Montana oil and mining journal., 1938-02-26

Il have asked you so often and
you never keep your promise to
come. Are you afraid OF me? do
not want to trespaSS on your feel
, ing for your wife. But I know
what you need. You are q genius
and I understand the soul Of
genius. I offer you only a romantic
friendship in the quiet sanctuary
when you have need of me-of
my home. Michaela Sullivan"
Romantic friendship" remarkel
Sara aloud as she turned the lette
back to the beginning. The invitation
was Tor tete tete dinner next Fri
day afternoon after the early concert
It did not mention her. She tore thu
letter to pieces.
A chord out Of the silence upstair
arrested her attention. It was a wilC
dissonant chord. She stood and lis
tened to the sounds coming from
Zlatko's studio. He was improving IL
a mood of savage melancholy. a thing
he never did unless he was harassec
and depressed.
Sara went upstairs and went in t.
him. She Smoothed back his touslec
hair with cool hands and said, ''IiC
down and rest, you have a big concert
| tonight" in her warm velvety voice.
He drew her hands down round his
neck, leaned back and kissed her as
she bent over him. Talk to me, Sara
Your voice is the calmest and love-
lest thing under heaven. 1t lies on
my spirit like the touch Of wings"
you are poet, Lachy."
"Of course I am poet. That is why
the orchestra plays as never before
but that it why I suffer. What they
will do tonight"
She went and drew the thick dark
curtains across the windows. Lie
down and forget them for a little
while. just for an hour. Come now
sleep"
He lay down obediently on the big
divan and let her cover him with a
thin fur rug. The orchestra said he
worked them like a madman-no per-
fOrmance they gave would ever satisfy
him-nothing was good enough for
him in earth or heaven-so why bother
killing themselves? He had the
strength Of ten men and they were
but human.
Actually, however. zlatko de Lazlo
was not so phenomenally strong. He
lived on the fire that raced through
his nerves like some celestial cleo
tricity. Sara watched him relax into
calmneSs before her eyes. "You are
like night in the forest, he murmured
gratefully, "the empty stiffness of
Hungarian plains. If did not have
you I would burn up and die
His eyes were closed, lying deep In
their sockets and his voice was drowsy.
Sara stood with her hand in his, not
answering. Soon his fingers went limp
and fell away from her hand. She
crept out and went downstairs.
He was still asleep when she went
up to wake him at o'clock. She laid
out his dress clothes and helped him
to dress. She said, Something excit-
ing is going to happen tonight. feel
it in my bones"
'T know. I have given them too
heavy a program. 1t is going to be
-tonight's concert"
Absolutely the reverse, my sweet
idiot. It's going to be knockout"
He smiled above her hands as sne
fixed his white tie. Il love
your so funny expressive American
words"
But Sara was right. The concert
was a Knockout. She took her place
In her box on the extreme right and |
glanced around the hall before the
Tights dimmed. It was capacity au-
iience. The boxes were filled with
men in their evening uniform Of black
and white and exquisitely dressed
and extensively jeweled women
Strange that the symphony had 70
light for life in such a city OF wealth.
md culture. That it could not support
tself on its audiences was something
he people did not seem to under
ytand. Yet surely they would not let
ie I,azlo slip from their fingers, this
lark blazing musician who truly de-
erved his reputation OF genius.
sara lost herself in the majestic
urge of the music. Why did he worry
Ike he did? He had them IN the hoi-
ow of his hand. She watched his
magnetic rhythmic figure, ms every
line power to transmit musical emo
ion and fill an audience with rapture.
,he ached with her love for him. She
hought incredulously-"h Is mine :
4 least that part of him that can be-
ong to anyone else-that Is all mine. :
Sara did not walk about In the In
emission, but friends flocked to see :
er. what a glorious performance
e is marvelouS-he Is one OF tne
hope you'll be coming back
ext season-how we shall miss him
1r dear de Lazlo-"
Michaela Sullivan sat beside her, :
ne Of those fortunates among women, :
rich widow, still young, Sill beautl- :
sara smiled into the woman's heavy
.shed eyes. THANK you so much Ior
our kind mYlJaJlOuf MlS. OuLANati =
Mt nv husband suggested you should :
1me to us instead He said you would :
ke the olrietness Of our home" .
Sara saw the flicker Of chagrin and :
lrprise why did he say that? Dld :
e say why?"
,ought YOU would enjoy 1t more II :
1u knew you'd find serenity" :
Mrs. Sullivan rose. IT must get back :
|, INV place in time. But some day :
)u must come to me. 1t would be
lch a pleasure-an honor to enter :
sara nodded and smiled politely, :
lrned her gaze to the platform where :
le musicians were again filing IN. =
ne glanced at Mrs. Sullivans box :
hen the second half Of the concert =
as nearly through, but the lady was :
II there. It looked as If, for little =
me at least, the enemy was routed.
either was she in the crowd that :
mined the stairs and landing out =
lie the conductors retiring room =
hen the concert was over. -
Old Mrs. Underwood was there, gray =
aired and stout, but in her famous :
arls and sable coat looking well pre- So
rived and handsome. She smiled ex- =
Insively when she saw sara. -On. -