The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-06-09
scraps clouded whole days, but Josie
scared above 1t ali and found foo for

scraps loude whole days, but Josie
scared above 1t ali and found food for
laughter In II.
Soon she gained the name of Mas
cote" inexperienced as she was, land
lords did not bully her, nor cabmen
overcharge her. Her luggage did no
get lost. Even influenza passed her by.
The leading lady vas taken i'll and
Josie played her part, and made quite
a little success.
The manager of a London theater
happened to see her and was so favor
ably impressed that he gave her a part
In his next production. in which she
more than fulfilled his expectations.
So within w years of Maryon's de-
parture Josie was on the road to be-
coming a we'll known actress.
About this time, the girls n day
chatting yer their lunch, were sur
prised by the receipt of a telegram
from their South African hero:
Arrived at Southampton. Expect
me tomorrow about 81 read Barbara.
her eyes shining.
AT last!" cried Josie ~exultantly.
III will never know me. Bah; will be:
You were the beauty then-and you're
pretty now, OF course. But ! wa hid
eous. Look at me now" Barbara
looked, and for the moment hope died.
Those wonderful two years Of eman-
%cipatfon. They had lowered the plain
girl with the %lavishness of a fairy god
mother. Happiness and success had
given a tinge Of rose hue to the ono
pallid cheeks, a vivid carmine to the
smiling lips. So much Josie owed to
nature. But art had taught her how
to draw the once tousled faxen hair
out of its dull bourgoise 'friz" into
thick, shining bands over her ears, hid
ing the poor outline of her face, and
seeming to transform it into a delicious
oval; n art had shown her that a
judicious d%arkening Of those long but
painfully white eyelashes would make
those china blue eyes the jewels of her
dainty face.
Both girls were absolutely certain as
to the result of Maryon's visit. Where
fore, it came about that Barbara, in
a fit of almost morbid shyness, kept to
her room as the fateful hour APP
proached; and Josie. ignorant of her
intention, fiuttered about the little sit
ting room, her yellow hair shining like
gold above her gauzy black gown, her
fair face radiant with undisguised hap
piness.
CDR. Maryon!" came the eagerly ex-
pected announcement.
Josie glided forward, with out
stretched hands, watching to see the
handsome bronzed face light up with
establishment and loving pride. Then
though he held out his hand to meet
hers. he seemed cold and constrained.
Disappointment and the sudden check
made her feel almost hysterical.
"Why-why. what is the matter?"
she cried, with a little laugh that was
almost a sob; don't YOU nov me?
1 told Bah you Wouldn't"
He whispered a few words and Jo-
sizes heart stood still as she listened.
Was it for this that she had worked
and studied so many, many long days?
For this that she had gloried in her
new-found beauty?
Her lover was blind.
The shock was too mucn for her
emotional nature. With a stifed
Shrek she rushed from the room.
Poor little josie" muttered the man,
standing where she had left him.
Then some one came noiselessly into
the room, and. putting a soft little
hand into his grasp, led the blind man
to a seat.
Barbara had nothing to say i'm h
face of such a great grief: but the
touch of her gentle ham found the
sweetest of echoes i'm Maryon's heart.
In silence he kissed her. Her tears
still fell, but her soul was full of joy.