RADFORD, THE GREATLY DESIRED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10926, 15 November 1913, Page 2

RADFORD, THE GREATLY DESIRED.

(By W. PETT RIDGE.) Author of "Devoted Sparkes," etc. [All Rights Reserved.] "Now tell ns," . said Miss James, offering chocolates, and using the plural although she referred only to herself. " There hasn't been a chance of having a word with you lately; your time's been so taken up. How's everything goihg on?" "It isn't a matter one cares to talk about."

" Very extraordinary," declared Miss James, snatching back 'the cardboard box, " that whereas me and you used to be such close friends, now it all seems different. I certainly think it's a pity you should let a third person make all ithis change between us." ; "You don't understand,"' remarked Miss Corsbie in a dreamy way. " I'm ready to be informed."

"Well," said Miss Corsbie, half hiding her face in a. white muff, " when yon become engaged you'll recognise, tho truth of what I tell you. Being fond of a young gentleman makes such a difference that you scarcely feel like the same person." "You're .most certainly altered." snapped the other. " Everybody's noticed it. I'm not the only one, by a long chalk. It's the subject of general conversation." "At one time," said Miss Corsbie, "I used to hate the idea of being talked about. If I saw two girls meet in Holloway Road and begin to chatter, I felt inclined to cross over and ask what they were saying about me. Now, I don't mind in the least." Tho chairman asked for silence, and announced that Master Somebody would now recite " The Women of Mumbles Head" ; the two girls were compelled to affect an interest. The chairman apologised for not taking the items of the programme in their printed order, but some people who had volunteered to assist arrived early when they should come late; some came late when they should arrive early;_ some, after ( giving solemn promise, did not come at all; it made the task of a chairman exceedingly difficult. A promise was a promise all the world over. If a man gave his word, said the chairman aggrievedly, he ought to keep it.

i "Hear, hear!" cried Miss James, with a forefinger at Number Three on her card. Her friend, with head haok, gazed contentedly at the ceiling of the hall. Eight minutes later the child in sailor suit finished his recitation with a sigh of relief, and the. chairman, receiving a message, rose again. " Now wo go back," he said, "to Numberlet me see, what is it again? My eyesight isn't so young as it used to be. Number Three. Mr Edmund Radford will sing, 'You I Love and Only You.' " Tho chairman looked around with the air of one about to make a humorous remark. "I don't know whether Mr Radford's 'you' is present this evening, but if so, she will no doubt be highly interested in hearing what he has to say about her." " Silly old man!" commented Miss James. r . , " He's rather amusing, urged JUiss Corsbie. "I love a good joke." - ■ Both ladies joined in the applause which greeted the singer; they watched anxiously during the moments of suspense that ensued whilst tho accompanist sorted leaves of music,_ ad- j justed the stool to tho correct height. and looked across with tho "Are you ready " look. " Got a lady friend' to play for him, then," whispered Miss James. "Wonder he didn't ask you, dear. You could have managed to strum along." " She's his sister." "Oh!" sard Miss James.

The young man had an astonishing deep bass voice, nnd although this gave to Jiis love song a suggestion of one possessing a grievance, the effect on the audience was admirable; a few who possessed his acquaintance looked now and again at Miss Crosbie, who kept an appearance) of rapt enjoyment that seemed to goad her friend into a state of suppressed agitation. "You shouldn't ciap hands," she protested. "Why ever not?" demanded the girl. " I've enjoyed it." "People who haven't good manners," said Miss James shortly, " csa. never bo taught them." Mr Radford returned and bowe<s, returned again and bowed, and, tho cheers decreasing, _ in spile of Miss Corsbie's efforts, did not appear again. Presently he came,_ overcoated and with a roll of music under his arm, and the girls made room for him. He declared himself not nt all in good voice, assured them he was greatly relieved at not being compelled to give a second song; pointed out that standing outside n furniture shop in Tottenham Court Road during the day gave a man no chance of doing iiimsolf credit on the concert platform at night. Scaled to Mr Radford that

be >!would shortly have to decide and seleot: one occupation or the other. >" You take my advice," counselled Miss James, " and go in for singing. People with worse voices than yours make fortunes, and get their names into the newspapors." ''Don't do anything of the kind," •juirposed Miss Corsbie; "you keep to a certainty, dear. The money may not be great, but it's regular."' "If it was me," said the other, " I shouldn't hesitate a single moment. This is just one of thoso opportunities that men sometimes lot slip, and then they bitterly regret it ever afterwards. Life-long remorse." enough to talk," asserted Miss Corsbie. '■' Givo me a fixed income, so that I know where I am." You'll pardon mo," interposed young Radford, "but this is really a matter for mo to settle, and no one else: I shan't take a definite step jvithout a good deal of consideration, hut when the moment comes—■—"

You'll talk it over with me," suggested Miss Corsbio. affectionately. '• Xo," be said. " I shall moke up my mind for myself." _.' Thov came to safer ground in triticisfflf the subsequent performers, and Miss, .Tnmos, in regard to more, than one of these, declared she had heard better efforts, by people who sold coals ill tho public street; it did seem to her .a grievous' error- in management to have one superlatively good .item and nil the rest something short of ordin»ry. Wore she controlling an affair of tho kind she would endeavour to choose-all of the excellence that Mr Radford possessed; she admitted, however, that the task would not be easy. Mies James had read quite recently of n singer who received an enormous amount—-tho precise figures -would not answer to .-her call—simply'for giving a few airs to a gramaphone; roughly speaking, sho estimated tho annual gains qf such, performers at something Dver four, or, five thousand pounds; for rill,sho knew-.,forty fifty thousand might bo; nearer tho'mark.' As to the difficulties' attending' the musical profession, why there wero obstacles to be encountered in 'every busitiess. Mr Radford listened intorestedlv.

That s true," ho agreed. " I spent an hour and a quarter over some likelv looking customers to-day, neglecting tho outside of the establishment, and at the end I found they'd been married for eight years; they didn't spend twopence, and they only left because it h,ad stopped raining." _ "I. wouldn't, stand- it," cried Miss James, sympathetically. " T'd put on my hat and cloak and' sweep out of the place, y I call fit •.-degrading'for a man of your abilities to have to submit to treatment of that kind. Why, you'll let:then dance on you next." " ■ " Ws needn't stay for the last item," Miss Corsbie with'impatience. /Edmund, .you'll see me-home. I suppose." . •

"I can,see.you both home," ho replied.

Miss Corabio laughed. '.' You will nave your joke, dear," she said. "Seeing that she lives right down near the Britannia and I live up close to tho Archway, it stands to reason vou'll take one or the other. You'd better tram, ' she said to Miss James. "I must have exercise," argued the other. "One can't live without exercise. Mr-Radford, would you mind, just for once—l know it's taking you a way, f rora Miss Corsbie—but -'' _ Mr Radford took a coin, sent it a little, way .into the air, and caught it. "Heads," he announced. "That means," to Miss James, "that means I»go with.you."

Miss James, doing Friday night shopping ir. a draper's in Kentish Town Road, spoke sharply to the girl who was endeavouring to serve, and begged her to.wake up and pay attention. Miss James gave close attention to .some lace, offered in a green box, and demanded snappishly whether there was nothing better and cheaper. The assistant turned to give a bow to some now.customer, and Miss James glanced over a shoulder. . j . '?' Seems ages since we met," declared Miss. Corsbie; with; animation. " Why, I, do believe it's a month this very day. How are you? You're looking very well, excepting those two spots near your nose. And', how's Mr R. ?"

"I. always get a slight breaking out at—hem—this time of the year," said the other, speaking rather nervously. "It soon goes off." She hummed a snatch of one of Mr Radford's songs, and said "Hem!" once more. "I'll look in sonio other evening," she remarked with" severity across the counter, ■ ■" when you are not so busy." < "Don't hurry," begged Miss'Corsbie. 'iYou needn't let me drive you off.. I can wait." And took one of the' high chairs. . Miss James made a small and rapid purchase; allowed the contents of her purse to roll about the floor, and came back, from the ta6k of recovering the coins in a,.flushed condition.

"Now- sit down and get :cool," ordered' Miss Corsbie,';" and tell me what' you've,been doing lately: I've been 6t'aying late at my. place of business and really, as I said to mother, I seem to be meeting nobody. Quite out of the world in a manner of speaking. Been to any theatres or concerts lately? I, went to see Lewis Waller the other.night. He's such a dear." "Look here!" cried Miss James rapidly. "What's the use of us two beating about the bush in this style? We may just as weir speak out plainly and get it over. ! Because Mr Radford went off with me that evening, and because we've been out together to concerts a fc.\v' times since, you're naturally huffy with me." "Huffy?"'. " Daresay; I should feel much the same if J were in your position. I sympathise with you, to a certain extent, but/after all it's for him to decide. Mind, I didn't take him away from you. • No one can say that. If you-go putting it about that I tooK him away from you, I shall, have to," Miss James lowered her voice but took a tone of" determination, "1 shall have to tell. people you're a storyteller I"

"My dear-soul;" cried Miss Corebio with a gesture of protest, " I shouldn't think of saying any such thing I" "Better not!"

"He's got a perfect right to walk out, with just who he pleases. I should never dream of interfering." Miss James nodded a guarded assent.

"As a matter of fact," went on the other, " I've seen nothing of him since that night, and I haven't bad a line from him, but that needn't interfere with friendship between you end me." Miss James nodded more cautious^. "We've known one another such a long time that surely we understand ourselves better than to let a trifling circumstance—l want 6ome now flowers for that brown hat of mine." She spoke to. the assistant, and invited Miss James to co-operate in the task pf selection. They walked out of tho shop together. "You don'u come my way, do you," said Miss Corsbie. "Good-bye, dear; so glad to have met you. Give my best regards to Mr Radford. . I hope he's keeping up his singing." " You're not' going like this,' declared Miss James, stubbornly. " There's more in this than meets the eye. I'll walk along with you for a little way." They went, side by side. ,( Now I'm going to ask you a straight question, Margaret Corsbie, and I expect a straight answer. By nil this talk you've been indulpdn? in, <To you mean me to understand that you were glad to get rid of him? Come now, out--with it!" "It's such a difficult situation," explained tho other, hesitatingly, "that only those who have been in it can understand. When there's been a sort of an engagement for some months, nnd one suddenly finds that one has changed one's mind, why, it's the awkwardest thing in the world to have to tell the gentleman so. Besides, you

know what Holloway pcoplo aro for | talk. They think nothing of calling a girl a flirt." "You really wanted to get rid oi him, then?" ' " Don't let's say any more about it. 'Tisn't worth wasting breath. 'Does lie still practico his scales when he's walking in Waterlow Park?" " Ho's always cither humming or singing."

" Yon mustn't lot that- got on your nerves, dear. .It's a tiresome habit, I know, but ho doesn't-do it simply for the sake of annoying. Only when you havo a lot to talk about, it docs rather interfere with the How of conversation."

"I've told him about it twice," said Miss James.

" Now I'm not going to allow you to go a step further," announced Miss Corsbie. stopping. "Thank you for coming this distance, and," kissing her and lowering her voice, "thanks ever so much for all you're clone for mo! I can never bo sufficiently grateful!"

.'Die young man, standing outside the furniture shop, presented a smarter appearance than that offered by other gentlomen at doorways, but only when folk stopped to look through the windows and view the armchairs, the fireirons, the settees, the writing-desks, the bookcases—-(Guaranteed Secondhand: No Reasonable Offer Refused)— only then did he screw up a smile, and. advancing, say, " Would you mind stepping inside, madam? Wo have a large assortment within." During the intervals when people hurried by, he gazed at the traffic of the roadway in a fixed manner as one not seeing tho motor omnibuses, the Royal Slues, tho yellow Victorias, the Red Hammersmiths, because of thoughts which possessed his mind. Tho thoughts appeared mournful, for now and again he" aroused himself and sighed, and taking a feather whisk, brushed aimlessly at the articles standing on the pavement. " Shall I fetch "you your tea and toast, sir ?" asked the lad of the establishment.

"No." answered Mr Radford; "no. I'm off'food and I'm off drink."

"Let me get you something from the chemist."

. " Go and buy a pint of arsenic,"' he said, with a curt laugh. ," Get a quart whilst you're about it. Toll them I'll leave the money in my will. What are you smiling about, Frederick?" ; "Thought you wanted mo to, sir." " I don't. " I'm feeling pretty tidy miserable, and when anybody's like that, there's nothing more irritating than to look around and..see everyone •on the grin." " I conic across a very nic-e bit aboutyou in a Kentish Town paper last night, sir," remarked the lad respectfully., " I know. Put it in myself.' "It said the applause was terrific." "A lie," said Mr-Radford gloomily. "There wasn't enough to take me off to the ferns. Besides, I've lost all interest in my public performances. I don't much care if I never have a chance of appearing on a patform again. After what was said to me, in th*e course of conversation, whilst coming down in the Tube this morning, I've a jolly good mind not to accept another engagement!" " If a man talked to me like that," declared the lad, putting a, ■ Sterling Value' card in position, "I should make no more bones about it, but I should simply dot him one. Dot him one well between the eyes,"

"It was a, lady." "In which case," decided Frederick, after consideration, "in which case why not a few short remarks on her personal appearance?" Radford shook his head and took a leaf from a book of cigarette papers. After a moment's thought ho replaced his tobacco-pouch, and, twisting the leaf into a butterfly, blew it away. "If there's anything I can do " said the lad. "Do yon remember where Miss Corsbie works?" "Do I not!"

"Think you could run there and ask her if she'd be so very kind as to call here on the way home this evening and favour me'.with a word. Tell her I shall feel greatly obliged-and that I've got something particular to tell her." " She'll be suro to ask where the concert is and whether it's evening dress or not." "Look here!" cried Mr Radford. with sudden inspiration. "On your way back slip down to the Shaftesbury and get two three-shilling seats." The lad considered himself a diplomatist of the first order, but he resembled many who hold this opinion by failing to make acts come up to admirable intentions, so that when he delivered the message breathlessly in the form of "Mr Radford, ho says you've got to call for him on your way 'ome this evening, without fail," then Miss Corsbie tightened her lips. ''Tako back my compliments and tell him that if he wants to see me he'd better get off earlv and call here for me. Say," she added, " say I'm not in the habit of running after people." This communication the boy gave in Tottenham Court Road with two upper circe tickets marked D 47 and D 48. " Told me she wasn't keen on seeing you, but you could look round at her place of business any time and take your chance!" The young man arrived in Great Castle Street before seven, and on the south side waited, gazing up at the windows of the room, where Miss Corsbie and a dozen other ladies gave, up their lives to Fashion. He coultr see shadows on tho blind, and thought, now and again, that he recognised one. The shadows began to put on hats and cloaks, his foot tapped the kerb impatiently. Two girls came out, and one ran back upstairs; several followed, and a group went off with a burst of laughter which Mr Radford, a young constable, a man with a new hat, and a scarlet-faced' cab-driver, respectively accepted as being a flippant_ criticism on himself. Some df the lights were turned down. Mr Radford felt the theatre tickets in his waistcoat pocket, and groaned to think there was a risk of wasting so much money. " Good evening," she said, coming across the road. " Hasn't it been a beautiful day, for once." " Not for me. How've you been keeping?"

" Don't know when I've felt so well," declared the girl enthusiastically. " Mother was saying only this morning people wouldn't take us for sisters much longer if I went on at this rate. I suppose it' 3 the absence of worry.'' " Your loss then,'.' he said, "has been my gain. I wanted to know whether you'd care to go to the theatre with me to-night." "Why not take Miss James?" " I don't propose ever to exchange another remark with the lady you mention." "I think I'd better say not," she continued. "Find somebody else!" "I've done plenty in.the way of finding somebody else," he declared vehemently, " and I've had enough of it." She shook her head. "They're orders; orders for the upper circle." " I've got no gloves fit to wear," she argued, lelonting. " That can soon be remedied. Cut through here with me into Oxford Street." Mr Radford bought a bos of chocolates on the way ; in the theatre he purchased two programmes; begged her to allow him to hire a pair of operaglasses. "Wish I-could explain," he said earnestly, as members of the orchestra stumbled into their places, "howgood it is to be sitting next to you again." " I can guess," she remarked in an undertone. "Well." surprisedly, "'but that girl

assured me on her word of honour that you werivt in the least upset, and that you thanked her for—for taking mo off your hands." "Foolish boy!" said Miss Corsbie, pinching his arm affectionately. " Think I didn't know that was just the way to make her givo you up?"