Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-10-20
Lettie Changes Her
Mind
BY MURIEL BLAIR
70, 1924, western Newspaper Union

Lettie's voice rose high and clear
above the accompaniment that she
played upon the cracked old piano
When Lettie sang she lost herself In
the ecstasy of the melody. 1t was a
song from "Rigoletto," but she did not
know that; she had found the music
among a miscellany left by the last
summer boarder.
"Drat that girlw exclaimed Mrs.
French, setting down her pans. She
emerged from the Kitchen into the
parlOr where Lettle sat.
Il wish you'd have little consider
alton for the boarders, Lettie," she
said querulously. Didn't you know
Miss Latham's gone to her room with
a sick headache? And you must choose
this time to screech like sick owl
in the woods"
Lettie came back to earth with a
sigh. "rm sorry, mother" she said
and turned from the piano. Mrs.
Fpench went back into her kitchen
again.
Just then the parlor door opened
and Miss Latham entered. Nobody
would have guessed that this was the
famous singer of the opera house, who
was proudly displayed upon the bill
boards nightly during the season.
Don't stop for me, Lettie," she said.
won't you sing that again2 Who
taught you to sing?"
"Oh, 1t just comes natural, l reck-
on" said Lettie, with an embarrassed
laugh.
but, my dear, that was wonderful.
Don't you know that you have re-
markable voiceT Miss Latham asked.
IF it were trained you might have
a great future before you"
Lettie left the piano stool. you
mean that l might get to sing at con-
certs?" she asked breathlessly. DO
you really think ever could?"
"Oh. Lettie, anybody can sing at con-
certs. i mean something really big.
Wouldn't You like tor"
"Would you like me to speak to a
friend of mine In the city?" Miss La
than asked. when I go back,
mean. Something might come Of 1t,
you know. OF course you would have
to mention the matter TO your mother"
Lettie sighed. Yes, there would be
the trouble. Her mother and-Wil-
liam. What would he say?
The two impulses drew her in differ
ent ways. One way lay fame and joy
and beauty; the other duty, but duty
consecrated by love and wifehood.
She looked at William more criti-
cally than usual that evening.
william, how would you like to go
to town." asked Lettie. II mean, for
a couple Of years, maybe, before we
get married"
Williams brow clouded. He looked
sullenly at her. "You mean that you
want to- put Off our marriage?" he
asked.
Don't you want me to have a little
happiness before we are marriedY
asked Lettie.
She spoke sharply, conscious of the
intolerable struggle. William an
swered her thoughts.
II know If you leave Stapleton you
won't never come back" he said.
81 reckon you're too mean to live y
cried Lettie angrily, and stood before
him with flaming cheeks. Take your
ring back II you want to talk that
way"
William took the ring clurnsily.
IF you change your mind, Lettie-'
he began heavily. But Lettie had left
him. She was In Miss Latham's room
upon her knees, sobbing.
"You must take me with you" she
wept. II can't stay here-I can't.
want to live in the town, to see the
faces of people, to cultivate myself
Miss Latham laid her hand on the
girls head.
"There is another side to the pic
ture, my DEAR" she said. "Do you
realize what you will have to go
through-the days of labor, the nights
of suffering, the loss of every ideal,
the bruising Of your heart, the shat
tered hopes of life and the promise
Of what might have been, vanishing
with the passing years? Lettie," she
said, earnestly, "if / could have the
past ten years over again they would
be much different. But I'll speak to
the friend told you of when return
if you ask me again tomorrow"
Lettie went slowly down the stairs.
Her mental poise had come back to
her. A sudden revulsion of feeling
came over her. The tears ran down
her cheeks.
"A man stepped lightly out of the
darkness.
"Lettie," he said, 81 want to say--I
don't want to stand In your light. ]
want you TO go--T want you TO be hap
by. Perhaps youll think of me some
tines"
Lettie stretched out her arms and
drew his head down to her own. I'm
going to stay, William" she said.
And Miss Latham, at her window
above, heard and was glad.
Modern Dreadnaughts.
!, Victoria Cuniberti, an Italian naval