Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 2 — page 89: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“THE HOUSE OF THE ECHO. ute.” Then—muttering half to himself— “* There’s genius in that boy, although his wits seem wool-gathering lately. Yester- day, I couldn’t do anything at all with him. Want to try him again, this morning.” Whereupon, the storm broke. “ For all you care, my dear husband, I might as well address my conversation to the blank wall!” came the initial outburst; succeeded by an- other, of longer duration, and then a torrent of angry reproaches. Madame Reitelman still possessed much of the temperament and the power and flexibility of expression that had been hers while a coloratura soprano of the concert stage. Perhaps, however, Madame was deserv- ing of sympathy. She was the wife of a genius. Karl deferred to her in everything except that which she most desired. He ob- stinately insisted upon having his’ studio at home; and he persisted in clinging to this residence in a socially-dead néighborhood whence all her intimates had gone long since. As a result of this—and of her diminished fame as an ex-singer and (let us whisper) possibly, a vexingly increasing tendency toward embonpoint—Madame was finding herself on the outer edge of the social whirl. Only by indulging in the bizarre had she been able to maintain prestige among her (the younger) set. So, the acquisition of ‘‘ Buddha’s Curse ”’ had been the cleverest of all stratagems. As long as she held the ruby, it was bound to keep her in the eye of a world that was continually expectant of something disas- trous and gruesome happening to her. Now, with the Irawadi Ruby gone, Madame’s recently-won glory also would » speedily depart. Yet scarcely a word of sympathy from this self-absorbed husband, who should have been the sharer of her sorrows, even if he did not care to partici- pate in her joys! Madame Anna spoke her mind accordingly. Karl met the storm with silence and a frown, and went on with his task. His fortitude wasted away at last, however, and he got to the point of tearing his hair and crying out: “ ‘“<Trawadi Ruby!’ ‘ Buddha’s Curse!’ All I’ve heard since yesterday afternoon! 239 Last thing at night; first thing this morn- ing! Why under Heaven’s blue canopy was a ruby created, formed, or manufactured? I’m heartily sick of ’em!” This irrational, unpardonably selfish ut- terance was more than Madame could en- dure. Even too greatly affected to gasp out more than an “ Oh!” she wildly betook herself and her sorrow away. While Madame Reitelman was going out, the favorite pupil—of whom Reitelman ex- pected so much-——came into. the studio; and the master brightened immediately. Only those pupils who showed exceptional prom- ise were granted the privilege of his in- struction. , “Well, my boy, how are we this morn- ing?” was the master’s greeting. ‘I trust not up in the clouds or down in. the depths—whichever it is.” ‘T’ll try to do better to-day, sir,” meekly said Allan, who revealed no great elevation of spirit. The master shook his head sadly while the young man proceeded to open his violin case. Alan happened to turn the open case up- side down—when, from the small compart- . ment where he kept strings and rosin, dropped in a wad of lady’s handkerchief, And from the folds of this lacy fragment, protruded a gold chain. ‘What in the world is this?” exclaimed Alan, picking up the handkerchief. He shook out the chain—in which was set a magnificent gem, whose heart glowed as with molten fire. Karl Reitelman, looking on in amaze- ment, now muttered perplexedly: ‘‘ Seems to me I’ve seen it before.” He stepped suddenly to the door, and ex- hibiting his customary disregard for con- vention, shouted at the top of his voice: “Anna! Oh, Anna!” Some queer inflection in the tone caused Madame Reitelman momentarily to forget her pique and make her appearance in no time. “Ts that what you’ve been searching for?” asked Karl, pointing to the jewel in Alan’s hand. | For an instant, Madame Anna stood fro- zen with astonishment. Then— “ Certain- ly it is, stupid!” she cried, darting forward Gomichboo (C <S (E@)