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‘‘Passed the box…office coming up；''
continued this voluble enlightener；
‘‘nothing left but a few seats in the top
gallery。 We'll stand them on their
heads to…morrow nightsee if we
don't。'' Then he handed the bursting
envelope of notices to Diotti； who
listlessly put them on the table at his side。
‘‘Too tired to read； eh？'' said
Perkins； and then with the advance…agent
instinct strong within him he selected a
clipping； and touching the violinist on
the shoulder： ‘‘Let me read this one to
you。 It is by Herr Totenkellar。 He
is a hard nut to crack； but he did himself
proud this time。 Great critic when
he wants to be。''
Perkins cleared his throat and began：
‘‘Diotti combines tremendous feeling
with equally tremendous technique。
The entire audience was under the
witchery of his art。'' Diotti slowly
negatived that statement with bowed head。
‘‘His tone is full； round and clear； his
interpretation lends a story…telling charm
to the music； for； while we drank deep
at the fountain of exquisite melody； we
saw sparkling within the waters the
lights of Paradise。 New York never
has heard his equal。 He stands alone；
pre…eminent； an artistic giant。''
‘‘Now； that's what I call great；'' said
the impresario； dramatically； ‘‘when
you hit Totenkellar that way you are
good for all kinds of money。''
Perkins took his hat and cane and
moved toward the door。 The violinist
arose and extended his hand wearily。
‘‘Good…day'' came simultaneously；
then ‘‘I'm off。 We'll turn 'em
away to…morrow； see if we don't！''
Whereupon Perkins left Diotti alone in
his misery。
IV
It was the evening of the fourteenth；
In front of the Academy a strong…
lunged and insistent tribe of gentry；
known as ticket speculators； were reaping
a rich harvest。 They represented a
beacon light of hope to many tardy patrons
of the evening's entertainment；
especially to the man who had forgotten
his wife's injunction ‘‘to be sure
to buy the tickets on the way down
town； dear； and get them in the family
circle； not too far back。'' This man's
intentions were sincere； but his newspaper
was unusually interesting that morning。
He was deeply engrossed in an
article on the causes leading to matrimonial
infelicities when his 'bus passed
the Academy box…office。
He was six blocks farther down town
when he finished the article； only to
find that it was a carefully worded
advertisement for a new patent medicine；
and of course he had not time to
return。 ‘‘Oh； well；'' said he； ‘‘I'll get
them when I go up town to…night。''
But he did not。 So with fear in his
heart and a red…faced woman on his
arm he approached the box…office。
‘‘Not a seat left；'' sounded to his hen…
pecked ears like the concluding words
of the black…robed judge： ‘‘and may the
Lord have mercy upon your soul。'' But
a reprieve came； for one of the aforesaid
beacon lights of hope rushed forward；
saying： ‘‘I have two good seats； not
far back； and only ten apiece。'' And
the gentleman with fear in his heart
and the red…faced woman on his arm
passed in。
They saw the largest crowd in the
history of the Academy。 Every seat was
occupied； every foot of standing room
taken。 Chairs were placed in the side
aisles。 The programs announced that
it was the second appearance in America
of Angelo Diotti； the renowed Tuscan
violinist。
The orchestra had perfunctorily
ground out the overture to ‘‘Der
Freischuetz；'' the baritone had stentorianly
emitted ‘‘Dio Possente；'' the soprano
was working her way through the closing
measures of the mad scene from ‘‘Lucia；''
and Diotti was number four on
the program。 The conductor stood
beside his platform； ready to ascend as
Diotti appeared。
The audience； ever ready to act when
those on the stage cease that occupation；
gave a splendid imitation of the historic
last scene at the Tower of Babel。
Having accomplished this to its evident
satisfaction； the audience proceeded； like
the closing phrase of the
‘‘Goetterdaemmerung'' Dead March； to become
exceedingly quietthen expectant。
This expectancy lasted fully three
minutes。 Then there were some impatient
handclappings。 A few persons
whispered： ‘‘Why is he late？'' ‘‘Why
doesn't he come？'' ‘‘I wonder where
Diotti is；'' and then came unmistakable
signs of impatience。 At its height
Perkins appeared； hesitatingly。 Nervous
and jerky he walked to the center of
the stage； and raised his hand begging
silence。 The audience was stilled。
‘‘Ladies and gentlemen；'' he falteringly
said； ‘‘Signor Diotti left his hotel
at seven o'clock and was driven to the
Academy。 The call…boy rapped at his
dressing…room； and not receiving a reply；
opened the door to find the room
empty。 We have despatched searchers
in every direction and have sent out a
police alarm。 We fear some accident
has befallen the Signor。 We ask your
indulgence for the keen disappointment；
and beg to say that your money will be
refunded at the box…office。''
Diotti had disappeared as completely
as though the earth had swallowed him。
V
My Dearest Sister： You
doubtless were exceedingly mystified
and troubled over the report that
was flashed to Europe regarding my
sudden disappearance on the eve of my
second concert in New York。
Fearing； sweet Francesca； that you
might mourn me as dead； I sent the
cablegram you received some weeks
since； telling you to be of good heart
and await my letter。 To make my action
thoroughly understood I must give
you a record of what happened to me
from the first day I arrived in
America。 I found a great interest mani…
fested in my premiere； and socially
everything was done to make me happy。
Mrs。 James Llewellyn； whom； you
no doubt remember； we met in Florence
the winter of 18； immediately after I
reached New York arranged a reception
for me； which was elegant in the
extreme。 But from that night dates
my misery。
You ask her name？Mildred Wallace。
Tell me what she is like； I hear
you say。 Of graceful height； willowy
and exquisitely molded； not over twenty…
four； with the face of a Madonna；
wondrous eyes of darkest blue； hair
indescribable in its maze of tawny color
in a word； the perfection of womanhood。
In half an hour I was her abject
slave； and proud in my serfdom。
When I returned to the hotel that evening
I could not sleep。 Her image ever
was before me； elusive and shadowy。
And yet we seemed to grow farther and
farther apartshe nearer heaven； I
nearer earth。
The next evening I gave my first and
what I fear may prove my last concert
in America。 The vision of my dreams
was there； radiant in rarest beauty。
Singularly enough； she was in the direct
line of my vision while I played。
I saw only her； played but for her； and
cast my soul at her feet。 She sat indifferent
and sile