never |
ShfI Amelia much about 1t. because II
Iba ried him In spite Of the joyiai a
tude he appeared to take toward
vs. frog In the throat"
ms He drove slowly back along the re
5g The sunshine Of spring and the n
Shl ers and foliage and birds that
9S brought cast spell over him, ou
DEl was a spell OF moroseness rather I
6 gladness. That is. he endeavoreo
SH drive slowly but the horse. which
l96l full of life and had not been IN
HE harness much lately, did not relish
Ms idea.
SNI Az she watched the scenery .
9hl mast. a neglected magazine In her
UE Amelia's mind was full of thought