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Show I 'THE BELLS of 'AVALON" A New Year's Story By ALICE B. PALMER NORMAN TREAT was sorting sort-ing over his music at the ra dlo station and wondering; what he was going to sing on the New Year's program. He hutiimej "The Bells of Avalon," over and over again. "I have It, Norml I have Itr shouted his manager. "You're to ' all. Norm, 'The Bells of Avalon!' So get busy and practice up, old boy, and be all set for 'ten bells' on New Year's eve." Thus the manager hurried out and on to other worlds to conquer. Norman sat stupefied. He did not mind the old time "Blue Bells of Scotland" or "St. Mary's," both lovely songs, but the "Bells of Av-lon" Av-lon" that was the catch. How could he do it? What If Charlene should hear him? It had been her favorite song and many a time he had sung It to her accompaniment on the piano. "The Bells of Avalon!" Ava-lon!" At precisely "ten bells" on Neur Year's eve the following announcement announce-ment came over the air: "We are now to have a fifteen minute program pro-gram of delightful 'Bell' songs, appropriate ap-propriate for the occasion, by none other than our celebrated tenor, Norman Treat." Norman had arranged his "Bell"' songs In order, leaving "The I!ell of Avalon" until last. He did not know why he had done this, but he had. Soon t h e rich tones of his lovely t e n o r Tolce were floating orer the air In one glorious "Bell" song after another. an-other. Last of all he sang with tender, heartrending heart-rending expression, expres-sion, "The Be:is of Avalon!" "I sing a complete" . program of 'Bell' lyrics. We ought to be able to hunt them up and go over them In no time. Let's see, t h e r e's t h e 'Bells of St. Mary's,' a beautiful beau-tiful song, then there's th good old-fashioned 'Bluet Bells of Scotland.' Scot-land.' And oh. -yes, the best of wonder If you hear the hells, my dear?" he sanjj directly to Charlene. The much enjoyed program was over and Norman heaved a deep sigh of relief. Still filled with tl' lovely vision and presence of his ' lost sweetheart, he turned to lexve the studio when a telegram win thrust Into his trembling band. He hardly dared open It. but when he did. he rend : "1 heard the 'Bells of Avnlnn," Norm ! Won't you spend New Year's I with Charlene?" C Western N.wai4ir Union. |