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Show Gilt! lRose ant! $tl11er 1\f>tomltc "Richard," said Francesca, suddenly, "if you should go first, and it should be as we hope and pray it may be-if people know each other there, and can speak and be understood, will you tell him that I am keeping the faith; that I have only been waiting since we parted?" "Yes. And if it should be the other way, will you tell her that I, too, am waiting and keeping the faith, and that I have done well with our boy?" "I will/' she promised. The last chord of violin and piano died into silence. Colonel Kent bent down and lifted Madame's hand to his lips, then they went in together. XII :an :£ncbantetl bour THE days dragged on so wearily that, to Rose, the hours seemed unending. Allison came to the house frequently, but seldom spoke of his music; for more than a week, he did not ask her to play at all. On the rare occasions when he brought his violin with him, the old harmony seemed entirely gone. The pianist's fingers often stumbled over the keys even though Allison played with new authority and that magical power that goes by the name of 4 ' inspiration," for want of a better word. Once she made a mistake, changing a full chord into a dissonance so harsh and nerveracking that Allison shuddered, then frowned. When they had finished, he turned to her, saying, kindly: "You're tired, Rose. I've been a selfish brute and let you work too hard." Quick denial was on her lips, but she stopped in time and followed his lead gracefully. "Yes, and my head aches, too. If all of you will excuse me, I '11 go up and rest for a little while." 1 59 'llnenblno IJOun |
