Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-21
HIS LADY
 FAIR
By MAE MEsERoLE MARTIN
Copyright. 1903. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Cassie Is doomed"
 How so?" said Cassie.

saVTN HEN Cassie Is doomed"
 How so?" said Cassie.
 He stood In the doorway with cigar in his mouth and his hands thrust deep in his trousers pockets. tilting himself back and forth from toe to heel Bis and broad and bonnie was Casimiro Brough, with more of his English fath. CT 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't you leave that woman alone?" | Can't Wouldn't if could"
 Cassie" said Van, and they 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 very uncer- | tain past, woman who in her palm fest days, some 15 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 I are open to conviction. Teach us to see her with your eyes or do you learn to see her with ours"
 Cassie leaned forward eagerly.
 Do you mean that, Van?'
 Every word.''
 Then come with me tonight"
 Done"
 The play was a new one, built on simple lines, exquisitely staged, we'll acted and containing admirable dia- logue. It 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 trailing white gown and a Tapping garden hat descended 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 Cassies shoes. She was the same old
 
 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. I tried In all sincerity to make my mind blank, to render myself open to new impress. sions.
 I The result was uneEre"+ed T listen cd to 8 voice that was rich end sweet and delishtfully ~c1-!l-tcd, r7v eyes beheld 8 wcr1ao fair of fece and rrace- full in bearing and gradually the fact dawned upon my da3ed understanding that I was enjoying the wi7somc act ing of the lady on the stage. Lady! I repeated the word qnestioninGly, re- membering Vans feeling speech, and I found no cause to correct myself
 The curtain fell and we looked at one another, but no one spoke. sff
 In toe second act there was an op. portunity for rant, but Miss Heriot met tho situation with dignity and more ability than I could understand in spite of my role of unquestioning admirer, VaudeTSof'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 used to abhor and the boldness that disgusted one. What do you make of it?"
 l T am rather more stunned than you are," I answerd
 When the play was over Cassie \ dragged us off to his bachelor home for midnight supper Vanderhof and l regarded each other sympathetically 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, q give in. You have an excuse for your in- fatuation and don't blame ycu, but I woald like to withhold my final de- cisiOn until I see Miss Heriot off the stage.
 The fact of his saying Miss Heriot, meant to me a surrender, but Cassie hardly heard the last words. He turned to me with broad grin.
 "She IS splendid little actress" said I, land 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, Win" he said gently.
 q will, Cassie-when I know 1t. How we'll are you acquainted with the lady?"
 'I was presented to her by the lead ing man after the play on the second night of it's 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 thera in-