The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-12

lnp b1IIbOardS- made III a
- most delectable pout as
she shook hands with Aus
TIN ON the station platform. Austin
tried to summon up a light smile and
ended by glaring iiercely at the trunks
and scenery and other trappings and
appurtenances of "rhe Lost Grl' COM
pany that were dumped from the bag.
gage car
II am glad to see you. very glad. but
the sight of all that makes me hot. 4"
and he waved his hand coinprehen-
eINely to include not only the unoffend
ing baggage but the rest of the COM
pany grouped about the perspiring and
Noluble manager
"All that Do you know. sir. that
YOU are insulting my bread and butter?
DO you realize that as the leading lady
OF the only company possessing the eX-
elusive dramatic rights to the great
American drama. THE Lost Girl | am
entitled to some consideration. profess
sicnul If not personal?" and she swept
him mockins courtesy. The man rec
osnized the bit of oratory with "a very
brief smile
Come. my cousin. do not bend your
brows so hercely upon me You were
not wont to treat me SO in the old days.
Time was when you were merry as n
summers day and danced down the
hours as lightly as the aspen leaf fut-
terins in the sunlight. But now your
face is dark and stern and your look
holds Il broodins menace. DO you think
1t right to treat your long lost cousin
so?' And she made a gay pretence of
begging for mercy while her eyes
danced with laughter.
For Heavens snk, A Ii,..--"
For my sake would be more like
the gay cavalier | used to know. in
terrupted his tormentor.
Drop that blank verse style of
speech, Alice. You sound like /, hSlor-
ical novel. Forget the stage for Il few.
minutes, If you can, ana listen to me-
Another lect,ire:' the girl heaved a
deep sigh of sham resignation. You
might at least he taking me in the d.
rection Of my hotel I've no call to be
wasting all my time
"Alicc. YOU impudent little II,
I'd like to shake you
You can't ut least not till YOU get
me to my hotel. ! don't know my way
about your town. so you're free to in
suit me to your hearts content for the
next fifteen minutes. Then may get
the manager to thrash you for me-
II beg your pardon. little girl. didn't
mean to hurt you. but I suppose it did
sound rude. But Alice 1 want ONLY
your own good"
oh yes" she cried out impatientlv.
My own good. How many times have
! heard that in my life. My nurse used
to say it when she gave me rhubarb
ana castor Oil. My governcSs said it
when she set me long French exercises
to write hprJllSp | n,afa,,nI l,,
air and the sunshine to the stuify
schooroom and the stupid books. Why.
when papa died, and my heart was
nearly broken. the minister told me
. that my sorrow was all for the chasten-
ing OF my spirit. And now You tell me |
that you insult me and my profession in
order that YOU may prove to me how
ardently You desire my highest happi-
ness" There was no mistaking the in
dignation that shone in the blue eyes
Every feature Of her ana every line Of
her figure were eloquent OF injured wo-
manhood and dignity.
NO, no. You misunderstood me. I
protest | meant no slight to you or to |
your profession. knowing you. should |
be the last man in the world to speak |
Il word or think ii thought that was not !
full of respect and honor for YOU. And |
your profession is good inc, too--a |
noble one. sometimes; but for you |
Alice. don't you see what ! mean? |
Can't you understand how ii cuts me to |
see you buffeted about the country |
from town to town in the company OF |
people who are not fiji to look at you |
in the street. much less to travel in the |
same car with you, And then to think |
of you night after night exhibiting your
talents to II houseful of srinning and |
applauding idiots
DO you mean that they are idiots to |
applaud me-" Her tone was calm. but |
dangerous.
Saints forbid. They'd be raving lun-
atics and Dar1llytics to boot if they
didn't But | don't like the thought of
the whole business You We're made for
things so infinitely bettei--iiner."
Yes. starving, for instance. How
would you like the thought of thatn
Consider it for il moment. A lonely gar
ret, II pallet of straw in the corner on
which lies palid, emaciated girl
bearing faint traces of her early fresh
ness and beauty. the cold moon peeping
in at the window-I wonder why the
moon is always cold when IL peeps
through garret Windows-a firelesS
grate-fancy Il crate in a garret--and
81 oil anu 50 Oh, ana 50 on du llllln- |
itum, ad nausean,'
Come. Alice. be serious. ! may not
see you again for IA long time.
Therefore you must be as rude as
possible in the shortest space of time.
Are editors always rude? Is il IL habit
they acquire from their playful bouts
with the esteemed contemporary in the
next block on The next county or the
next somewhere else" ;
But to think of having 10 earn your
living"
Don't think of ii, then, if 1t causes
you so much pain" this very sharply. |
k'l'm sure | never asked you to. You
fire not only insulting but unjust AS ;
well and very silly. Why shouldn't ,
earn my own living? Am | any less, or
Inore, than human ! must live and ,
therefore, | must work, Papa left me
nothing but his blessing and the mem- {
"y of the happiest, most carefree girl
hood that ever was lived in this duh old :
world, When found that { must
work ! took stock of my few poor tall ,
ents. | might have taken in scrubbin. ,
or gone out washing, but the thought ,
of my poor hands red and swollen filed ,
me with dismay. How would you like ,
Ia see me with my hands i'm Il wash |,
tub"
Austin was calmer and more nearly :
master of himself than before. De- ,
pend on whose tub il was"
Miss Alice scented danger and di- 5
yerted the attack. "A friend of papa's 9