Middletown transcript., 1903-04-18

sighted than Martin, She was
very fair; her face had almost no
trace of color, her eyes were the
gray of silver, and her hair was
the palest possible brown; hut
like Martins face, Jeannette's
was peculiarly eager and vivid.
Like Martins, her eyes were
strangely gentle; but unlike Mar
tins, her mouth had wistful-
ness in its curve, even when she
smiled.
| She looked up from her letter
as she read it, and smiled. I
shouldn't say you did know
much about starring, she observ-
ed.
Martin laughed. How much
do you know about it yourself?
| he retorted.
IWell, said Jeanette, medita-
lively, I don't know as much as
Winfield Stone, but I've made
up my mind to star, and star I
shall, even if Winfield Stone
won't-she ceased, abruptly,
for on Martins desk she saw the
envelope of Winfield Stones let
ter. She glanced quickly at Mar
tin, but the young man was push
ing the cushions of the divan in
to a heap, and he did not see her
startled eyes.
| Martin, she began, I am very
warm
Martin turned to her. You
don't look particularly warm, he
said, critically. | like that dull
Pompeian color, he added, as he
gazed at her linen gown, and that
hat. Blondes hardly ever have
enough artistic sense to wear
red touched off with black; they
usually go in for blue and ecru
But you don't look warm.
| Welt am, Jeanette in
sisted. If you can't take me at
my word-she added, offend
edly.
The author of "Laurel Crowns"
laughed. lean try! he exclaimed.
Now, how shall I cool you off?
A fan? I don't own a fan! Ihave
it, I'll run over to the corner and
get and ice-cream soda!
Jeannette's conscience smote
her when Martin had left the
room; but she did not call to him
to return. She waited until she
heard the bang of the elevator
door as he closed it; then she has
tily searched among the letters
scattered over the desk. She
put her own letter impatiently
aside, but the publishers and
managers she grasped, and read
with parted lips. She found the
envelope and the other two, then
she compared the post-marks. |
A faint color came into her fair |
cheeks. He got them all in this |
mornings mail! she whispered.
In her haste she had moved the |
blotter, which Martin had left
over his letter to Winfield Stone. |
The letter lay before her eyes,
and she read it. Then she read
again the letter Martin had writ
ten to her; then she stared un-
seeingly at the floor for an in
slant, and then she covered her
face with her hands, and trem-
bled with a strange excitement.
He loves me! He does really
love me. But he shan't do it! I'll
be leading-woman all my life
first! Winfield Stone wants
"Laurel Crowns!' Good grac-
ious! Martins fortune is made
and he loves me enough to un-
make it! And to think I never
would believe he loved me at all!
Jeanette lifted her shining
eyes. She seized her letter to
Martin in one hand, and Martins
pen in the other; then, laughing
softly, she drew two heavy lines
through the word friend Think
of the time and energy I've vast
ed making him believe 1 didn't
love him! But truly I didn't
think he really loved me, and
couldn't tell him I did love him!
she sighed, happily.
You certainly look warm
enough now, Martin. remarked,
when he returned. You look
positively overheated.
I am, Jeanette replied; but it
would take something more than
ice cream soda to cool me off!
And, anyway, I must go. I've
decided not to star-that is, right
away. Winfield Stone knows
more about it than I do. I'm 60
ing right over to see him now
about being leading-woman again
next wear.