Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-10-06
The Cloak Room
Girl
BY HAZEL. SMITH.

&c. 1921. Western Newspaper union)
well, james, what is it?' asked
rich Mrs. Tuckerman, testify. II told
you | didn't want to be disturbed The
guests will be arriving in half an hour
and | must get things ready for
them"
Il beg your parodn, madam" an
swered the butler. There's young
person outside with violin who says
she has an appointment with you"
'Oh 1t must be that Anss-what's
her name?" said rich Mrs. Tuckerman.
GROSSLY.
"Well, so here you are snapped
Mrs. Tuckerman. II don't know
whether | shall want you or not. 1t
depends on how tired my guests are
after Krissel has played You had
better wait-you had better wait in
the cloak room, and I'll give you three
dollars extra to take charge of the
ladies' wraps, because my maid hasn't
come"
The girl fSlt the blood surge into
her face; then, remembering the sick
mother at home she bowed her head,
"Yes, | shall be glad to, Mrs Tucker
man." she said
Mrs. Tuckerman's reception was the
talk of the avenue, for Krissel the
famous pianist, had actually promised
to grace it with his presence.
"Yes, Krissel is really coming" said
Mrs. Tuckerman to her guests as they
assembled. You know whom l mean
the great pianist the friend of the
regent of Bonn. You know his roman
tic story, don't you?"
Then, before the other could reply,
Mrs. Tuckerman would plunge into the
often repeated tale of how, twenty
years before, when Krissel was a poor
music teacher he had fallen In love
with the daughter of rich land
owner and secretly married her; how
the marriage was discovered. and the
count, furious at the discovery, had
him drafted into the army, where he
served seven years, hearing nothing
of his wife When at last he was per-
and the war which had devasted the
land had obliterated all traces of his
wife. He had never found her again
And so, not knowing whether she lived
or died, he had never married, but had
devoted himself tc his art.
flush Here he comes now said
rich Mrs. Tuckerman.
When Krissel took his seat and be-
gan 10 play every chattering voice was
stilled Under the magic touch the
piano awakened, the full tones rolled
forth ms from an organ All eyes were
fixed upon the player when, suddenly
ending in crashing chord, he rose
from his seat and bowed.
At the end of the room the young
girl stood enthralled She watched
Krissel as one in an ecstasy. Krissel
saw the rapture In her eyes.
Mrs. Tuckerman," he exclaimed,
twill you not present me to that young
lady with the beautiful hairf
woman seated nearby Uttered
loudly. But Mrs. Tuckerman perceiv-
Ing the young performer. frowned
angrily
"Oh my dear Krissel," she said
"you are mistaken. That is the cloak
room maid She has no business In
here at ALL | am very angry"
But the violin?" faltered Krissel.
"Wel-I thought perhaps that as
the young woman had some skill on
that instrument she might possibly
play us something later. But now |
shall send her home at once"
She walked hurriedly toward the
girl, but before she could whisper to
her to leave the room she found that
Krisse was at her side The famous
pianist put forth his hand and tugged
at locket on a slender chain of gold
around the girls pEetty throat
:. "Wherc did you get thatf" he ex-
claimed tragically.
1T is my mothers" faltered the
girl.
'You mother Who is your father"
'rHe is dead" whispered the girl.
ale was killed In the war"
Krisse wrenched apart the half
shells of gold, carved with the arms
of Laufort. Inside was faded por-
tralt-his own, taken twenty years
ago
The girl saw the likeness now, as
She had half-unconsciously recognized
II before. Krlsse placed one arm
r,pnd her with a look of infinite ten
derncss and without speaking word,
no led her from the room.