Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-27
Bright Stories by Members of the Club
THE LITTLE REFUGEE.
Chapter v.
"fhr Singer"

az
lie IL in II serious condition. on
account Of heart failure" The doc
'or told Bertie the next day. after
~" young man had secured his SER
wees Chen he went on to say.
briSkIy:
he only thing which will restore
ms health liz sea voyage. eire he
VIII dic Then he was gone.
THAT SGT Bcrtic To thinking. and
when consciousness returned to the
,onnt the young man WAS packing a
Nuhk. while In his pocket rcpoBcd
TWO tickets To the United StateS
hcfor. the Count went of into un-
consciousness again. he fclt n curious
sensation ar " some one VAS putting
him on II comfortable deck chair,
WIN gait breeze blowing on his face.
An account OF the voyage TO the
United States (which Berthe and the
count ,ool). would be useless. But
at last. when The boat reached New
YORK. the mtstnrss had disappeared
from the counts eyes. The voyage
had done him good. and when h',
reached New York. IL Was a much
different person than the white
faced man whom Berthe had rescued
from the flames White Vera viewed
III. city with childish eaEerness. the
count looked At IL with the eyes OF
returning bOS!shncss
rs Bertie had a comfortable salary.
he put the count up at "a notable no.
tel In New York, where the count
Ralkcd with ease. AS the count waE
now able 10 walk, Bcrtic hired "a taxi
ana they, visited one OF the downtown
opera houses where singing and act
ing Of the best way to NJ found
The night was bright with autumn
tights, and the air was cool and in
MIGRATING TO Tia" count and Hcrt'e.
The audience We're hreathl"ss when
the count and i'crti" reached III"
operahuuse and chosc II seat near
a, ia. great singer. tThey did not
know her name). who was 10 hoid
her audience speilbound by the magic
of her golden voice.
Finally the thcatcr was packed me
buzziny sound. which usually pr.rh Is
AZ a thca,er. stopped, and the Iish's
flashed on.
The curtain went UP ana inc "u"'
enc. ga:-d on II moonl!t scene OF
,oy.liucss incompatible. The lights
were shaded and beautiful mowers
grew around the stage.
In a minute in irippcd girl. her
curls hanging down loosely, her req
lips parted in "A smile. Ana how she
sang, Her voice sounded like the
wind in the trectops, "a storm NJ sea
h,nd the waves breakinS az shore. 80
thrilling was her Voice mat the audi
Inc. X.,y afraid 10 utter n word lost
yth,v Interrupt the magic that the
singer had woven over their hearts
Now l., us turn back TO Bcr,ic and
,hc count when the count first saw
IN. vision on the stage. her curls
hanging IN masses around her face,
NJ. gave "a start. The singer looked
lIk. a child with her tiny feet and SILK
dress coming TO her knees. BcriIe'
too had started AT the sound OF hcr
,,tc.. and the look on her face. TIL"
cn,,nt bent forward. his hands ciaspcd
ON his knees. and he seemed To see
his own daughter. Vera, on the stage.
~. was so excited that every minute
n, wanted to rush upon the stage
| and take the fair vision in his arms.
when the curtain finally went down
ON tho first scene the audience roarcd.
ana again the singer with the voice
OF dreamer and the face and inquire
OF a child appeared.
Sh. bowed and danced To the end
of the stage. throwin. kisses with
Inc ms 81 her white fingers. But be
for. She reached the stage entrance
bcr figure relaxed. her eyes had a
uuyZlcl look in them as Sh" stood
sim on the stage. her lips parted.
Vera (anh IL was shc) was gazing
nj a figure in the second row of the
| house. his blue eyes as puzzled as hers.
And a vision OF her father came be-
for, her and. before She knew II, Vera
walked blindiy down the steps of the
stage and ran straight 10 the count
(vho had also riscnp and went to his
sid. And while the audience still
raZch at the two figures. Vera Os-
trnff, laughing and crying at once.
! cas-, herself into her fathers arms!
tOriginal.
tT'n be concluded Sunday.)
BY PEARL V. l'LlESS.
los Rose Avenue. Clifton Forge, Va.