Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-08-21

Will gesture lnue6crfbHblv com.
placent, he held up his hand for silence
and got 1t instantly. Standing so. his
chest pushed out like pouter
pigeons, his body roctng back on his
heels. his napkin In his hand. which
he fiourlshed from time to time. he
began to sing.
IT was Siegfrled's cry OF Joy, wher
ne passed through the flames and
round the sleeping Brunhilde. Ernes
tine recognized 1t, as she recognized
the man. He was Mostane, one OF the
worlds greatest tenors. And she had
CRITICIZED his mannerl But now, all
else was swept away, and she lived
only through her ears. on which fell
each perfect note. She knew In de-
ilehtful anticipation what his golden
voice would Ito next, and her heart
scared with his voice.
lie stopped abruptly, rocked mo.
meht on his heels and then gently,
softly. poignantly he sang without &C.
compartment.
Still VIE die Nacht
Tief vie das Nicer
Sol define Liebe sein.
The tears rained down Ernestine's
cheeks. He sat down In 4 storm OF
excited applause Ernestlne could not
stop crying. She leaned on Wul's
shoulder, for he came and sat beside
her and put his arm about her. When
at last she could breathe steadily she
rose and went around the table to
Mostane md took his fat face In her
two hands and kissed him.
There was \ cheer from all the
rabies, and viii cleaned at her with
approval for her spontaneity. s,
Nothing else was adequate" de.
clared Mr.. Poole.
The hours passed In a trance. The
patronage In the dining room changed,
grew noisier, more turbulent. Girls
came and went on tile stage, and
danced and sang, and twinkled nretty
feet, and flickrd hare knees. 1t was
all an unreal blending OF sight and
sound and color, and Ernestine's heart
was far AWAY, In some lonely space
with Will. Her being stil trembled
with that last swelling note Dimty
IN her mind she felt an awakening of
artistic comprehension. a spiritual IN.
derstanding OF the strength and power
OF perfect performance. win Ind
latent IN him some such force, but It
was far from impulses to such finished
authority. Her thought was not that
rfear, but cropping.
II was time to go home, and Ernes-
line wanted will to take her away
from the others. But she saw that
Mr.. Poole was not himself Mt all any
onger. VIII always took him home,
rom the office, from such affairs as |
his, to his fiat. Ernestine felt that |
'he could not bear to he parted from
Win tonight.
she became conscious al man
tanding behind her. a little to one
ide. regarding her gravely, quietly.
'he glanced up at him but did not
now him. He was huge man, with
great dark head and clear dark
KIN. He wore sack suit, and his
arrow tie glittered with a ruby Of
normous size, set In gold circle.
N one or his big brown hands, which
'ere covered with coarse black hair,
as another such gem, Ernestine re-
rendered with affecting OF fpntness
II the wild stories she had heard
bout Pastano's place being so dsor-
erly. VIII, at least, was sober, as
G always was.
Mr.. Poole now saw the stranger.
reeted him and called him to the
bile.
And this is Mrs. Todd, my young
lends wife. You know WIN. OF
PURSE, and the others. Ernestine.
is Is Ruby Pastano, jewel merchant,
ard boss, and the owner OF this dive.
bad mana terrible man. Shake
lnds with him."
Mr.. Poole was enjoying himself and ,
oked up at Pastano with glee. Mr..
lstano did not smile He still fixed ,
Ernestine that queer solemn look.
e bowed above her. {
sit down. Ruby, sit down." CON- I
anded Mr.. Poole thickly. and mo-
med for walter to bring chair, (
lich was produced instantly. 9
Mr.. Pastano sat down between Mr.. .
'ole and Ernestine, and she felt his
avity spreading about the taule, so I
at all were little Quieted.
This is my birthday" Ernestine en- 8
iined graclously. II am twenty-one /
ars old today. and Mr.. Poole was
10 enough TO have party for me-
w that You have come, 1t Is more =
1rming."
Your voice. he said his own tone
t and silky. Where are you born?o
She told him, naively, the address
her mothers house.
But you have lived In the coun-
~
on, yes, always, In the summer.
Grandmother Langley had a home
Indiana where my fathers quar-
are. Why do you askY'
Never mind me. Tell me OF your