The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-05-25

Qally cutting the wrong trees. he ndQ
! already sent some instructions to the
| foreman there, but ne could not be
sure that his orders had been obeyed.
He knew that he ought to spend the
day there, making friends with the
| men and explaining the reasons for
| the change in orders, but as long as
| Mcclure wanted him within telephone
range, there was nothing to do but to
| obey.
| He reached the cabin, threw off has
| coat, and had hardly settled down at
thetabel to finish his drawing. a plan
| of the observation towers, when Beth
| appeared. He rose and greeted her
Her face was flushed, for She had
| been running
Has Shad been here?" she asked
breathlessly.
| NO"
"oh!" she gasped. 'I was afraid
| he'd get here before me. I took the
short cut through the woods"
| Whats the matter?'
"He said he-he was going to
break you to bits
ITO bits! Mel why?"
| Because he-he says I oughtn't to
| come here"
oh, I see." he n,uttered. and then,
with grin, taSd what do you think
| ABOUT II, Betn z!
TIL do what I please" she said
$50 long as I think it's all right.
What business has he got to stop
| me pr
Peter laughed. "Don't let's bother
then. Did you bring your books?"
She hadn't brought them. She had
come in such a, hurry.
But aren't you afraid-when he
| comes?" she asked.
IT don't know" said Peter. DO
you think I ought to be?''
well, Shad's-he's what they call
Hellion around here"
| Whats a-er-He1ion7 2"
| IA scrapper.''
ooh, a fighting man?"
Yes
| Peter sat down at the piano and
| struck loudly some strident discords
| in the bass. Like thisI" he laughed.
| Isn't it ugly. Beth - that's what
fighting isl had it day and night for
years. If Shad had been in the war
| he wouldn't ever want to fight again."
Were you in the ?" asked Beth
| in amazement.
'Of course. Where would I have
been?" And before she could reply
| he had swept into the rumbling bass
of the Revolutionary Etude." She
| sank into a chair and sat silent. list
| ening. at first watching the door. and
then as the soul of the artist within
her awoke she forgot everything but
the music -
There was q long silence at the end
when Peter paused, and then he
heard her voice, tense, suppressed.
II could see it-you made me see
it," she gasped, almost IN a whisper.
''War-revo1utton- people - an
gry-mum ioHng - crowdtng.' pushing.
a crowd with guns and sticks
bowling at a gate =" and then
a man trying to speak to them-ap-
pealing-'
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 it? There was methfng
stran ge-uncanny-in Beth's vision of
the great drama of Peters life. And
yet she had seen. Even now her
spirit was afar.
who was appealing to them?" he ask
ed soberly.
She closed her eyes. then opened
them toward him shaking her head.
II don't know-it.s all gone now
But you saw what 7 played. That
is what happened
What do you mean7" she ques-
toned, startled in her turn.
Peter shrugged himself into the
present moment Nothing. It's just
revolution. War. War is like that,
Beth he went on quietly after a
moment. Like the motif in the bass
there is no end-the threat of it
never stops-day or night. Only hell
could be like it."
Beth slowly came out Of her dream.
You fought?" she asked.
"Oh. yes"
Another silence" II think L I'M
derstand now why you're not afraid
But I am afraid. Beth" ne said
with a smile. ct was always afraid
in the war Because death is always
waiting just around the corner. No
body who has been in the war wants
ever to fight again.
He turned to the piano. They all
want happiness, Beth. Peace. This"
he finished, and his rowing fingers
played softly the Tschaikowsky Re
verie."
When he had finished he turned to
her. smiling.
What vision do you see in that,
Beth?"
She started as though from a dream.
"Oh. happipess-and sadness. too"
Yes" said Peter soberly. mo 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. "I
never knew what uuhappineSs was for
but I guess that's it,
- He caught. the minor note in her
voice and smiled.
Come now he said, well have
our first lesson"
Without the books"
Eyes. Well try breathing"
"Breathing?"
"Yes-from the Diaphragm
And as she looked bewud cred
From the stomach - not from the
chest-breathe deeply and say All 8"
She obeyed him and did it natural
Iy. as though she had never breathed
in any other way.
Fine" he cried and touched a note
on the piano. No sing it. Throw
il forward Softly first then loud