Part 23 (1/2)
”There's a little lad, G.o.d bless him!
And he's all the world to me; Guide him, Lord, through life's long journey, Guard him, keep him safe to Thee.
REFRAIN:
”You're my only little laddie, Golden hair, and eyes of blue; G.o.d, who made the birds and flowers, Chose the best when He made you.
”Streams may ripple, birds may carol, Twinkling-stars may dance and s.h.i.+ne, But life's sweetest joy and rapture Is to know that you are mine.
REFRAIN:
”You're my only little laddie, etc.
”Parted, though, by time and distance, Hearts can never sundered be.
Love Divine, oh, still unite us, Strong to each, and strong in Thee.
REFRAIN:
”You're my only little laddie, Golden hair, and eyes of blue; G.o.d, who made the birds and flowers, Chose the best when He made you.”
Rod paid little heed to the storm of applause which greeted this song, and when it was repeated he did not follow the words as closely as before. He was thinking about that boy, and wondering where he was.
He was sure that the woman was almost crying when she got through.
What made her feel so badly? Was her boy away from her somewhere, and if she wanted him so much, why didn't she go to see him?
At last the curtain dropped, and the concert was over. As the people began to go out, Rod overheard what those nearest to him were saying.
They were loud in their praise of the singer.
”It was that last piece which caught me,” he heard one man say. ”It wasn't the words so much as the way she sang it.”
”I was crying when she got through,” his companion, a woman, replied.
”I just couldn't help it. She's had trouble in her life, mark my word.”
Rod and Phil now were uncertain what to do. They remained where they were until the people in front of them had all pa.s.sed out. They felt very helpless and forlorn there in that big place. The curtain was down, and the singer had disappeared. But they must find her, and she was somewhere on the stage in the background. They knew nothing about the regular way of entrance, and, so, after a moment's consultation, they hurried forward down the long central aisle. Coming to the stage, they clambered upon this, made their way along the edge, and slipped quickly about the left-hand corner of the curtain. Behind this no one was to be seen, but observing a door to the right, they made straight toward it. They had scarcely reached it, when they were met by a pompous little man, who demanded what they were doing there.
”We want to see Miss Royanna,” Rod replied, shrinking back somewhat from the man's fierce look.
”See Miss Royanna!” the man shouted in surprise. ”If that isn't the limit! Well, she can't be seen, that's all there is about it.”
”But we have come all the way to see her,” Rod insisted.
”All the way from where?”
”From Hillcrest.”
”Ho, ho! that's a good one. D'ye think she'd gee such bus.h.i.+es as you?
Get out of this, or I'll chuck you.”