The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15

mounted TO her face and then faded, leav-
ing her white. Into her face came look
of almost piteous appeal, and in her big,
dark eyes he read a request to be spared
the embarrassment she was undergoing.
Then he desisted, and she thanked him with
her eyes. That night these people met and
she forgave him, and now-well he doesn't
have to make love TO her from the foot
lights"
This little stage romance interested the
company very much and very young girl
at the end of the table embarrassed the
young actor somewhat by asking, Are you
sure Mr.. Allen that you not the man
in the case?''
Stage men get blamed sometimes for
things they are not really responsible for"
continued Allen. as though he had not
heard the question. For instance. an
other friend Of mine became involved in
very awkward situation in Milwaukee
last season. One evening he came to the
theater and was met by the manager OF
the company. who informed him that
very serious charge had been placed
against him. He was told that he had
been guilty of carrying on a Irritation with
some young women in box that after
noon. OF course he Indignantly denied the
charge. My friend had a heroic part, and
when he made UP for ii he was hand
some a young fellow-on the stage-as one
could ever find. Just the sort Of man
for q romantic girl to rave over. 1t seems
that the wife of the house manager had
occupied another box and had been much
scandalized at the actions of my friend.
But he continued to assert his innocence.
DO you know what I'd do?' he asked of
the manager at length. IF had a man In
My company who would do what 1
charged with doing I'd throw him out on
his head The bluff worked and the man.
ager almost apologized
but now really tell u.s." said one Of
Aliens listeners, did your friend do what
he was charged with doing-did he really
carry on with those girls?"
He did about everything but step down
into the box" said Allen.
We'll, did the girls encourage it?' asked
the plump little blonde. do you suppose
any self-respecting on the stage or
off would do things like that without en-
couragement of the boldest sort?' asked
the young actor. "Why-why the stage
villain wouldn't stoop to that
ct am afraid to be alone in the dark" said
the girl plaintively. THE night has a
terror for me when 1t settles, vast and i'm
penetrable over the city streets, the shad-
ows affording hiding places for every species
of bogey. Particularly am / afraid Of
man in the dark. A man may be an in
| teresting and companionable person in plain
daylight, but coming upon one unawares
after nightfali he becomes a hghwayman,
a horror from whom the only refuge is
flight. In a nightmare 1 am never drown
| ing or fall from ten-story building; 1 am
always chased in the dark by a man and the
I horror OF ii is indescribable. One evening
found myself a belated homecomer, arbne
on an unfreQuented side street. The night
was murky and a thick mist obstructed all
but the nearest objects had arrived within
| two blocks of home without encountering
| anything more frightful than a wee black
| and-tan dog, which scared me almost into
| fits by darting out and swapping at my
heels, when 1 became aware of steps be-
hind me. They were quick steps, firm steps.
/ unmistakably a mans steps. My heart
| fiuttered. glance over my shoulder showed
me man behind me. Evidently he had
seen me turn into the little street and was
following me. 1 walked faster; so did the
|
clutched my pocketbook and felt for my
| little chamois bag of jewels which 1 car
| ried-well in the unsafe place where women
! always carry their valuables. and then 1
drew from my hat long savage hatpin.
There was no refuge anywhere, for the
houses on either side were as dark as tombs.
1t was a dreadful dream come true with
out the cheering subconsciousness that II
was a dream; 1 knew il was reality Then
1 saw fash of light from one house. ]
would reach 1t in a minute and surely
there was someone there who would protec!
me. AS 1 gained the porch the man ran
after me. / threw myself against the
locked door and beat upon the glass panels:
Let me in, let me in 1 shrieked. I was
grasping the doorknob for support. The
mans arm was across mine. I turned and
faced him desperately. afraid of 1 know not
what nameless horror, when 1T flashed upon
by consciousness that, although 1 could not
see his face he didn't smell like burglar
That Is to say, 1 had always imagined
highwayman a snuffy and musty SET
and the intangible odor of tobacco and
good grooming which emanated from hi:
overcoat was positively reassuring.
gained courage to look up, the while my
heart was wildly beating. / grasped IL
my hand my hat pin, and he held in his
what do you think?-a latch key, A moment
before had been afraid that should faint
but when saw that latch key L was afraiC
l wouldn't 1 wanted merciful uncon
sciousness to cover my confusion. 1 gazeC
into his kindly and puzzled face for tn,
fraction of an instant and then 1 turned ant
fled. precipitately. noiselessly into the wei