Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-04-05


IN her eyes. She listened, standing
motionless, until the whir Of the elec-
trio bell stirred her into life.
Hurriedly she crossed the room to
her mirror, and patted with shaking
fingers the already smooth waves Of
her pale yellow hair. From the lace
at her throat she tore the blue bow
hastily, substituting pink one-only
to replace it almost at once with the
blue. Her gown at back and waist
and sleeves she touched tentatively
with her still shaking fingers; when
plainly nothing else could be done to
make perfection more perfect, she
turned and waited, her expectant eyes
on the closed door leading from her
chamber to the hall.
Two, three, five minutes passed
The subdued confusion Of an entrance
and the sound Of voices had f1oated
up from the hall below, but all was
silent now. Three more minutes Kate
Denny waited. Surprise, doubt, and a
frightened questioning came In turn
TO her eyes; then resolution, as she
softly crossed the room and opened
the door,
A light laugh floated up the stair
way, and a deeper note answered.
The girl drew back, half closing the
door.
Then it was true. He had come,
and she had not been summoned to go
down. Edith was there, however,
that light laugh had been hers. {.
so 1t was to be the old story over
again. If Edith wanted it, she must
have it, whether it were a jam tart
or the exclusive attention Of an eve
ming caller.
Always it had been like that; and
always she, Kate, had taken the sub
ordinate place, together with the
smaller tart.
Resolutely Kate Denny opened the
door wider and took one step into the
hall.
Well, why not? That was John
Kennison down there. He had come
to see her.
1rresolutely the girl still stood de-
batting the matter, when the twang of
violin string came from the room
below and seemed to end all hesita-
ton. With swift steps and heightened
color, Kate Denny tripped down the
stairs and entered the brightly lighted
living-room. John Kennison rose at
once, an almost boyish eagerness in
his glance. Edith Denny turned
slowly. Her eyes carried a barely
perceptible annoyance.
Oh, here's Kate" she said. you're
just In time, Kate, to turn the music.'
John Kennison played first violin in
a large city orchestra He stood now
close to the piano, his instrument in
his hand, and his eyes lOngingly fixed
on Kate Denny.
Its concerto. I was going to try
it a bit," he began eagerly. "You
know, I brought the piano score last
week. You said you'd"
Eyes, it's right here, Mr.. Kennison, -
interrupted Edith, brightly. "And
we'd love to play it with you. Come,
Kate"
For one brief instant Kate almost
rebelled. John Kennison had asked
her to practice that score, and she
had practiced it for hours at a time
until it was at her finger tips; yet she
was expected to stand patiently by
and turn the leaves for Edith
''But, Edith,' hesitated Kate, "don't
you think it would be better if ~
'Nonsense! of course you can turn
the music, Kate" laughed her sister,
airily. Don't be so timid! Come"
1t was not a SUGGESTIVE playing Of
that concerto. From start to finish it
was an agitated scramble on the part
Of each player to find and keep step
with the other. At the conclusion
Edith laughed historically, Kate bit
her lips in open confusion, and John
kennison reached for his handkerchief
to wipe the perspiration from his face.
A moment later Edith suggested
that they try popular love song to
which she knew the accompaniment
and with fervent Eyes, do, if you
please!' the man raised his violin to
position.
For half an hour then Kate sat in
a corner and listened to ragtime, and
to the brilliant sallies of her sister
Edith, who was entertaining John Ken
nison. A little later, cake was brought
in-cake that Edith said she had
made; and at the words Kate thought
Of the kitchen that morning with
Edith, dainty in fresh frock, stand.
Ing at the shelf, stirring gingerly at a
concoctiOn, not one Ingredient of which
had been put in without minute In.
structions from the elder sister,
After the cake had been eaten and
duly praised, there was more music
then John Kennison rose to go home
He said good-by, and looked at Kate
lovingly; but before she could answer
Edith interposed merry question
and it was Edith who went with him
to the door, and who asked him tc
come again.
In her own room that night Kate
Denny confronted the thing squarely
Behind set teeth she said:
II will not give up John Kennison
Edith shall not have him-t0 play witt
and toss aside! MOI"
YNN-