The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-01-15
HIS LADY
FAIR
By MAE MEsERoLE MARTIN
Copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Co
Ut HEN Cassie is doomed"

HOW so! SAID CdSSle
He stood in the doorway with cigar
in his mouth and his hands thrust deep
in his trousers pockets, fitting himself
back and forth from toe to heel. Big
and broad and bonnie was Casimiro
Brough, with more of his English faith
er jim 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 l done?'
Made fool of yourself, said Van
derhof, shortly.
Nothing new in that"
"Confound you, Cassie! Why don't
you leave that woman alone""
Cant. Wouldn't If | could"
Cassie, said Van, and they looked
into each others eyes. Winston and
l think a lot of you and know you're
our good friend. Angela Heriot is a
middle-aged woman with a very uncer-
tain past, a 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 | 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"
hnt
simple lines, exquisitely staged, we'll
acted and containing admirable dia-
logue 1t was not long before we knew
that the entrance of the star was imml-
nent. and | Strengthened up, finding 1t
impossible to withstand the wave or
excitement that passes over the house
at this juncture.
The scene was a garden in June, with
a lavish display of pink roses. Angela
Heriot in a 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
Cassie's 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. | tried in
all sincerity to make my mind a 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 | was enjoying the winsome act
ing of the lady on the stage. Lady! |
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 l 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 | used to abhOr and the
boldness that disgusted one. What dc
you make of it,"
81 am rather more stunned than you
are," I answered.
When the play was over Cassie
dragged us off to his bachelor homr
for midnight supper. Vanderhof and
7 regarded each other sympathetically
now and then, during its progress, but
we said nothing in any way relating
to our compact until the wine was
noured and the smoke rings were as
cending. Then Cassie laid back in his
hinge leather chair and crossed one
knee over the other.
-Well?' said he.
Cassie, said Van. slowly, IL give
in You have an excuse for your in
fatuafiop and I don't blame you, but
wou,d like to withhold my final de-
cisjon until 1 see Miss Heriot off the
STAGE.