The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-07-19
HIS ART
BY WHITE

The girl bent forward to touch
placatingly the young mans head.
"Silly," she laughed, "when have
come all the way from America in or
der to perfect my voice. Do l ask
you to give up your talent for me?'
"But to compose music is different"
explained Gene.
Lissette considered him, her pretty
head sidewise.
"What a joke that would be Gene"
she said, "a to cross the ocean and
leave my people, in the pursuance of
art, then meeting a fellow student,
and give up all for-loye."
"a joker cried the young man,
"Lissette, 1t is the serious thing in
our lives. And see, you shall never be
famous until you have the right song
They waste your talent, these directors.
in little joyous nothings-your voice
Lissette, it is your heart. SO your
heart must feel as you sing" Gene
caught the girls hand.
81 will write for you a song," he
Sulu, IL SOll9 VI Jul lONC lOI Cath
other; and you shall sing it for your
public, If that is your desire, and they
shall hear the love In your voice."
Lissette's eyes softened as they rest
ed on the glowing, handsome face.
"Will you, Gene?' she asked. ooh,
l know that 1 could sing your song,
for always | should see your face as
l 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 a country listened
In adulation.
The singers name was given on the
program as Lissette Wendell. And
little Lizzie Wendell of Holcomb vii
lage seemed all unspoiled by her great
success. Gene, triumphant, %rapturous,
became absorbed in a second song,
which must outclass his first.
1t was at this time hat Lissette
met the American. He was on business
for his publishing house. Jack Lam
don was good looking. The idolized
young singer enjoyed the contrast.
Unknown to herself, Genes sentiment
tally had grown wearlsome. And it
happened that Jack, falling suddenly In
love, but as sure of himself as ever,
asked Elizabeth Wendell to marry him,
knowing nothing of Gene, the musi-
clan. Gene had sought no profit from
his song; it had been dedicated to
Lissette and as such, was in his opin-
ion, her property, made successful
through her gift.
Jack Landon never listened to the
tender song, rendered so sympathet-
ically, 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
settle she had appeared preoccupied
and distract. SO when she came one
day TO his studio, he greeted her smil-
ingly.
at is coming beautifully, beloved"
he said, speaking of the composition
which was his one thought.
Gene she began haltingly, sit was
all n mistake, our faneied love. l must
not see you any more"
Vaguely understanding, Gene waited
before her. At length he spoke. His
voice was so strangely calm.
"a mistake? Very well then. You
need see NE no more, Lissette. Is there
there ~anotlerT"
Dumbly the girl nodded.
IT feel" trembled Lissette, almost
as though | had stolen your song-and
left you nothing"
His dark eyes allght, he whlrled up
OF her.
LEFT me nothing? What more could
you give me then than the assurance
of my skillY p
Jack Landon was ~displeased, Lis
settle could see, when she confessed
to him concerning Gene.
100 bad" he exclaimed, frowning;
then drew her arm through his.
after all, you could not prevent
the emotional musician from falling
in love with you, l suppose. And 1t
would be natural in your loneliness to
fancy yourself in love with him. Time
may show us a way to compensate
in a measure"
Lissette again went to the studio.
The composer was at his piano
only Gene could touch the keys with
magic fingers. As she hesitated, lis
tening, came a voice singing. A con-
tralto voice this, unlike her own, but
sweet-oh, very sweet. Noiselessly,
that she might not disturb, Lissette
stepped inside the room. The singer,
n small worshipful person, stood adj
miringly ut Genes side. At sight Of
the famous Lissette Wendell, the girl,
abashed, slipped away. Still under the
influence Of his dream, the composer
came toward her. =
Il was anxious about you, Gene"
faltered Lissette. II had TO come to
see if you might have cared-too
much
Gene smiled, 81 do care very much,
Lissette-for my song. But a song of
love, is not l find, the reality. And
there is no longing which my music
cannot satisfy. SO that is well dis
coyered-Gnd rs 1t should bean
artists love. his art"
Gene was at the piano as she left
the room. Jack waited at the outer
door. "Eyprvthing all right ?" he uues-