San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-19

A gust Of rain blew in when l
opened the front door. The automo-
bile horn honkcd. The automobile
horn honked again. 1t seemed to ring
through the sodden grounds around
The Birches. Then head was thrust
out between the heavy curtains of the
little roadster. IL was an odd, blunt
moment | couldn't tell whether it be-
longcd to a man or woman. But as
the lips parted and a voice challenged
me 1 was beginning to realize that
the head was strangely familiar. And
then the rich feminine voice made
me sure. My caller must be none
other than Diane Petruzzi, whose pic
ture / had seen n while before in the
Sunday supplement.
This where Jim Harrison lives?"
asked the rich voice, with. drawl
more suggestive of New England than
of the old Italy that went with the
vocal teachers name.
"This is his house." / said with
abruptness to match my questioners.
"He homer she inquired.
mo; but 1 fancy he will be short
ly," 1 said indifferently.
Right. I'll come in" was the an
swer rs she drove the car a little
farther down the driveway to make
room in case another wanted to drive
up to the door.
A moment later the driver emerged
from the car and darted to the steps
and upon the porch pulling off
gauntlet and holding out a capable
rather than artistic hand TO me. The
sturdy handclasp was a pleasant sur
prise, but it went well with the whole
stocky, powerful bearing of the wo-
man before me.
you, Mrs. Harrison?" she asked
with continuing terseness as she
shook a few drops of water out of the
gray name that was her hair.
Yes. Will you come in, please, >
said with reserve that struggled
to melt into cordially.
Surely will. And if you ask me
to have a cup of tea, / won't say
no." she grinned. This was n pesky
drive"
1 laughed in spite of myself as ]
said:
THE kettles boiling. Well have
tea in no time at all. But you are
surely Diane Pettruzzi, and so how
do you come to use a word like
'pesky'?"
! My visitor eyed me shrewedly IA
she entered the studio, which she
$ glanced around with frank approval.
That's a long story. ! may tel
= it to you over the tea cups" she said
"But if you know I'm Diane Petruzzi
; evidently you know about that picture
that sent me racing out here in
/ great rush and great rage
5 Il saw it this morning. My HUSBAND
e has gone out. I've an idea it's tC
e protest''-I began when she inter
e rupted with a sharp whistle.
E go get the tea. l like you. sh'
t lordered. "And when I'm warm inside
' I'll talk to you like Dutch uncle q
S sister or some such relative"
AS / got the tea and arranged cook
S les on a little plate | put on toas
e to brown and opened a jar of Jam
r In ten minutes 1 had brought in tn
: tea wagon with an appetizing httl
g repast.
!, Good work." said Diane Petruzzi
i. Il knew you couldn't be slack,
Q SLACK" l repeated. "Souther'
Z now. You really must explain your
q self to me, Nine. Petruzzi.p
r Il will" she said. Il like you
y fine. Peters is the name, Dora Peters
Q of Athens, Ga.
!. gasped and laughed. and then a
= she had three cups of tea and innumer
); able cookies, Nine. Petruzzi told m
. her story. E,
= Il was born in Georgia. she said
i Il loved singing and had a nice IN
! trained contralto and learned all tn
spirituals and folksongs the Negroe
and the Crackers knew. And when
T. was about eighteen rich Maine lun
= herman came down our way and mai
! ried me before l knew We were er
! gagged. He took me TO Maine. Neve
\ mind what his name was. i wan
F! to forget it-and him. Before tiT
! years had passed my hair was
Is gray as you see it now.
o. "He starved me for beauty an
If wouldn't let me sing unless he wa
10 drunk. Then he'd laugh at me. Whe
l was twenty-five he died. My tolb
were gone-Georgia looked dingy al
IL untidy to me. So | took the mone
ID he'd left me and l went to 1taly-t
Is learn TO sing"
t. That's how you got the Petruzz
'S so Iney NOulu XIV sOu NHonNS
sing" J. exclaimed.
ID "They gave Dora Peters II
re chance" said my visitor. But
Or could not sing"
x Her tones grew dim.
"Was your voice gomez | askf
s. sympathetically
RS mo. But was afraid. ] remen
IN bered how he had made fun of me.
s. was afraid. When the audience a
plauded / thought they were laugl
&C. ing at me-ridiculing me. l broke.