The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-03-16
The Transformation Scene


self out OF his chair and paced mp and
down the room, His wife rested both
elbows on the table. watching him,
with her small. pointed chin between
her hands. and her tangled. pale yellow
hair struggling over her face.
IF / stay here we shall all starye,"
continued young Hyde. What do you
say, Brabazon? Lottie can't be so self
ish as TO stop me. God knows I've done
my best!"
Ted Brabazon, another member OF
fhe small company TO which Mr.. and
Mrs. Hyde belonged. was quiet. heavy
Young man, with broad. indefinite
face. He glanced quickly al Lottie as
her husband spoke. He had known her
from the time when she was an over
worked little pantomime imp. Her
childhood had been embittered by pow
crty and hardship. but from the day
when she met Gordon Hyde the world
had more or less worn tint OF rose
color. She had been married three
years, and was only %.
They were now playing, as Lottie put
IL, "a joint in the sma.ls," meaning an
engagement together in little towns,
but Gordon had recently received a
fairly good offer for tour in South
Africa. This was several years ago,
before the war. or rumor OF war.
Gordon was anxious and unhappy at
leaving his wife and child; but at the
same time there was wild. uncon-
fessed delight in his heart al the oppor-
tunity to throw aside the immediate
troubles of struggling, hand-to-mouth
existence.
IL don't think you ought to take III"
said Ted Brabazon, slowly looking up,
over the head of the child, who was Sit
ting on his knee.
''It's easy TO talk" exclaimed Cor
don. But IL man doesn't make the
most of splendid opportunities"
"Ah! Five pounds week, amt it?"
put in Brabazon, softly.
lied, I must go. | can't stand this
beastly grind! It's too hard can't,
cant bear IL"
He broke into long. repressed pas
sion OF disappointed rage, and rested
his head on his arm against the mante.-
piece. The child began TO cry dismaly,
and Ted Brabazon put him gently
down.
"Buck up, old boy! One kid is enough
in a family. S'long. Lottie! ! don't
shine in domestic drama."
"Of course you must go. dear! It's a
fine chance. Come along. Wallie.' She
stopped and picked up her baby.
There, give dad kiss! We shall get
on all right"
"Oh, III send you half my screw from
the first week, Lottie! We've always
gone halves. haven't we, darling? |
don't care how | rough ill.,
Lottie. who had been ''roughing" II
all her life. only smiled fondly. For
three years he had unconsciously relied
on her strength OF character and pur-
pose. thoroughly believing all the time
in her utter dependence upon himself.
81 wish could go with you" she
sighed. twisting her thin fingers round
his hand.
The longing tone OF her voice, the
tears in her dropping eyelashes and the
weight OF the child as he took il out OF
sense OF responsibility; he drew her
tangled hair and pale face against his
breast.
"You must be brave little woman!"
he said. kindly, but ignoring her sym
patty of few minutes ago. "You
must try to be self-reliant. shall al
ways be sending YOU money and
things'-this was vague, but IL made
him feel better-"so you must wait till
come back, and all our i'll luck will be
changed"
For more than six months after Cor
don had sailed away Ted Brabazon saw
and heard nothing OF Lottie Hyde.
Then he met her in London at a the
atrical agents Office.
'Lottie! Well, upon my word!
What's the matter?"
Her whole appearance was changed.
She was not only white and, worn. but
her light dress and summer hat were
noticeably faded and poor. She com
menced to talk hurriedly about little
Wallie.
"But yourself. Lottie?"
"Oh, I'm al right. I've been at
work of and on ever since | saw you
last. Ted
"Have you heard from Gordon" he
asked
"Of course" she exclaimed. He's
getting on famously!"
This hardly looks like IT." sale
Brabazon, lowering his voice and
touching her faded dress and shabby
little lace cape. "I'm worried over you.
dear" he continued, slowly looking up
at her with his kind. questioning eyes.
II told YOU I've been in work." she
answered. gayly. "And there's always
Gordon to fall back uponl" with touch
OF pride. Can't ask you TO come and
see me; I've only got one room at pres
ent. l may go ont with This World OF
Woe in the autumn. Good-by. old
boy
Brabazon was sore;y puzzled. He did