The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-07

ono way" she went on with a sort Of
sparkling occurrences I'VE don't get
carried away by the glttering tempta-
tlons< OF the stage TO sit In haif-
empty theatre. or among people whose
chief anxiety Is 10 avoid paying SIX
pence for n programme, and to watch
q farce without any fun or serious
play without any interest, Is not very
cxhilarati ting way Of passing your time.
And then the waits between the acts!
Tho dcader the failure the longer the
waits; as II the management felt tna.
even bad music was more e lrut rlt'l
than bad play"
ccsses7' i. ~.
Never" said she emphaticnlly. we
can't afford It, we arc paper, anu
not even smart paper There are
many degrees in paper" she ADDED
musingy. There's the gilt edged va
ricty, friends OF the manager. that co.ne
in broughams. Then there's the supur,
ban sort, that come by the undergroun,u
with woollcn shawls round their heads.
And, lastly, thcres-us," said she enl-
phatlcally.
would you let me take you to a the.
atrc? One OF your own choosing q ASKED
Dcvcril
She shook her head.
'Clandia wouldn't let me come, she.
said.
He was struck by the fact that she
used her sister as '.thc DOGGY" and not
her mother. =.
perhaps she would come. too" sug-
gcstcd he. s
She laughed, ana then the humorous
look pcepcd again out OF her eyes.
oh no. she wouldn't Because e., sne
couldn't" said she ingeniously. sue
ccsses In the theatre are for successes
l,,- ~ n Nh
category; we only creep along the py-
ways
Devcrill drew his breath sharply
through his teeth.
Don't talk like that. 1t hurts" said
he In a low voice. ITO think that you
beautiful, and sweet-natured and charn-
Ing as you are. shouldn't have every.
thing In the world that's pleasant and
good, gives one sort OF shock.
Maggie laughed again. III &
without agreeing that I'm all those
things she said, confess that the
feeling that never have anything NICE.
or Claudia or Aline either. gives me
shock too! In fact, we're tired OF III;
and we're going to try to find 50. some ne
thing to do for ourselves Clandia, OF
course can, because she's well-read and
Intelligent. But Ain- and are not
so easy to suit with a profession. What
could we do, that every other girl
II know one thing you could do"
said Deverlll, losing his head, and speak
ing In low, husky voice. Z ou--you
could marry me. andLand make me az
happy as man could be. And ii
would make you happy OH s wonl 9 !, ! !
would. Maggie, don't turn SO cold ana
shy! Why shouldn't you marry me?
You like me, don't you?".
& But Maggie had shrunk into herself
with a rapidity which reminded DeY-
GRILL OF those terrible words In the letter
OF old Elias Judd: the most utterly
heartess woman on either side OF the
Atlantic. She looked not touched , ,pn.
merely frightened, ami the pretty light
OF girlish hnmor in her eyes gave place
to an expression Of surprise and almost
OF pain ut the passion In his voice.
"Oh. now you've spoilt it all said
she petulantly. 81 thought you were
not going to speak like than any more:
told you at Southport ! didn't Ike IT"
Maggie frowned plaintivey-
III think" she said. ITS worse from
YOU, because I like you.
! Deyerill did not know whether to DO
pleased or annoyed by this simple con-
fession.
"Then If you like me- said he, why
can't you marry me? suppose you've
had so many offers that you think moth
| ing at all OF them?"
.Well i have had good many.of
sort, = she said simply. But not Ike
yours, OF course. Yours IS what Is
called a good Offer think that's
such horrid expression, don't you 2"
And she pinched up her pretty little
features into a childlke grimace OF dis
taste. s$
"Yes, in the way you mean it is a
horrid expression. But all the same,
4 a
! it were only for that reason. It would
be better than nothing"
mo, 1t Wouldn't said she, stopping
short and growing interested. sup
posing were to marry you IN cold
blood. as you want me to. when I'd really
rather not. merely because I'm not likely
to meet another man Is we'll off as you
who want me to- think how uncomfort-
able should feel over the difference
between my position and yours! 4
"a wfe's position is her; husbands,
said Deveril quickly,
"oh, mo. not quite. Unless her re-
lations are as well off as his"
"How Is it that you think so much Of
money!" said he, In surprise.
Because I've never had much Of It,
! suppose replied Maggie promptly.
when say We'll off, ! know some
|thing about you; know your uncle's
rich banker. man Of rank and In
fuence, who would be shocked beyond
measure at the thought OF your marry
| Ing girl like me,
"And why should you care, II don't?"
Maggie drew herself UP, and the limp
hat and shabby jacket became the re-
gal garments OF all empires.
do you think one can't be proud II
ones poor?" she said with a delicious
| haughtiness.
II am sure one can said he promptly.
"But you shouldn't be proud OF being
proud Maggie. I've always heard that
prdes most deadly vice"
"Well, you shouldn't call me Maggie
I've never given you permission to-"
Gam to call you Miss Brown"
emo. Don't call me anything Just
say what you have to say and since
there's nobody else within hearing shall
take IT for granted It's meant for me-
She was regaining her old merry de-
mureness, that subdued sparkle WHOM
was ono of the secrets Of her peculiar
! charm,