Evening star., 1924-02-10

Y
you'll be doing this on your ukelele
William. but for heavens sake, don't
practice in the court, will you:
Goodbye"
They dispersed like q we'll drilled
mob on the stage.
VIII stickney hesitated for a mo-
ment, his violin under his arm.
wont you let me-mayn't l."
he babbled
Il Know she said. looking kindly
at him. Il know. Thanks just as
much. You play like an artist. Good
luck to you! Goodbye" and she
patted his shoulder gently.
He felt tug at his sleeve.
Come on! Come on" Kissed a
voice. and he followed the dark girl
out Of the room.
They stood alone in the yestibule.
She carried his violin case and her
cape in one arm. with the other hand
she pointed to his door.
Aren't you going in?" she in
quired dryly. as he stood gazing
emptily before him.
why. I-I-'
His voice came in husky wi1is-
per. He had turned very white. She
glanced swiftly at him.
Where's your key?" she asked
abruptly. Give It to me-auickw
Automatically he felt in his pocket
and produced it: she opened the door
and pushed him gently in.
Here" she said. I'll help you;
just lean on me-"
Nonsense" he began weakly, I'm
all"
But he barely reached the COM
Portable old sofa; and fell on the
floor beside 1t, his head resting on
the seat. From a great distance
came a voice calling out something
about his breakfast, his breakfast,
his breakfast!
He made q great effort and whis-
pered:
'Lunchtime, yesterdayr'
LIE had no idea OF the time that
might have passed; but all at
ky
breaths. a delicious fragrance filled
the air. All, coffee. Coffee it was,
and II was coming closer and closer;
it was beside him on the floor; she
was kneeling by him, pressing back
his shoulders.
stop. Don't you move. You
might go off again"
When he had had coffee, two eggs
and three rolls he rose masterfully
and sat on the sofa.
"You must think I'm q useless sort
OF fool" he said; "but forgot about
dinner last night, when 1t rained so,
and the sonata and everything-and
then that .Butterny'-Oh. heavens"
Il know" she said soothingly, 81
know. Yol can't help it Do you
mind II I cook myself an egg? It's
o'clock!"
'Oh, my Gracious" he cried, and
would have got up TO attend on her,
but that she swore she would go
unless he sat still.
Presently she returned with an
other tray and ate her eggs and rolls
and coffee. chatting most compan-
ionably while he lay back in 8
drowsy content and watched her.
II found these cookies" she said.
with q chuckle, "and I'd have taken
'em IL 1t was the last act! I haven't
seen scalloped sugar cookies like
these since I was down in Maine
last"
"oh." he cried. "were you ever in
Maine?'
Born there" she nodded; $50 was
Mary. you know"
$50 was my mother" he said; I'VE
always went there summers. Was
that where Miss Falconer and her
brother were born?"
"Brother!' she repeated scornfulIy.
Mary never had q brother, be-
lieve. You mean that crazy picture,
suppose? That's George Frascogni's
idea Of a joker
"A joker
''Sure!" she nodded. "Mary bought
Long Island, and George had that
photograph taken. He'll be UP here
any minute now, I suppose" she
went on; ''he's singing 'Sharpless," !"
Of course"
Lets try that piano." she said
presently.
"Yes." he muttsred. He felt so
comfortable, so well fed. so sleepy
She played bit Of Bach, a bit OF
Schuman and then swung gently into
the Chopin "Berceuse": he smiled like
a sleepy child and drew his legs up
on the big sofa The lovely. nppling.
rocking thing went on ana on: the
stream of melody flowed over him
and sweetly drowned him; he fell
asleep.
when he woke he was alone. He
sat up and noticed steamer rug
spread over him. and saw a bit OF
paper pinned to 1t.
"If you wake up before 6, come
down to the restaurant around the
corner from the Metropolitan--ith has
. green sign-and I'll be there about
$50. had to leave. Mary has given
NJ two passes for the rehearsal"
His spirits dew up IKE auioiEsilver.