The Hays free press., 1921-07-21
Lettie Changes Her
Mind
By MURIEL BLAIR


above the accompaniment thar She
played upon the cracked old piano.
When Lettie sang she lost herself in
the ecstasy Of the melody. II WAS a
snLE from 'HiS0lcttc." bur she did not
know that; she had found the music
among ii miscellany left 10y tEz last
summer bOarder
'Drat that girl"' exclaimed Mrs.
French, setting down her pans She
emerged from the kitchen into the
pariOr where Leitie sat.
wish you'd have little consider
alton for the boarders. Leitie." she
said querulOusly. Didn't You know
Miss laiham's gone to her room with
sick headache? And you must choose
this time To screech like "a sick owl
In the woods"
Lettie came back 10 earth with
sigh. I'm sorry. mother" She said
and turned from the piano Mrs.
French Went back into her Kitchen
again.
Just then the parIor door opened
and Miss Latham entered. Nobody
would have guessed that this was the
famous singer Of tie opera house, who
WAS proudly displayed upon the bill
boards uigAtly during the season.
Don't stop for me, Lettie.' she said.
Wont YOU sing that aguinE Who
taught you "a S.u":"
"Oh, il just comes natural reck-
on" s@id Lett, with All embarrassed
laugh
Put, Iay dear. that was wonderful.
Don't you know that you have Il re
markabIe voice." Miss Latham asked.
"lf' il were trained YOU might have
Il great future before you"
Lettie left the piano stool. You
mean that | might get To sing at con-
certsf" she asked breathleSSly. DO
you really think l ever cOuld?'
"Oh. Lettie. anybody can sing at con
certs. mean something really big.
Wouldu't you like to?"
Would you like me To speak to a
friend OF mine in the city" Miss La
than asked. when l 90 back, I
mean Something might come Of it,
You know. or course you would have
t. mention Tire matter 10 your mother.
Lot;ie sighed. Yes, there would be
tl:e trouble. Her mother and-WH-
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
consecrared by love and wifehoOd.
She looked nj William more criti-
cally than usual that evening.
'Wiliam, how would YOU like TO go
10 town." asked Lettie. Il mean, for
Il couple of years, maybe, before we
get married"
williams brow clouded. He looked
sullenIy at her. You mean that you
want to put on our marriage?" he
asked.
Don't you want me To- have little
happiness before we are married?"
nsked Lettie-
She spoke sharply, conscious of the
intOlerable struggle. William an
swered her thoughts.
81 know if you leave StapletOn you
won't never come back" he said.
81 reckon you're too mean To live"'
cried Lettie angrily, and stood before
him with flaming cheeks. Take your
ring back if you want 10 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 Lathams room
upon her knees, sobbing.
you must take me with YOU" she
wept. Il can't stay here-I can't.
want 10 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 10 the pic
ture. my dear" she said. DO you
realize what you will have 10 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 1 could have the
past ten years over again they would
he much different. But I'll speak tC
the friend I told you of when l return
if YOU ask me again tomorrow"
Lettie went slowly down the stairs,
Her mental poise had come back tc
her. 4 sudden revulsion of feeling
came over her. The tears ran down
her cheeks.
a man stepped lightly out Of the
darkness.
.Lettie." he said, II want to say
don't want TO stand in your light.
want YOU to go-I want YOU 10 be hap
DIV. Perhaps you'll think of me some
times"
Iettie stretched out her arms and
drew his head down to her own i III
going to stay, William" she said.
And Miss Latham, at her windO"
above. heard and was glad.
Modern Dreadnauehts-
Victorio Cuniberti, an Italian navai
constructor, is said 10 have been the
originator of the term "dreadnaught