The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1922-11-16
ALTA IS STOPPED
BY LOUISE N. ADDISON

s BY LOUISE N. ADDISON Z
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Tall and thin and swarthy was Miss
Alta Vandervelde, with an intense
love Of art and an intense hatred OF
clothes as other people wore them.
Miss Alta was temperamental. She
played the piano with much force and
vigor. Other Vanderveldes also per-
formed, thereby, however, displeasing
Miss Alta, who had consuming de-
sire to be known as the musical Won
der of the family; and she was very,
very bitter against anyone who In
terfered with that desire. Cousin
Chopin Beethoven Vandervelde did in
terfere with it. A tickle and unjust
world, overlooking the merits of Miss
Alta, had hailed couple Of Chopin's
musical compositions with delight ;
and the director of famous opera
company had signed contract with
him at highly remunerative figure:
Miss Alta was deeply panied as, on
certain evening, she fingered the
tickets sent to her and her mother
for the first opera at which Cousin
Chopin was to conduct.
''Shall we go?" asked her mother.
I'VE shall co." answered Miss Alta.
"Otherwise they will think me jeal-
Ous."
And Of course you are not?' assert
ed the mother.
''Of course not!" said Miss Alta.
They went. Miss Alta didn't think
much Of the way her cousin led the
music. Nevertheless, at the end Of the
first act she rose and walked to the
orchestra railing, saying, in a voice
loud enough to be heard In the greater
part of the house, Chopin, we con-
graduate you. We are proud of you"
Chopin flushed to the roots of his
hair. Thanks" he said, crisply. you
had better go back to your seat. It is
nearly time for the second act"
what pity" said Miss Alta, seat
ed once more, that Chopin is so ILL.,
hammered"
Maybe" said the mother, hesitat-
ingly, maybe you should have waited
with your congratulations"
"No" said Miss Alta, emphatical-
~. He might think me jealous"
Somehow or other Chopin resented
the Fluctuations of his cousin Alta.
Nor did his resentment abate when,
the next evening, she again publicly
bestowed her congratulations. At his
home the following day she repeated
the performance before houseful of
guests. Thereafter Miss Alta congrat-
ulated Chopin every time she saw him.
He commented on this indignantly but
explicitly.
II won't have that old crow spoil
what fun get out of life with her fool
talk. I won't have her claim relation.
ship to me in such manner-and in
such a costume!"
what will you do to prevent it,"
asked Mary, his pert and pretty Sis
ter
Something desperate-and soon.'
Some chance" laughed Mary.
Wait and see. But never mind that
now. I've invited some friends for
dinner tonight-Straumm, Freeland
and few others. 1 suppose our pre-
clous cousin will pop in just in time
to spoil things"
/ Ferdinand Straumm, friend of
; ChOpin's from distant town, arrived
, late in the afternoon and, true to
Chopin's prediction, Miss Alta also
was announced shortly afterward.
Chopin became thoughtful, but as he
gazed meditatively at his good friend
Straumm his expression frightened.
He greeted Miss Alta with gayety
and enthusiasm that astonished her.
"Allow me-" said Chopin, ito intro.
duce Mr.. Straumm. Mr.. Straumm, my
highly giften cousin, Miss Wander.
velde."
"How fortunate I am" said Miss
Alta, quite flustered, ito meet the
composer of the Straumm waltzes!"
Chopin smiled. His friend looked
dazed, but Miss Alta was unconscious
of it. There was another Straumm
; among Chopin's acquaintances, much
more notable Straumm, whom for years
Miss Alta had been anxious to meet.
And she was very happy in the
thought of having met him at last.
But her happiness lasted only until
George Freeland arrived, in time for
dinner.
Let me-" said Miss Alta, sweetly,
give you the inestimable privilege of
meeting the composer Of the Straumm
waltzes."
asked George, rudely. '"This isn't the
composer of the Straumm waltzes. In
his widest dreams he never associated
himself with the real Straumm.'
Miss Atlas eyes flashed from face
to face.
II leave this house forever" said
she. II loathe it, and it's inmates.
wash my hands Of you. 1 leave you
forever"
And she did.
II acknowledge" said Chopin, after
moments silence, that I have been
guilty Of deception 1t was cowardly,
but I had to do something to divert
her attention from me. She was get
ting on my nerves.
"Well," said Straumm, though l
would even have married her to
please you, I'm awfully glad 1 don't
have to-"
II didn't know" interposed George
Freeland, "that I was upsettins