The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-02-22
DICK COM { S
CHAPTER 90

ANY Hdu managed TO secure pass
that night, so her mother and Luther
were to go to the performance 1t was
only Aida again, but the greatest
tenor, who always filled the house to
capacity, was away resting, so passes
were available
Mrs. Talbot had long since overcome
her ideas about operas. She had con-
Guided that the beauty of the music
made the opera spiritually elevating,
so that il did not matter what the &C
tual story was about.
She had once wished that the lib
rettos might tell about people who
loved normally and married in ortho-
dox fashion in the last scene, but aft
er time she felt that this would
make the whole thing too much like
everyday life, therefore the opera
would lose some of its effect of illus
ion.
And it isn't real" she consoled her
self as her last scruple was ready to
give up and expire within her.
Later she said:
1T doesn't matter whether it's real
or not, it's SO beautiful"
Ordinarily, she and Luther would
have waited outside the stage entrance
for Amy and they would have gone
uptown on top of bus. But tonight
they slipped off alone, knowing Adam
would call for Amy. and respecting his
sudden right to have her to himself.
That was the way in which Amy be-
gan to feel engaged. Not the announce
ment and congratulations of the party,
not the huge ring that sat heavily
upon her finger and kept her from
q or noit Of
these things impressed the fact upon
her
1t was the sight of Adams big car on
the street, and the shadow of his fig
ure sitting in the tonneau waiting for
her
Tie took her hand as they drove off
of course he always did that.
Your fingers are like ice" he said.
Ges-I can't get my glove on for
the ring she answered. Then re-
membering, she thanked him warmly
10 rthe gift, and kissed him, hidden in
the shadows of the closed car
He held her close to him His kiss
was different this time-before it was
casual caress, or an impulsive one
this was the lingering kiss of love
and of possession.
III send you muff, so YOU can
keep your little hands warm" Adam
announced. What fur do you like
best?"
Il hate muffs,'' Amy said suddenly,
though two days before she had priced
almost all the beaver muffs in town,
wishing she could afford one to match
her collar.
Slept all evening so | could be here
TO take you home" Adam announced,
Ych |, 4 -.
flee.
That's nice of YOU" lifelessly. 81
haven't-we had rehearsal, and | was
up early y-dont-irritably as
she pulled her hand away
re took the rebuff good naturedly
and gave UP trying to hold her hand.
I'm tired she apologized
All right. So am l. Never mind.
after we're married, you won't have to
work. Then it will be all right"
But Adam want to-" She was
awake with genuine alarm
i want TO sing. You said I might
on, OF course, you can sing when
ever you like. I only meant YOU
wouldn't have to do this sort of thing
--rehearsdls, and lessons and long
hours. It's all right now and then"
But Adam, l have to work hard,
or III never get anywhere. My voice
is not well trained yet I only got in
10 this chorus because Jim Clarke had
so much influence
I've had to work awfully hard to
make good, and at that I've barely
kept my place among these better
trained girls She remembered the
French and Italian lessons when she
crammed so she could memorize the
choruses in strange tongues. the dane