The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-03-09
The Transformation Scene
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hXATHAT else am ! to Go. Lottie :?
wv What can | do" With an

wv What can do With ar
angry gesture Gordon Hyde Hung him.
self out OF his chair and paced up 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 10 stop me. God knows I've done
my best.r
Ted Brabazon. another member OF
the small company TO which Mr.. and
Mrs. Hyce belonged, was 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 had been embittered by pow
erty and hardship. but from the day
when she met Gordon Hyde the world
had more or less worn a tint of rose
color. She had been married three
years, and was only %.
They were now playing. as Lottie put
St, "a joint in the sma.ls," meaning an
engagement together in little towns.
but Gordon had recently received a
fairly good offer for a tour in South
Africa. This was several years ago.
before the war, or rumor Of war.
Gordon was anxious and unhappy at
l. = nL,s Int ~
same time there was a wild. uncon-
fasssd delight in his heart at the oppor-
tupity TO throw aside the immediate
trorbes Of truggling, hand-to-mouth
exivtsnce
Il don't think you ought to take it,"
aai5 Tel Brabazon, slowly looking up,
ove is bead Of the child who was sit
fins Oh his knse
ITS easy to talk" eN aimed Cor
cor, But If a man doesn't make the
no AZ sp'srdid oppo stiles
go! Fiye rourt, wtek amt it?"
put in r, = z9n. soft.v
Tel | n-' 90! can't stand this
Deasuy pr It's too hard-I can't,
can't bear A."
He broke ITO a 10 z. depressed pas
sion OF disappointed rage. and rested
his head On his arm ag iinst the mante,-
piece. The child began to cry dismally,
and TED Brabazon put him gently
down.
Buck up. old boy One kid is enough
In . family. S"cng. Lottie! don't
shine in domestic drama!"
"Of eourse you mrst go. dear! It's
fine chance. Come along. Wallie." She
stopped and pickeo up her baby.
There, give dad kiss! We shall get
on al right"
''oh, II; send you half my screw from
the first week, Bottie! We've always
gone halves. haven't we, darling? 1
don't care how rough I'll"
Lottie. who had been "roughing" IL |
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.
II wish I 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 it out Of
her arms suddenly smote him with
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 a few minutes ago. "You
must try to be self-reliant. shall al
ways be sending you money and
was vague, but it made
him feel better-"so you must wait till
I come back, and all our i'll luck will b
changed"
For more than six months after Cor.
ION had sailed away Ted Brabason saw
and heard nothing of Lottie Hyde.
Then be met her in London at the
,trieal agents Office.
"Lottie. Well, upon my world
What's the matter?"
Her whole appearance was changed.
She Yves not only white and. worn, but
YER light dress and summer hat were
loEacrabiy faded and poor. she com
nenced to talk hurTiediy about little
Eallie.
"But yourself. L0ttie?"
"Oh, Pm all right. I've been at
york OF and on ever since l saw you
asst, Ted"
"Have you heard from GordonP' he
sked.
'Of course" she exclaimed. "Ee's
retting on famously!"
This hardly LOCKS like it," sale
srabaEon, lowering his voice and
ouching her faded dress and shabby I
title lace cape. I'm worried over you
ear" he continued, slowly looking up
her with his kind, questioning eyes
81 told you I've been in work." she
nswered. gayly. sand there's always
orcDn to fall back uponi" with touch
[ pride. Can't ask you to come and
e me; I've only got one room a pres
1t. may 20 out with This World of
Zoe in the autumn. Good-by, old 4
w."
Brabason was sOrely puzzled. He did
Ut know where she lived She had
,oken sayly Of her husbands success, !,
ut there was evidently no prospect Of :
. return. At night, after their casual
Getting in the agents Office, Ted lin !,
ned By the stage door Of the theater. =