Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-09-09
Three Rows From
the Front
(Copyrizht.)
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD

i to the applause inspired by his
opening selection, noticed that the girl
was there again, three rows from the
front and in the center.
He had first seen her in Oakland,
then In Denver, and had continued to
| find her at each recital in the various
| cities he visited on his coast-to-coast
tour. Always she sat, as now, rapt,
adoring, and, at the close Of each song,
clapping with her little hands.
He seized his accompanist, young
Pierre Diderot, and led him forward,
at which the little hands clapped
harder than ever at the great singers
generosity in sharing the plaudits Of
the audience.
| Unfortunately for his peace of mind,
the girl was getting to be necessity
to the man. He had grown to look for
her first of all, and if by any chance
she was late his heart sank And then
when she did come in, her mauve eve
ming cape over her slender arm, he re-
vived again like dropping plant after
shower, and was willing even to sing
To his audience Orloff Siechiensky
was the great master, superb and SUI
preme. To his manager, he was re-
fractory child who, if properly con-
| trolled and kept clear of entangling
alliances with women who made fools
Of themselves over him, would con-
tinue to bring in with his golden voice
vast sums of money at each perform
ance
Therefore, when, during the brief
intermission, Orloff remarked that he
was sending note by an usher ask
ing q certain charming lady to be
shown into his presence, the manager
frowned. But he very well knew that
it was poor business to cross Orloff in
the middle of recital. He was quite
capable of refusing to appear at all
again that evening.
Yet something must be done. every
WE'LL" he said to Orloff resignedly.
"Give me your note and give you my
word 1 will deliver it at once. There,
they are still clapping you. You must
60 on again."
1t was after his rendering of an old
Polish folk song that Orloff saw an
usher approach the occupant of the
center seat three rows from the front
and after that the girl sat for long
| time with her head bowed. When she
finally raised it he could see that her
eyes were shining.
After the last encore Orloff hurried
from the stage to clasp the slender
hand of a dark-haired girl and gaze
into a pair of steady eyes.
II am lattered by your regular at
tendance at my recitals," he said,
never at it's best during emotional mo-
ments. "You are my inspiration"
The girl raised fathomless eyes to
his. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"You are to me the greatest Of mas
tiers. But it Is your pianist that pur
sue, Pierre. We are to be married
soon, but follow to keep my eyes on
him. These young artists are like
wax in the hands of the fiattering
women. 1 have the time and the
money, so I spend them both to keep
| him safe for ME. Oh see him hardly
at all. Once in while little dinner
| or a few words on the train"-she
shrugged her shoulders.
Orloff's manager, carefully within
earshOt, grinned. "Bravo-bravo!" he
said to himself. 1.-THE girl is a clever
little actress. My suggestion and
check, sent along with his note, were
an inspiration. If only Pierre does not
spoil it by bursting in and swearing
he never saw the girl! How devilfshly
disagreeable Orloff looks with that
frown on his foreheadw 49, se"s@~s>ss
Yes, Orloff looked for all the world
like a very large little boy who sees
stick of candy about to be taken away
from him. He had dropped the slen-
der hand and was already sick of the
interview. ''.'' 49,. .~.-- .s>s .~&s-ssa
"Pierre-Pierrer ' she shouted sud-
denly, to the CONSERVATION of his man
ager.
Mono, Siechiensky. Pierre has
gone ahead to attend to your luggage"
whats that, monsieur? Pierre
rushed In hurriedly. did you wish
Nom de ciel, is it you whom I see
petite Eugene? Pourquoi-"
"Ah, Pierre" the girl rushed into
his arms. 1.-THE master sent for me
and the other one-he wrote me this
note and"-she held out a check and
waved it in the direction of the man.
ager, whom the rapid turns of his
wheel of fortune had made SDeechleSS
-"and 1 can't keep it because all I
have said was the TRUTH"
"Oh," said the manager grandly.
Consider. my children, that it Is my
wedding present to you both"
Then: "Come, Siechiensky," he
pleaded soothingly, cor you will miss
your train and break the hearts Of the
two thousand people that await you"
Outside in the darkness he mopped