The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-19
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THE BLONDE ACTRESS
 AND THE BLAND CLERK
BY PHIL H. ARMSTRONG.

AHG DAONDE ACIhES3
 AND THE BLAND CLERK.
 The Blonde Actress rose from the sofa and hurried over to answer the
 At the threshold of the hallway she was confronted by the Bland Clerk.
 With the old stage smile she extend ed her shapeiy hand and said:
 So 1t Is you-gosh, but I'm glad to see you. Come In"
 The Bland Clerk hung his hat upon the rack and obeyed.
 And so you received my note" he enquired politely.
 Yes. indeedy, and have been think ing about you all the time and longing to see you"
 That was a falsehood. The Blonde Actress had thought of him not once since she had received the billet doux, having merely tossed it lightly aside with half suppressed yawn. It would be very unusual if she did not have another caller in a few moments, as she had an uncomfortable way of getting her dates mixed. causing much embar- rassment and no little hard feeling. 1t was the summer season and she was consequently doing nothing except enjoying herself.
 The Blonde and her aunt had taken suite of rooms in the Francis" apart ment house on a pretty yet unostenta- part in The Red Dragin" comic opera, where she had been engaged, not so much for her voice as for the hand some appearance and acting. She stood In with the managers.
 Just now her funds were all but ex- hausted having been blown in for this and the other frivolity or trip to the seaside until the girl began to realize that she might have to do a summer sketch in some cheap seaside theater If she could find partner to work with.
 The young man who sat opposite her in heavy mission rocker, his delicate ly chisled features looming half ghostly in the glare of the arc light outside as the gas was turned out on account of the hot weather: sat very quietly
 One would have taken him to have been a physnomognist, so intently did he read every face that came into his line of vision. .
 T have been out in an automobile every night this week." said the Blonde Actress nonchalently. Didn't get in last night till 3 o'clock" ..:
 .No?" remarked the Bland Clerk in-
 The tone indicated that of one who was infinitely bored, and who did not mind showing 1t. else. The girl lacked that quality which goes to make the successful wo- man-tact. As she was very pretty a great many things could be forgiven beauty, hard work and some dissipa- tion had begun to tell upon her even though 1t was but the end of her first season. upon him. don't you want to go down the river in a launching party? Rdige- way will be there of course, as he owns the launch, but l can take you If you like"
 NO; Mayme; I won't go anywhere with that fellow Ridgeway as I do not care for his society"
 "Oh, we'll then; you needn't I'm sure. Don't say didn't ask you"
 Then regretting that she had spoken so hastily the Blonde Actress rose and walked over to where the clerk sat- smoothing his hair back from his fine brow and resting her hand lightly upon
 Again the washed out stage smile
 "There. there; you'll forgive Mayme, won't you, ormond2" She was acting part now. but the audience of one was not in a very recipient mood
 Forgive you-yes; I suppose I'll have to as have always done since I have known you"
 Well for heavens sake throw off this indifference you have assumed and act natural. What's the matter; are you ill?"
 YOU know as well as I what is the you ever go on the stage7 It has changed you completely"
 Well. I had talent, All my friends advised me to. I went to New York one unlucky day. Through friends and owing to one kind hearted manager in the world I was put on, so here l am. You know the rest"
 Yes, he knew the rest too well,
 He wouldn't bother with details.
 There was long pause.
 Out side changing street car bell two squares away from the quiet street now and then broke the stiffness.
 Ormond Raymond had not known the girl over a year vet in that time he had grown to think something of her: He thought 1t was not love. Maybe it was only platonic friendship or even tenn porary fascination as he had never really been in love in his life that ne could remember.
 He had said. when asked of his oc- cupation. that he was clerk. AS to what kind or where he was employed he never said other than he was get
 Such faith had he evinced in human nature that he had loaned sum atter sum to the girl, and had never receiyeed one cent of 1t back. .She cohtInualIy put him off with promises of next sea sons contract which was going to be a good one. ., A ,
 Such had been his Adevotion to her that he had never asked Tor one sou to be returned to him. but kept on raislne money for her extravagant frivolities and had been content to mercy "shn sha in her society or talk with ner ih the little parlor of an evening. ia,
 Some times they took long Ttuss ,..S1 Ilto the country on the cars or visited some where they could ride fin an hour
 The Blonde seemed never to s caLe where she went or who Ma gooa lime
 She was not in love wlsh any He, The stage life had destroyed ali oI that she had ever possessed. NOV atS ~. 'nsn r'ga some nandsome man ca nS,,Id nare for.