Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-06-14
Her Radio
Romance
By RUBY DOUGLAS

people of her own age in the village,
and she found it difficult to keep in
close touch with her friends In town,
especially during the winter.
"And now father has gone mad on
the subject of wireless and radios, and
! suppose the house will be filled with
instruments, horns, headpieces, noise,"
she complained to girl friend who
was visiting her for few days.
"Oh-don't you like the radio,
Clara?" asked her friend, apparently
thrilled at the very thought. Il am
crazy about it."
F, you and father would make team
--go to it. Not for me-
Clara refused to become interested
In anything.
1t was that afternoon that the men,
accompanied by her father, who had
left business early, arrived to install
the very fine radio instrument. "Why,
my dear, we'll be able to listen to
Havana-Honolulu."
Mr. Burns was as pleased as Punch
over his new toy, and Clara was
amused at him in spite Of herself.
After few hours of work the COM
'plete radio outfit was installed, and
by evening the whole family was gath
cred about while Mr.. Burns tuned up
and experimental and raved and ex-
planned the ways and wherefore Of it
all. He had gathered all the programs
he could find in the papers and one by
one, he got snatches of their numbers
over the wireless.
1t was several evenings before the
father was successful In getting
really enjoyable, clear program from
any distance.
Little by little even Clara became
interested, and finally she took enough
notice to try to get some particular
number on a program she had seen
announced.
She was alone by the fire one eve
ming in the big living room when she
suddenly heard some wonderful bari
tone notes. She lost the wave and was
unable to get the station again from
which the singer was broadcasting.
1t was strange how those few deep,
rich notes fingered in her memory.
She had gone so far as to look up the
singers name, and now she was watch
ing every announcement for its reap
pearance. She hoped he would sing
again some night when the family was
out so that she might enjoy it in soli-
tude. It was ridiculous wish for her
-unromantic, almost prosaic Clara
Burns-and she admitted it to her
saner SELF
At last she saw his name. And Fate,
or some kind fairy, betook her father
and mother to bed early.
"I'l remain down here, dad, and lis,
ten to the program tonight" she said
casually as her parents said good
night.
She scattered driftwood powder on
the logs in the fireplace lighted the
candles, turned out the electricity and
sat down, after adjusting the instru-
ment and tuning-in with the station
from which her singer was broadcast
ing. She almost laughed aloud as she
thought of the way her own stage was
set. But it amused her and it was
better than toddling off to bed to read
a stupid book or get sleep she did not
need.
At last she heard the golden notes.
If Clara recognized a thrill when it
approached her, she believed she was
being really thrilled by the wonder of
that voice. And then the fact that
the owner Of it was several hundred
miles away occurred to her. Yet, it
was wonderful.
When he had finished singing and
the program continued, Clara found
herself quite uninterested. She arose
and switched off. If she could not hear
that voice again she would hear moth
ing.
do you suppose he is-young?" she
asked herself.
She sat for long time looking into
the varicolored flames curling out of
the now crumbled logs. She was try
ing to see the eyes of the man who
could sing in such a gloriously con-
vincing way.
When she awoke the next morning
1t was with the memory of that voice
in her ears. 'How silly" she said to
herself. "He may be married-he is
probably fat and-oh, I'm sure 1
should be disillusioned If should see
him."
But the memory persisted. She
could not concentrate on anything she
tried to do. SIT would be ordinary.
mo, / couldn't do that" she decided.
One day the girl friend who had
been visiting her the day her father
had come home with the radio set,
came dashing up the driveway In her
little runabout.
"Clara-Tve got a chance to sing
over the wireless" she cried.
Clara asked her up to her room, out
of the way of the family downstairs.
She was more than glad to see her.
She found that she could no longer
keep to herself the secret romance
ke,a. y