The Somerset reporter., 1902-05-15
AT THE
CURTAINS
FALL
BY HOMER LYNOE
Copyright, 1903,
By the S. S. Mcclure Company

ed Harvey Stanley, looking up from MS
sample cases. He represented Bemis
& Co. lin their southeastern territory
"Just got in last night and haven't had
time to see anybody yet"
We'll" exclaimed Birch, lighting a
fresh cigar, I'D like your help. then,
foe a few hours, There's gang ir
~ 49,. n d ueetiug dfs
the Implement Dealers association
and we've got to entertain them to
night. I've orders to do the thing VI
right; no limit on the expense account
Sure" mumbled Stanley without re
moving his blue pencil from his mouth
Meet you at the Palace hotel at din
ner. What shown"
1.-The Alcazar. Prettiest bunch of cho
rus girls in town, and, IL the men want
it, we'll get few of them for the sup
per afterward"
''All right" replied Stanley absently
checking up his order list
The overture was on when Harvey
Stanley stood in the rear of a box gaz
ing past the guests of Befnis & Co. al
the brilliant house. A popular musical
comedy with star of national reputa'
ton had called out a representative
house-women in silks, laces, Jewels
and flowers and men in the smartest OF
evening suits. 1t was goodly world,
and Stanley was glad to be in 1t once
more. The dull, small town life In
which he had moved for three months,
the primitive country inns, the vapid
crossroads conversational these fad
ed like an ugly dream. He was in his
element once more, and he glanced
with a sense of pity, at the western
merchants who made up their party,
They wore the rough business suits in
which they had travelled. That was one
reason why Stanley stood well in the
background. He was in evening dress,
and the contrast
The curtain rose to blare of music,
and thirty comely young women pi-
rouetted through the opening number,
Music, jokes, the f1utter of draperies,
the twinkle of high heels, and the cur.
tain was down on the first act.
As the applause died away one OF
the western men said to Birch:
where do these managers get all the
pretty girls?"
From every part of the Union. It's
funny, but precious few of them are
city girls. They drift into town. some.
times deliberately looking for stage
work. but oftener with higher ideals,
and they are forced to it for bread and
butter. There's many little tragedy
in their lives too. Sometimes they
follow city fellows whom they've met
in their home town and who have filled
their silly brains with nonsense about
city life And instead of loves para.
disc they find-despair."
Again the curtain rose and the pag.
cant moved before their eyes. Sud
denly Birch whistled softly and touch
ed Stanley's arm.
Lean forward a bit, Stanley. and catch
a glimpse of that little girl on the end
of the second row. Isn't she peach?
Lock at those velvet eyes and those
shoulders. Heavens, it's a shame to
smear a face like that with makeup
She's new at the business, too, for
she's watching her neighbors and the
leader and has no time for chappies,
But she'll get over that in time"
The comedian danced out in front of
the girls. A ripple of laughter drowned
Birch's next words, and he did not turn
to hear Stanley's answer.
The latter had taken one long look at
the girl and then had sunk back in his
chair. He was not looking at the stage
now. Instead he was standing in an
old orchard. all gnarled trees and fut-
tering pink white petals. And it was
quiet, so quiet that he could hear the
happy sigh the girl gave as their lips
parted. could feel the pulse in the slen-
der arm clasped about bis neck. And
the love light in her velvet eyes! The
petals falling tenderly on her soft
brown hair!
He had meant to go back. but the
firm had changed his route He had
written to her, was it twice or three
times? And that last letter of hersi
A hot flush swept over him. He had
never opened it because-we what
was the use? He was never going
back to Leydenville.
Lightly tripping. gayly skipping
The line of girls swung periously
near the box, but she of the velvet eyes
was watching a blondined young wo.
man directly in front of her Oh. il she
slipped on that square turn.
And In the back of the box a white
faced young man seemed to hear over
and over again:
And instead of loves paradise they
fnd-despair."
The curtain fell for the last time,
The orchestra burst into an inspiring
march. Birch was chatting joyially
with his firms guests.
THE manager of the house is per.
sonal friend of mine. and I've asked
him to bring half dozen of the girls
over to supper You'll ind them rather
a jolly lot
The westerners accepted the sugges-
ton with good natured raillery II
would be something TO tell with gusto
when they reached home. this supper
with a group of pretty singers. One
man jerked on his coat with the re-
mark:
You're all right, Birch, but don't
leave out that little peach on the end
of the second row. She's got the eyes
all right"
Stanley started as if stung. He grip