Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-01-13
HIS LADY
FAIR
BY NAE nEsERoLE MARTIN
Copyright. 1905, BY Daily Story Pub. Coz

0OO0OOOO0OOOO OOOOOOOOOO0D1
Copyrieht 1905. BY Daily Story Pub. CO..
HEN Cassie is doomed"
"HOw SOP" said Cassie.
He stood in the doorway with cigal
In his mouth and his hands thrust deer
in his trousers pockets, fitting himself
back and forth from toe to heel Biz
and broad and bonnie was Casimire
Brough, with more of his English faith.
er in his sunny face than the Spanish
mother he could not remember.
You fellows seem to be concerned
about me-" said Cassie, lounging into
the room. What have done?"
made a fool of yourself" said Van
derhof, shortly.
Nothing new in that
'Confound you, Cassie! Why don'>
you leave that woman alone?"
Cant. Wouldn't if I could
"Cassie." said Van, and thcy looked
Into each others eyes. "Winston and
I think lot of you and know you're
our good friend. Angela Heriot is a
middle-aged woman with a very uncer-
tain past, woman who in her palm
lest days, some Is years ago, had not
the smallest claim to refinement All
this you know when you are awake,
but you've been asleep for two weeks.
Now, Cassie. old man, for your sake,
Win and l are open to conviction.
Teach us to see her with your eyes or
do you learn to see ner with ours"
Cassie leaned forward eagerly
DO you mean that, Van?"
Every word"
"Then come with me tonight"
Done"
The play was new one, built on
Simple lines, exquisitely staged, we'll
ected and containing admirable dia-
Iogue. 1t was not long before we knew
that the entrance Of the star was immi-
nent. and | Strengthened up, finding it
impossible to withstand the wave Of
excitement that passes over the house
at this juncture.
The scene was garden in June, with
lavish display of pink roses Angela
Heriot in a trailing white gown and a
Mapping garden hat descended a flight
of steps amid enthusiastic greeting
from the audience. Presently the hat
was thrown aside and gazed critically
at the actress, trying to put myself in
Castles shoes. She was the same old
Angela Heriot. with the old and few
other things left out Her 40 summers
sat lightly upon her pretty brown head
with the sheen of bronze in the care
less waves that crowned it, l tried in
all sincerity to make my mind blank,
to render myself open to new impress
sions
The result was unexpected. listen
ed to voice that was rich and sweet
and delightfully."- modulated, my eyes
beheld a woman fair of face and grace
full in bearing. and gradually the fact
dawned upon my dazed understanding
that l was enjoying the winsome act
Ing of the lady on the stage. Lady! l
repeated the word questioningly, re-
membering Vans feeling speech, and
found no cause to correct myself.
The curtain fell and we looked at
one another. but no one spoke.
In the second act there was an op-
portunity for rant, but Miss Heriot
met the situation With dignity and
more ability than I could understand,
In spite of my role of unquestioning
admirer. Vanderhof's face during this
passage was study. Afterwards Cas-
sic left the box and we remained be-
hind to compare notes.
The Heriot in new guise!" gasped
Van. "She has acquired somewhere and
somehow an air Of refinement of voice
and manner that electrifies me. Why.
Win, old man, years have fallen from
the woman, together with that hard
laugh that I used to abhor and the
boldness that disguised one. What do
you make of it:'
Il am rather more stunned than you
are" I answered.
When the play was over Cassie
dragged uS off to his bachelor home
tor midnight supper. Vanderhof and
l regarded each other alphabetically
now and then, during it's progress, but
we said nothing in any way relating
to our compact until the wine was
poured and the smoke rings were as
cending. Then Cassie laid back in his
huge leather chair and crossed one
knee over the other.
''Well?" said he.
Cassie" said Van, slowly, 81 give
in. You have an excuse for your in
fatuation and I don't blame you, but I
would like to withhold my final de-
cision until see Miss Heriot of the
stage.
The fact of his saying Miss Heriot
meant to me surrender, but Cassie
hardly heard the last words. He turned
to me with broad grin.
"She is splendid little actress" said
1, "and much more refined and woman
ly than I expected. Her rejuvenation
is little short of remarkable
The grin disappeared and he looked
anxiously into my face.
''Tell me the truth, VIM" he said
gently.
Il will, Cassie-when 1 know it. How
well are you acquainted with tho
lady?"
81 was presented to her by the lead
ing man after the play on the second
night of its run. She came off the stage
with him and they were laughing to-
gether over some private joke of their
own, and seeing me standing there, in
cluded me in the conversation. She
was affability itself during our chat.
Last week she went with me twice for a.
spin in the automobile, and Nelson
says I am the only man she has en-
couraged even to that extent. Forbes
is daffy over her, and he and Rockwell,