The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-12-02


Lissstte." begged Gene. his dark eyes
pleading.
The girl bent forward to touch
placntIngly the young mans head.
SILLY" she laughed. "whcn l have
come all the way from America In or.
der to perfect my voice. Do ! ask
You to give up your talent for me?"
"But to compose music Is different"
explained Gene.
LIssette considered him, her pretty
head sldcwise.
What II joke that would be Gene
she said, II to cross the ocean nnd
leave my people. In the pursuance OF
art. then meeting fellow student,
ind give up all for-love.'
"A joker" cried the young man.
"Lissettr. It Is the serious thing In
our lives. And see. you shall never be
famous until you have the right song
for your voice. l, IL composer. know.
They waste your talent, these directors,
In little Joyous nothlngs-your voice
I.issette. 1t Is your heart. So your
heart must feel MS you sing" Gene
caught the girls hand.
II will write for you song" he
snid, "a song OF our love for each
other; and you shall sing 1t for your
public. II that Is your desire, and they
shall hear the love In your voice
Lissettc's eyes sOftened ms they rest
ed on the glowing. handsome face.
"will yoi. Gene?' she asked. "Oh.
I know that could sing your song,
for always 1 should see your face as
! sing. And ! should feel in the song
the expression OF your love for me-"
So Gene wrote for Elizabeth Wen.
| dell her famous song-the song and
the voice to which country listened
In adulution.
The singers name wns given on the
program as l.lssette Wendell. And
little Lizzie Wendell of Holcomh vii.
\ lagc seemed all unspOlled by her great
success. Gene, triumphant. rnpturous,
became absorbed In a second song.
which must outclnss his first.
1t was ut this time that Lissctte
met the American. lie WIS on business
| for his publishing house. Jack Ian.
| don was good looking. The iiollzed
young singer enjoyed the contrast.
Unknown to herself. Genes sentimen-
tally hnd grown wenrisome. And 1t
happened TINT Jack. falling suddenly In
| love but ms sure of himself rs ever.
asked Elizabeth Wendell to marry him.
knowing nothing OF Gene. the musi-
| elan. Gene had sought no profit from
his song; 1t had been dedicated to
Llssette and as such. WAS In his opin-
Ion. her property. made successful
through, her gift.
Jack I.andon never listened to the
tender song. rendered so sympathet.
it.aily. that he did not marvel how the
lovely singer had given herself to him.
Gene. in his fever Of inspiration.
scarcely realized the lapse of time. or
that on his two or three visits to Lis
xette she had appeared preoccupied
and distruit So when she came one
day to his studio. he greeted her smil-
ingiy.
ut Ii coming beautifully. beloved
he said. speaking Of the composition
which WIS his one thought.
Gene" she began haltingly. at was
all \ mistake, our fancied love. l must
not see you any more"
Vaguely understanding. Gene waited
| before her. At length he spoke. His
, voice wns so strangely calm.
"A mistake? Very well then. You
need see me no more, Lissette. Is there
there snOtherY'
Dumbly the girl nodded.
II feel" trclnbled Lissette. almost
Ms though / had stolen your sons-and
left you nothing
His dark eyes alisht. he whirIed up.
on her.
LEFT me nothingf What more could
you give me then than the assurance
Of my skilIf'
Juck IAndon was displeased. LIS
serte could see, when she confessed
to him concerning Gene.
TOO bud" he exclaimed. frowning;
then drew her arm through his.
AFTER all. you could not prevent
the emotional musician from falling
In love with you. I suppose. And 1t
would be natural in your loneliness to
fancy yourself In love with him. Time
may show us IL way to compensate
In y measure"
| l.issette again went to the studio.
The composer was Mt his piano
only Gene could touch the keys with
magic fingers. Az she hesitnteh. lis
tening. came voice singing. a con
traltO voice this, unlike her own. but
sweet---Oh. very sweet. Noiselcssly.
that she might not disturb. Lissette
stepped inside the room. The singer.
small worshipful person. stood adj
miringly at Genes side. At sight Of
the famous Lissette Wendell. the girl.
nbashed. slipped away. Still under the
influence Of his drenm. the composer
came toward her.
Il wax anxious about you. Gene"