The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-08-18
BY MIRIAM NICHOLSON
a II -
Copyright 1904. by Tbs B0bbs Merrill Company


could see the black OF the mems
clothes in the long parlors In front OF
me, and the white of the women's
necks and arms. There were soft ends
of talk trailing after the first silence.
and everything was so strange that
seemed TO hear two mems voices which
sounded familiar-Latimer's silken
voice. and another, heavy, coarse
bass. that was the last TO be quoted
| fancied that when that last voice
should stop could begin, but all at
once my mind seemed to turn somer-
sault, and, instead of looking out upon
them. | seemed to be looking in on
myself-to see a white-faced little girl
in white dress, standing alone under
a blaze of light in glare of red, gaz-
ing fearfully at this queer. new au-
dience.
Fail? Me? Not Nancy, Maggie. ]
Just took me by the shoulders.
Nancy Olden, you little thief"
cried TO me inside of me. How dare
you I'd rather you'd steal the silver
ON this womans dressing table than
cheat her out OF what she expects and
what's coming to her."
Nancy really didn't dare. So she
began.
The first one was bad. | gave 'em
Buses Francesca. You've never heard
the wailing music in that woman's
voice when she says:
.'There is no escape, Smaragd You
hl4
The shadow Is q glass to me, and God
Lets me be lost"
gave them Duse just to show them
how swell | was myself; which shows
what ninny was. The thing the
world loves is the opposite of what
1t is. The pat pat--pat OF their
gloves came in to me when got
through. They were too polite to hiss
But ii wasn't necessary. | was kissing
myself Inside OF me there was a long,
nasty hiss-ss-ss!
| couldn't bear it. | couldn't bear
to be failure with Latimer listening,
though out there in that queer half
light | couldn't see him at all. but
could only make out the couch where
knew he must be lying.
| just jumped into something else
TO retrieve myself. | can do Carter 4
Du Barry to the queens taste, Maggie.
That rotten voice OF hers, like Mother
Doutyts, but stronger and surer that
ROCKY old face pretending to LOOK
young and beautiful inside that talent
ed red hair OF hers; that whining
Denny! Denny,' she sQuawks out
every other minute, Oh, ! can do Du
Barry all right!
They thought | could, too, those
black and white shadows out there on
the other side OF the velvet curtains
But cared less for what they thought
than for the fact that had drowned
that sputtering hiss-ss-ss inside Of
me, and that Latimer was among
them.
gave them Warfield then; | was
always good at taking on the sheenies
In the alley behind the Cruelty-re,
member? | gave them that little
pinch-nosed Maude Adams, and dry
corking little Mrs. Fiske, and Henry
Miller when he smooths down his
white breeches lovingly and sings
"Sally in Our Alley, and strutting old
Mansfield, and
Say, isn't 1t funny, Mag, that I've
seen EN- all and know all they cal
do? They've been my college educa
ton, that crowd. Not a bad one
either. when you come to think o.
what wanted from 1t.
They pulled the curtains down a
the end and went back to the bed
room. had my hat and jacket OF
when Mrs. Gates and some OF tn,
younger ladies came to see me there
but | caught no glimpse of Latimer
You'd think-wouldn' you-that he't
have made an opportunity to say jus
one nice word to me In that easy, sof
voice Of his? I tried to believe tina
perhaps he hadn't really seen me
lying down, as he must have been, o
that he hadn't recognized me, but
knew that couldn't make myself be
lieve that; and the lack Of just tina
word from him spoiled all my salts
faction with myself, and walked on
with Mrs Gates through the hall an
past the dining-room feeling as hur
ms though I'd deserved that ma
like Latimer should notice me.
The dining-room was all lighted
but empty--the colored, shaded car
dicsticks glowing down ON the CT
glass and silver, on delicate china an
flowers. The ladies and genteme
hadn't come out to supper yet; .
least only one was there. He wa
standing with his back to me, befor
the sideboard, pouring out glass (
something from decanter II
turned at the rustic Of my starche
skirt, and, as passed the door h
saw me- saw him, too, and hurric
away.
Yes. knew him. Just you wait.
J got home here earlier than I'd 0,
pect,ad, and I'd just got off my hat an
jacket and put away that snug lit
check when there came ring at II
bell
thought 1t was you, Mag-th'
you'd forgotten your key. | was i
sure of 1t that pulled the door ope
wide with q flourish and.
And admitted Edward!