The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-01-22
Inspiration
By DAVID z. ADAMS
@ Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
WNU Service.
uMY DEAR. did you see the paper

4vA this morning?" Kate Hyde
scanned the luncheon menu. and tried
to signal waiter.
Not thoroughly, what do you meant"
Across the table Dot Crawford slipped
back her fur coat and drew out her
compact.
Sylvia TowIes Is making her debut
at the Metropolitan next month";" Kate
said.
sylvia Towles-that dumb-bell In
our high school class?"
Must be the one. Says she's from
Everett. Dot, do you remember the
way she sang that night at graduation?
Wasn't 1t terrible? And do you re-
member"
"Yes, I do. And I've never felt
right about IT."
"Oh well, she never knew. I'll bet
none Of our crowd ever saw her again.
Her people lived away down on the
other side, and her father was a store
clerk or something"
well, 1t seems she's come out on top
after all. Do you suppose she really
Is good?'
MY dear. people don't do what
she's doing If they aren't, or else some
body's sinking fortune In her. Look,
] have an idea Do you suppose she'd
give a recital for our club for the
hospital fund? 1t would be good ad-
yertislng for her-home town girl
makes good, and so on"
"She might After all, she grew up
here and 1t might just appeal to her
Charlotte would be just the one to In
troduce her, too. She has the clothes,
and the gift of CAB. Well, she can't do
more than say no."
Sylvia Towles did not say no. She
wrote that she would be glad to come
to Everett and to sing for the benefit
of the hospital fund under the aus
pices of the Woman's club. She stipu-
lated only that she have comfortable
suite reserved at good hotel and
that she receive no visitors before the
concert.
Dot and Kate were jubilant, IL q
trife shamefaced In private.
How about Charlottef Do you
think she'll do itf'
"Of course she'll do it--well so and
see her right now"
Charlotte was not so sure. ''Don't
you suppose she ever knew how we felt
about her?"
well, here's her acceptance. She
wouldn't come If she didn't want to-"
tGIin do tfo hast T
The evening of the concert came and
Sylvia Towles was duly registered In
the late afternon at the Plaza. The
city hall, chartered for the occasion
was sold out. Kate and Dot gave the
stage a last critical survey. 1t was
only little dingier than on gradua-
tion night eight years before. But the
roses, for which they had scraped to-
gether small private fund from
Sylvia's classmates, were lovely.
AT eight o'clock every seat was
taken The curtain rose. Charlotte,
gracious In mulberry velvet gown,
moved toward the footlights and waited
for the rustling of programs to cease.
Citizens Of Everett, 1t is pleasure
to welcome to her home community q
daughter OF this city. Sylvia Towles,
known to many Of you, receiving her
education In our public schools, has
attained the highest place In her pro-
fession. She returns to share with US
the gift OF her great talent, and we are
honored by her presence"
The applause died away, then was
renewed as Sylvia, bowling to Charlotte,
entered from the wings followed by
her accompanist. Her full sweet
soprano filed the room and the plain
tive tenderness with which she sue
ceeded In rendering the old familiar
songs left them somehow with a feel
ing that she herself had plumbed the
depths of the human heart The single
encore with which she closed the pro-
gram, Loves Old Sweet Song left
them breathless for a long moment.
Then the applause was overwhelming.
At the stage door Charlotte, Dot and
Kate waited In trepidation. What
would Sylvia say? 1t would probably
be a bad moment, but the only decent
lltlL5 w w was " Lave IL .
Sylvia swept up to them and paused.
She was no longer the store clerks
daughter from the other side of town.
There was a CLINT OF steel In her eyes
and her mouth was hard.
Dot stepped forward and pressed a
great bunch of roses into Sylvia's
arms. Sylvia, 1t was wonderful. l
-we-want you to know how much
we appreciate your willingness to
come. We're so glad about your great
success" There was sincerity In every
word.
Sylvia buried her face In the roses,
then raised her head. The cold gleam
was gone from her eyes, melted, of all
things, by tears.
Girls" she said gently, II don't
know what to say / didn't come here
to be kind. / came to take revenge.
And believe me, I had planned to the
last word just what I'd say to you
three" The corners of her mouth
quirked In the old humorous way they
all remembered HAnd now r c-can't