Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-11-20

| and Marion had played tennis and golf
| together for two seasons lie had been
tempted to propose to her on the bay
| itself one moonlight night, but Marion
was nervous and would not permit his
attention to stray from handling the
| tiny sailboat. And then be had put off
| the proposal week after week He felt
| somehow that such Il moment came
| but once into a mans life, and he
dreaded to think of the day when the
tender anticipations would be thing
of the past. Now he almost wished he
had let it end in happy dreams, for the
reality was stern beyond description.
The cause of their trouble seemed
serious enough to Marion. but from
Walters masculine viewpoint it was
ridiculously trivial
The cousin of his roommate at col
lege was playing soubrette roles in
light opera. simultaneously with the
arrival of her company in Detroit came
a note from her cousin in New York
begging Fleming to be "kind to the
kid" while she was in town.
Fleming read the letter through sew
eral times and wondered what in the
world dear old Tom meant by being
kind. He couldn't invite the girl to
stop up at the house because it was too
far from the theater, and he had vague
ideas that theatrical folk preferred to
flock together. His mother and sisters
should go to call, of course. Anyway,
he'd take Marion the first night. Even
busy soubrette ought to appreciate the
opportunity of meeting such q rarely
charming girl as Marion. So he sent
''the kid" roses exactly like those
Marion was to wear, and did not notice
the expression in his fiancee's eyes
when the flowers were passed over the
footlights. There was a little supper
after the performance. chaperoned by
Mrs. Fleming. at which the little
actress wore Il very plain black gown
with a very long train and carried
Walters roses.
The next day was set aside for
drive through the parks, followed by
luncheon at fashionable cafe. THE
KID" who had never seen the beautiful
city of Detroit before, waXed enthusi-
uSllNt bul hillOli ltlltii hCu llltlt Snt
had an engagement and would have to
be excused. Mrs Fleming, who was a
busy woman, told her son next morning
at breakfast that an actress did not
require a chaperon.
So the little soubrette, who was really
n Woodworking ambitious artiste and
was likewise engaged to young stock
broker in New York, did" Detroit in
Walters company for five brilliant
winter days. They talked of their re-
spective fiancees and each decided that
luckier mortals did not breathe. And
when Walter had done his duty like Il
man, even to seeing the little actress
off on the midnight train for Mime
apolis. he sighed relevcdly and never
dreamed of the awful fate which his
next interview with Marion held for
him.
There was only one floor between
him and the girl who was leaving
town today with bitterness in her
heart, yet there seemed no way of
passing the barrier.
Going DOWN. yelled the elevator
boy.
Walter hat in hand, made a dash
for The corridor. AS the elevator door
slammed shut he found himself face to
face with Marion. She was pale. plain
ly tired from the exertion incident to
moving. but she looked over his head
as II her supply of self control was un-
limited.
Going down"
"Oh, Charlie!"
The elevator stopped with jerk.
The voice came from Mrs. Madden's
room. She was semi-invalid and
privileged character in the Nassau.
Charlie flung open the door and
crossed the hall. Mrs Madden held out
letter.
"And wish you'd stop at Mrs. Tur-
ners door and ask her to come up this
morning"
"Yes'm," murmured Charlie, but as
he whirled round his heart throbbed
wildly. The door of the elevator shaft
stood open, but the elevator had diSap-
peared. He stared at the quivering ca
bles. 1t was going down fast.
In the meantime affairs i'm the eleva-
tor had taken a sudden turn. Marion's
face had gone a shade whittier rs the
elevator without any warning began to
drop swiftly. 1t was six floors ut least
to the basement. She raised frightened
eyes to Flemings face.
Cant you
81 might simply make It worse II l
touched it. 1t won't strike hard. Sit
down"
He pushed her gently into the leath-
er seat then suddenly swung round