The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-16
ELEVEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Romany had enjoyed a few holl-
DAYS with Aunt Cissie, 60 that she
was not entirely unprepared Tor the
luxury on the Hayworth yacht. But
to Cholly it was fairyland.
Dinner, served on a table for four
on deck, was a rite. Dover was a
perfect host, and Brent was in his
pavest mood, After Cholly's first
self-consciousness wore off, she ate
with relish, enjoying herself I'M
Intensely.
Romany she envied, sitting oppo-
site her, looking like a princess
who had stepped out Of her castle
for a little sail on Lake Michigan.
NO one would ever have suspected
that she had grown UP without a
thin dime, and was even then 2arb-
ed in hand-me-downs from a rich
relative.
Nice things always happened to
Romany, Cholly thought, but en-
tirely without envy. She was so
generous in wanting to share every
thing with her less fortunate
friends. Cholly firmly believed
Romany had launched on an en-
tirely new life that was to bring
her success and fortune. Nothing
could stop Romany, with her great
talent and beauty. Terry, Cholly
pushed firmly in the back OF her
mind, determined to take a vaca-
ton from her worries at least for
one evening.
By the time they had finished
dinner, it had grown chilly on deck
and Dover suggested they go into
the lounge. 1t was the opportunity
Brent had been hoping for. He want
ed to hear Cholly play.
How about a little music?' he
said inside. Il always feel like sing
ing when 1 get on the water"
Heaven forbid" Dover grinned.
HE sings like a trumpheting ele-
plant. Ny of harmony, now,
that's what you ought to get a load
Of"
IF you air that bar room tenor"
Nelson predicted darkly, the girls
will both jump overheard. And I'll
probably join them"
"Play, Cholly." Romany threw
herself gracefully into a chair by
the piano. II haven't heard you
since we were in school,"
e Cholly sat down without hesita-
ton, running her little hands over
the keyboard, getting the tone OF
the instrument. It was perfect. She
sighed happily, breaking into a
medley of old songs, sweet and
Low" Sailing, Sailing, Over the
Bounding MAN," by the Sea-" and
ending up with "Barnacle Bill the
Sailor
The lovely tones filled the lounge
and the bright moonlight night.
Cholly, improvising happily because
it was seldom she got her hands on
a really good piano, played on for
several minutes without stopping.
Brent, catching Romany's eye. nod
ded. She was a fine pianist, no doubt
of it. In a little while, Dover moved
to the piano bench beside Cholly,
watching her, fascinated. He loved
music, and it was amazing that two
such small white hands could bring
so much beauty from a piano. They
looked so fragile, yet were strong
and sure on the keyboard.
'Marvelous!" Dover looked at the
pretty red-head with a new interest
when she stopped playing. DO you
do concert work"
Mercy, no." Cholly shook her
curly head swiftly, laughing. I play
the piano part time in Leo-Dane's
music store.
.Romany was a little sorry she
had said it. But if Dover's illusions
were shattered, he gave no sign.
"Well, blow me down. he said
wonderingly. "You certainly pound
out a powerful lot Of melody with
those little pinkies. You've got a
great future ahead of you, Cholly."
Cholly sighed:
"Oh, no. Nothing like that. Piano
players r a nickel a carload,
aren't they, Brent?"
Brent pursed his lips.
"Well I would have said so when
you sat down to the piano, Cholly,
but I'm not so sure now. You've one
kLi~~ In un1,r 70 uor ncnanio11, in
radio. There isn't a pianist at In.
terstate who would add anything
to a television broadcast. You'd Ger.
tainly meet all requirements on
that score"
mo doubt about that" Dover
agreed with him. "Television is go
ing to mean quite a shakeup in Chi
cago radio circles. Don't you think
30, Brent?"
I'm afraid So" Brent sighed. "The
big wave is about to sweep owe US.
The Worlds Fair broadcasts have
clinched that"
"That'n be tough for you" Dover
grinned.
Eyes, I'll probably be out ped
ding sody pop in a few weeks y
Brent smiled. He was the handsom-
est announcer in the Middle West.
"Do you sing?" Dover turned to
Romany then.
Like a frog" Romany nodded.
You can't expect a great ira
gedienne to be a concert singer,
too, Nelson chided. But she might
give us a couple Of scenes from