The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-02
Our Daily Short Story

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plete rest at little fishing village near
teh sea- Mary, her maid. had opened
the house and engaged the servants,
so that all was In readiness 20 receive
the beautiful and fastidious MISS cry
den.
Il trust you had pleasant summer,
Mary" she said, kindly. as she sat
in the middle of the floor of her bou-
doir, pulling from boxes the creations
that had Just been sent from her mo-
Very pleasant. thank you. saio
Mary. her face flushing.
What strange woman you are.
Mary, to be sure" said Miss Cryden.
such possibilities. You are looking ex-
tremely well. Did your people over In
America think you had changed much?
Some" said Mary. laconically.
You looked nice in that black dress
didn't they think soT'
Speaking of dresses. Mary, there's
secondhand clothes woman coming for
some of my last years things Really:
some of the gowns are quite as good
as new. Just bring out some OF those
gowns, will you, pleaseT
Mary brought out a pile of creations
Of many tints. Miss dryden glanced
at several critically. !.
"why-they're more soiled than !
thought they were. especially around
the bottom. Just look at this rose
organdy! Grass stain? Impossible as It
is, 1t looks like IL. Here is that sweat
violet broadcloth. l always did like
that coat. She slipped her hand into
forth folded note. Mary saw. her
take it out and involuntarily reached
forward. Then she drew back her
hand and stood with a white. set face.
Here is a love letter." began Miss
dryden. TT has a conventional begin
ming, My Queen. and is signed Tom,
Now I never knew anyone by that
name in my life. But them have an
atrocious memory. Still-this Tom
doesn't seem like one Who could be 80
and her brow wrinkled. Listen,
Mary" she said. Then. in her mimi
table way. she began and read the let
word. When she glanced up. Mary
was crying softly.
You neevr received a love letter,
you told me once. Mary. Wen. you
ought to be thankful you have never
caused a mans heart to ache as this
self suddenly. Mary. bring me that
auburn wig-I want 1t fixed up for my
new roie-it will be just the thing. and
it's a beauty. Oh-and, Mary! my
would have sworn I left 1t newly
filled. Polly Star, of the Trejoli. Is
crazy for my wonderful complexion
liquid receipt wonder who told her
about it,"
The maid sighed as she took from a
box a certain auburn wig and gazed at
it. while in her other hand was a bot
tie of Miss Cryden's famous pink liquid
for the complexion.
Again Miss dryden glanced search
ingly at her maid. This time a startled
look flashed across her face. Then she
smiled uueerly.
II know you have had an awfully
hard struggle, Mary" she said,
hSash y1uys never told
can't identify this letter-you will take
care of it-burn 1t up-do with 1t as
you WILL" Then she turned away
quickly.
And Mary. 1 have a confession to
see. they are so d-fashioned-and
dear, and kind, and narrow. in my
| funny old home in England, that
didn't dare take one of my nice, gowns
some of them belonged to you. hope
you don't mind. They don't know
| about the stage. Maryland all the rest
| of it--they wouldn't understand. II
would just kill grandfather. dear. fun
/ ny old soul. He would be afraid OF
| me in my fine clothes-and he never
| could realize how easily honest sue
| cess does come sometimes. They think
| / am just a Woodworking young wo-
| man. Mary, and so am. to be sure!
| But in their minds 1t is more respecta-
BILE to work for pittance than to play
| for fortune. All this" she swept
| her hands around at the luxurious fur
nishings-they never knew about. SO
| Mary, I took your blue suit and some
| of your other clothes-they were sc
/ plain and respectable, and / thought
| you wouldn't miss them. i really didn't
| have time to buy any when they sent
| for me to come to grandmother. Did
| you have enough without them"'
And then Mayor Maisie. as she
| had been known in the old days-sat
| down and sobbed out her story. The
| other woman listened and forgave the
borrowed wardrobe, saying they were
| just even.
But Maisie, how did you ever carry
it off?" asked the clever actress. witt
| great curiosity.
| Il haven't been an actress maid fol
| years without learning the tricks o.
! the trade" she said. Il always wal
able to mimic people rather cleverly
| Your complexion cream made me looi
like a blooming young girl. Tha
| lovely wig-or. forgive me for deceiv
ing you-and taking everything wal
so careful of them"
Miss Cryden put her arm around thu
| plain, elder woman.
WAS 1t worth it?" she asked.
Yes" said Mary. and a wonderful
| light came into her eyes and a blusl
that outriveled Miss Cryden's beauti
fer dyed her cheeks. The actres
looked at her in wonder. Then it ha'
| passed like a dream. All that RENAME,
was a note. tucked in the plain bodic
her work again--to forget.
|