The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-05-27
By HOMER LYNDE
IUUWtVTtt, I9OEs
BIZ the S. S. Mcclure Company

the brilliant house. A popular musical
comedy with a 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 a goodly world.
and Stanley was glad to be in it 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 a blare of music. |
and thirty comedy young women p
rouetted through the opening number
Music, jokes, the hutter 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 a little tragedy
follow city fellows whom they've met
in their home town and who have filed
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 bit. Stanley, and catch
a glimpse OF that little girl on the end
of the second row. Isn't she a peach ?
Look at those velvet eyes and those
shoulders. Heavens, it's a shame to
smear 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. 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 his neck. And
the love light in her velvet eyes! The
petals falling tenderly on her soft
brown hairl
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 hersl
A hot flush swept over him. He had
never opened it because well. what
was the use? He was never going
back to Leydenville.
Lightly tripping. gayly skipping
The line of girls swung perilousIy
near the box but she of the velvet eyes
was watching a bondined young wo-
man directly in front of her Oh, if 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
find-despair."
The curtain fell for the last time.
The orchestra burst into an inspiring
march. Birch was chatting jovially
with his firms guests
''The manager of the house is a per-
sOnal friend of mine and I've asked
him to bring half dozen of the girls
over to supper You'll find them rather
jolly lot"
The westerners accepted the sugges-
ton with good natured railfery. 1t
would be something 10 tell with gusto
when they reached home, this supper
with 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
ped the back of a chair and spoke to
Birch harshly:
''If it's just the same. Birch. let me
off the rest of the evening. I'm bit
done up. Perhaps it's grip. but think
I'd better get around to the rooms"
He took hasty leave of the box party
and hurried out into the cold night air.
Body and brain seemed on fire. Around
the corner he dashed and straight up
held him back Stanley thrust a bill
into the mans hand
81 must see Miss Alden" She prof.
ably had not thought TO take stage
name, he decided hastily and correctly.
"She's cousin of mine, and I've mes
sage of importance. She must not leave
the theater without my seeing her."
He stood in the shadows of the wings,
Birchs cynical words and the western
er's light jest intermingling in his tired
brain
Presently the chorus girls trooped |
from their big dressing 70 m. She
was almost the last to leave. and she
sprang aside neryously as he rested |
his hand on her arm.
Marian. don't you remember meT"
Harvey. Harveyw
Oh. the joy of it and back of it the
pathos, The doorkeeper heard it and |
smiled grimly. He knew the excuse
had been lie all the WHILE but then
he had the tip.
: They were on the street now. a nice, |
dark, dismal street.
ooh. Harvey. why didn't you answer
my letter.
81 never got it," He lied deliberate
ly. He would perjure his very soul
now to make her happy. to undo the
wrong he had done her And how
great had that wrong beenl Through
what had she passed in the last six
months. He was afraid to learn
"Oh. dearest. it has been so hard"
she murmured, her small hand grip
ping his sleeve. But every one said !