The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-07-04
AT THE
CURTAINS
FALL
BY HOMER LYNoE
XXX .rrS :. Mcclure Compdng

y N,, ~ ..ot in last night and haven't had
Elmo TO see anybody yet
'li ..u.oIl" exclaimed Birch, lsnting a
,..,b ciror. ia like your help then
Lle' a fcw hours. There's a gang in
~ ~, no west. fresh from meeting OF
i.O" 1nnlemcnt Dealers association,
.p n1 we've got to entertain them TO-
a." ~ I've orders 10 do the thing up
,,..,o limit on the expense account.
i's sSnro " mumbled Stanley without re-
moving his blue pencil from his mouth.
Meet you at the Palace hotel at am
nor What snow:
arbe Alcazar. Prettiest bunch OF cho'
ems Girls in town. and. if the men want
q we'U get a few of them for the sup
per aftcrward.
@AlI right" replied Stanley absentiy'
checking up his order list.
rho overture was on when Harvey
stonley stood in the rear of a box gaz-
,nr mast the guests of Bcmis Il Co. at
tho brilliant house. a popular musical
comedy with star of national reputa-
.ion had called out Il representative
borso- women in silks, laces. jewels
and flowers and men in tie smartest of
oronlng suits. 1t was a goodly world.
and Stanley was glad to be in it once
marc The dull. small town life in
which ne had moved for three months.
the primitive country inns, the vapid
crossroads CONVERSATIONAL these fad
Cd 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 lie was in evening dress.
and the contrast
The curtain rose TO a blare of music,
and thirty comely young women pi-
rouetted through the opening number.
Music. jokes, the flutter 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:
"Whcre do these managers get all the
pretty girlS"'
From every part of the Union. It's
funny. but preci tis few of them are
city girls They drift into town, some
times deliberately looking for stage
work, but oftcner 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 filed
their silly brains with nonsense about
city life And instead of loves para
disc they iind-despair."
Again the curtain rose and the pag-
cant moved before their eyes. Sud
denly Birch whistled softly and touch.
ed SANKEY'S arm.
Lean forwarda 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 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. y ripple of laughter drowned
Brch'S next words and he did not turn
TO hear SANKEY'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 nut-
ternS pink white petals And it was
quiet so quiet that he could hear the
happy sigh the girl gave rs 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.
lie had meant to go back, but the
1rm had changed his route. He haC
written to her, was it twice or three
tines: And that last letter of hers
a not flush swept over him. lie hao
never opened it because well. what
was the use? He was never going
back TO Leydenyille.
Lightly tripping. gayly skipping.
Inc line of girls swung perilously
near the box, but she of the velvet eyes
was watching blondined young wo
man directly in front of her. Oh, if she
sHpped on that square turn.
AND in the back of the box white
laced young man seemed TO hear over
ana over again:
AND instead of loves paradise they
fnd-dcspair.p
Inc curtain fell for the last time
The orchestra burst into an inspiring
narch Birch was chatting jovially
with his firms guests.
Inc manager of the house is a per.
sohal friend Of mine. and I've askeC
AiIn to bring half dozen of the girls
over to supper. You'll find them rather
a jolly lot"
Inc Westerners accepted the sugges.
uon with good natured raillery II
"ould be something TO tell with gustc
"neh they reached home, this supper
N''n group of pretty singers. one
niah Jerked on his coat with the re.
mark:
lou re all right. Birch. but don't
IeaVe out that little peach on the enc
=, 'ne second row. She's got the eyes
all right"
Nuliliey started as if stung. he grip
P r The back of a chair and spoke to
Birch harshly: