The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-25
EOening Story
Her Musical Career.
BY LAURA REID AIONTGOM

was firm, very firm, and when she
once had an idea intrenched under
her sleek black hair it was a diff
ficult matter to dislodge it.
For two years Wallace had called
upon Ruth three times a week, Wed
| Eesdays. Saturdays and Sundays, and
4 the engagement was an implied al
F, fair, aItho not yet announced. There
/ fore. when Ruth happened to be down
| town with her brother one Monday
night and saw Wallace carrying the
! travelling bag of a remarkably pretty
| girl. a stranger in the village, she felt
that she was justly angered. Ruth
was the village pianist, and had long
4 wished to go to the city to do concert
work, but had hated to leave Fulton
| on account of Wallace.
The following Saturday night wal
| lace presented himself with the Gus
tomary half-pound box of caramels
| to learn that Ruth had gone to Chi
cago TO begin a musical career MRS.
Black finally gave him the address OF
Ruth's boarding house, but told him
frankly that she thought it useless for
him to go to see her. Ruth is so
queer and stubborn" she said,
thoughtfully 81 don't know why she's
angry with you, but she is"
Wallace, who knew of Ruth's ten
dency to jealousy, was pretty sure
that Ruth had heard of the strangers
visit to his home, but there was no
use talking about the affair. Della
a
he had been obliged to be courteous
to her. That she had taken an odd
fancy to him and had persisted IN
hanging onto his arm when in the VII
iage Streets had embarrassed him, but
he had not liked to shake her off and
nothing less crude would have suf-
feed
So. after a sleepless night. Wallace
went to the city. but when he calIed
at the boarding house and asked for
from her window. most unwisely sent
down the message that she was en-
gagged. She had no sooner done TINS
cruel thing than she regretted IT, ana
she fattened her long nose against
the window pane watching him stalk
down the street.
Don't you find it thrilling to be
in this beautiful city, where one Is
near the great art centers and-eVery-
thing? ?" asked a fluffy-haired girl who
was visiting her aunt at the boarding
no" said Ruth shortly, IT don't.
The city is quite different than
imagined. When 1 played at home
nice account of it, and 1 supposed
I'd be able to get into concert work
without a bit OF trouble
Concert work?" breathed the other
looking at the rather sad dark face
under the cleaning black hair. How
perfectly thrilling-and-eve
But" went on Ruth bleakly. Il
found that the very best I could do
with my music was She hesl-
tated; the sight of Wallace had re- |
doubled her Inconsistencies. If she |
had only had some wonderful triumph |
to mention, she would have gone back |
glady to the cheerful village where
the faces were familiar and - here /
lay the gist of the Enthusiastically. |
Yes prodded the other, you got |
your chance to show your genius
Not exactly hunted around and /
obtained interviews and presented let |
ters of introduction and pulled every /
string. and''-a mirthless little laugh /
escaped her as she thought of the 1
hours of practice she had put in study
ng the old masters of real music
was finally lucky enough to get place
IN a department store to play the
popular music at the music counter
"Oh," said little Daphne blankly,
don't you hate it when you love
Mozart and alp"
yes, I do, but it pays my board"
Daphne twisted a pearl ring about
IN her engagement finger. You
know, I'm from Forest Center. tiny
little town, and I am a reader. I'm
invited to give readings all sup and
Town the line at the other towns. and
thought that perhaps I'd spent the
winter with auntie and get engage
nents. here Rocco, tho
Take it from me- burst out Ruth
stay at home and get married. T.
to her own amazement, she found
Ter eyes wet with tears-''wish had"
Wallace went away in white rage.
t was an unheard-of thing for a
riend to send down word that she
vas engaged.
The words of an old fashioned song
hat Ruth sang when she felt espe-
tally friendly rang thru his mind as
ie trudged thru the rain Il suppose
he never sings that any more he
effected.
He had a list of commissions from
lis shop. and he drearily set about his
hopping.
The early dusk of a late fall day had
ct in as he turned in at the station
or his train west when he stopped
mong the stream of umbrellas He
lad forgotten to get a sample punch
ng bag that was needed for display. |
I suppose it's too late to get back in ,
he wholesale shops. but know they
AIRY THE same line of goods in a. de-
artment store not far from here I'll
ave time to rush back there"
= The rain yelling the electric lights
ave the streets a queer orange tint.
nd the wet pavements cleaned up at
i'm as he hurried back to the store
AS he stepped out of the crowded 7
levator, a blare of jazz music burst !
1lly. This was the city where Ruth )
hose to stay. Well, let her stay. 1t
idn't please him. He preferred home
nd peace. He found the punching ,
ag, and as he stood waiting impa-
entity for his change his nerves sud
emily relaxed and he slipped his watch |
ack into his pocket. II he did miss
ne train, there were others.
He wondered II Ruth was making
wonderful success of her playing; 7
he had a lovely soft touch on the
eys that was infinitely soothing-the S
ilesgirl was holding out his change.
ut the customer, a moment before 4
} impatient. had apparently forgotten |
lie time. He had just realized that
1me one was playing Ruth's song, 7
laying it with tender feeling that was
rangely at variance with the busting G