Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-27

.",0h. q fighting man?'
fcter. sat down ut the piano and
struck loudly some strident discords in
the bass. Like this |" he laughed,
Ism it ugly, Beth-that's what fight
ing isl had 1t day and night for
years. If Shad had been in the war he
wouldn't ever want to fight again"
Were you in the war;" asked Beth
III amazement.
"Of course. Where would 1 have
BEEN And before she could reply
he had swept into the rumbling bass Of
the "Reyo utionary Etude." She sank
into n chair and sat silent, listening,
at first watching the door, and then as
the soul of the artist within her awoke
she forgot everything but the music.
There was long silence at the end
when Peter paused, and then he heard
ner voice, tense, suppressed
II could see it---you made me see
IT, she gasped, almost IN a whisper.
'War-.revolution--the peoplc-angry
-mumbling-crowding, pushing =
a crowd with guns and sticks bowling at
gate and then man trying to
speak to thcm-appealing-
Peter turned quickly at the words
and faced her. Her eyes were like stars,
her soul rapt in the vision his music
had painted. Peter had lived that scene
again and again. but how could Beth
know unless he had made her see III
There was something strange-uncanny
in Beth's vision of the great drama
OF Peters life. And yet she had seen.
Even now her spirit was afar.
And what happened to the man who
was appealing to them?" he asked So
berly.
She closed her eyes, then opened them
toward him, shaking her head. Il
don't know-it's all gone now"
But you saw what / played. That
is what happened.
What do you mean?" she uues :
toned, startled in her turn.
Peter shrugged himself into the pres
cnt moment. Nothing. It's just
revolution. War. War is like that,
Beth" he went on quietly after n mo
mcnt. Like the motif in the bass,
there Is no end--the threat of it never
sstops-day or night. Only hell could
be like it. "
Beth slowly came out of her dream
You fought?" she asked.
'Oh, yes"
Another silence. "I-I think I un-
derstand now wkv you're not afraid"
But / am afraid, Beth" he said
with n smile. II was always afraid
in the war. Because death is always
waiting just around the corner. Nobody
who has been in the war wants ever
to fight again"
He turned to the piano. "They ali
want happiness. Beth. Peace. This !"
he finished. and his rowing fingers played
softly the Tschaikowsky 'Reverie."
When he had finished he turned tc
her. smiling.
What vision do you see in that
Beth?"
She started as though from a dream
"Oh, happincss-and sadness, too"
"Yes." said Peter soberly. "No one
knows what it is to be happy unless one
has been sad.'
"That's true. isn't it," she NUT
tered, looking at him in wonder. 81
never knew what unhappincss was fol
but | guess that's it.
He caught the minor note in hci
voice and smiled.
Come now," he said. well have
our first lesson
without the books?"
eyes. Wen try brcathing.'
"Brcathng?"
pS-lfOln Inc UlUDnTubW.
And as she looked bewildcred, From
the stomach-not, from the chest
breathe deeply and say "Ah. "
She obeyed him and did it naturally
rs though she had never brcathed in any
other way.
on the piano. Now sing it. Throw
it forward. Softly first. then loud
er--'
1t wns while she was carrying out
this instruction that a shadow appeared
on the dOorsill, followed in a moment
"Ah" ceased suddenly. The visitor
stood outside, his hands on his hips
in silent rage.
Peter merely glanced at him over his
shoulder.
GLOW are you, Wells?" he said no-
litcly. "Won't YOU come in? We're
having a singing lesson
Shad did not move or speak as Peter
went on. '"Talc the chair by the door,
old man. The cigarettes are on the
table. Now, Beth
But Beth remained as she was, un-
easily regarding the intruder, for she
knew that Shad was there for no good
purpose. Peter caught her look and
turned toward the door. deliberately ig-
noring the mans threatening demeanor
eve won't be long he began coolly
mot over half an hour
"No, l know ye wont.' growled
Shad. And then to the girl, beth,
come out o. there ~
If Shads appearance had caused
Beth any uncertainty, she found her
spirit now, for her eyes flashed and
her mouth closed in hard line.
''Who are you to say where l come
or go?' she said evenly.
But Shad stood his ground.
'If YOU don't know enough to know
what's what I'm here to show YOU.
ooh I say--." said Peter cOolly
"You can say what you like, mister,
And I've got somethin' to say to YOU
when this lady goes
"Oh--" and then quietly to Beth,
"Pcrhaps you'd better go. BrinS the
books tomorrow-nt the same time.
But Beth hadn't moved, and only
looked at Peter appealingly. So Peter
"This man is impoite, not to say
disagrccable to you. Has he any right
TO sneak to you like this?"
No" said Beth unensily. "but
don't want any trouble.
Peter walked to the door and faced
Shad outside.
There won't be any trouble unless
Wells makes it," And then, as II d
new thought had come to him, he saiC
more chccrfully, "Pcrhaps he doesn
quite understand -
"Oh, understand, all right, Are
you goin' RethF'
She glanced at Peter, who nodded
toward the path, nnd she came between
them.
"Go on back, Shad," she said
"No."
"Do You mean it? If you do Tn
,Lronyh with Won. You underestimate