Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-03-02
The Transformation Scene
hvLTHAT else am 10 DO. Lottie ?
wv What can l do?" With an

elbows on the tabse. watching I'm.
with her small. pointed chin between
her hands. and her tangled. pale yellow
hair struggling over her face
"If I stay here we shall all starve.
continued young Hyde. What do you
say. Brabazon? Lottie can't be 50 sSif-
ish as 20 stop me. God knows I've done
my best."
Ted Brabazon- another me Der OF
the small company 10 which Mr.. and
Mrs. HYDE belonged, was a quiet heavy
young man. with a broad. indefinite
face. lie glanced quickly at Lottie as
her husband spoke He had known her
from the time when she Was an over
worked little pantomime imp. Her
childhood bad been embittereC BY pow
ertv and hardship. but from the cay
when she met Gordon HYDE the word
had more or LEES worn tint OF rose
color She had been married three
years. and was only p.
They were now playing. as Lottie put
~. - Joint in the sma-ls," meaning an
engagement together In little towns.
but Gordon had recently received
fairly good offer for a tour in South
Africa. This was several years ago.
before the war. or rumor OF war.
Gordon wac anxious and unhappy at
leaving his wife and child; but al the
same time there was Wild. uncou-
fessed delight in his heart a. the oppor-
tunity TO throw aside the immediate
troubles OF struggling. hand-so-mouth
existence.
Il don't think you ought 10 take IL"
said Ted Brabazon- slowly looking up,
over the head Of the child. who was sit
ting on his knee.
Its easy 70 talk" exclaimed Cor
don. but if a man doesn't make the
most Of splendid opportunities"
'-Ah, Five pounds week. amt itt''
put in Brabazon. softly
Ted. 1 must go! ! can't stand this
besstly grindl It's too harG-I can't.
can't bear III"
He broke into long. repreSsed pas
sion OF disappointed rage. and rested
his head on his arm against the mante--
piece. The child began 20 cry dismally
and Ted Brabazon put him gently
down.
Buck up. old boy, One kid is enough
in family. S'long Lottie, don'i
shine in domestic 6ramat"
"Of course YOU must 90. dear! It's a
stopped and picked up her baby
There. give dad kiss, We shall ge
on all right"
"Oh. TN send you half my screw from
the first week. Lottiei We've alway.
gone halves. haven't We. darliug2
don't care how rough it,"
LOttie. who had been 'roughing" /
all her life, only smiled fondly- Fo
three years he had nnconscicusly relie'
on her strength of character and pur
pose. thoroughly believing all the tim
in her utter dependence upon himseii
II wish could go with you" sh
sighed. twisting her thin fingers roun'
his hand.
The longing tone OF her voice. III
tears in her dropping eyelashes and IN
weight of the child "a he took il out O
her arms suddenly smote him with
sense of responsibility; he drew he
tangled hair and pale face against hi
breast.
You must be a brave little woman, :,
he said. kindly. but ignoring her syn
pathy OF few minutes ago. ~YO
must try 20 he self-reliaut. / shall a
ways De sending You money an
things"-this was vague. but il mad
him feel better-"so you must wait ii
come back, end all our III luck wiz
changed"
For more than six months after Go
don had sailed away Ted Brabazon sa
and heard nothing OF Lottie Hyd
Then he met her in London at tn
atricsl agents office.
~Lottie. Well, upon my WORD
What's the matter?"
Her whole appearance was change
She was not only white anc. worn, b'
> her light dress and summer hat WEI
notieeably faded and poor She con
menced TO talk hurriedly about litt
Wallie.
'.Bat yourself, Lottie2"
~Oh, I'm al right. I've been
work of and on ever since saw yC
last. Ted"
Have you heard from Gordon?"
Akked.
O7"Of course" she exclaimed. ~Hs
getting on famouslyi"
This hardly looks like IL" sa
Brabazon. lowering his voice al
touching her faded dress and shabi
little lace cape. I'm worried over yo
dear" he continued, slowly looking
NJ her with his kind, questioning ey.