Smyrna times., 1906-07-11

They came in rather late-tbe FIRST
act was well under way. The girl in
her soft evening gown swept quietly
down the aisle and took the seat indi-
Gated hy the usher with serene noiso-
lessncfs. The man with waxeI mns-
tacAes and 1lashy diamond studs fol-
lowed ostentatiously. He sat down
much to the annoyance of the marty
@i'2cuy behind, after unduly pomnous
Cs-"y. OStontation and pomposity were
l. @-r. Smarts line.
Automatically the girl drew ont her
opera glasses from their bag. but she
t.I not use them. Instead. with Iit-
Tie sigh Of content, she leaned bocI,
against her wrap, a gorgeous thing
ermine lined. belonging to her aunt
which she had been coa&cd into v-ear-
i1@. The lights OF the house were low
and as SIZE leaned for a second. a bill
loWy mass OF chiffon and lace against
tIe ernine, her heavily dashed eyelids
haIf closed, ana she smiled family.
Ah' 1t was so good to be faulticssIv
crossed from the top of her head to
tEe tip Of her shoe all ut once-tust
once sure Of herself all around. Not
as it haI always been with her down
III GEAR Old Kentucky-a gown achieved
Ju5t as her hat was going out of fash
Ion a new wrap when her evening
dresses were beginning to look 4 bit
worn, boots little shabby Just as she
was able to get fresh gloves ana veil
ILer eye fell on the billowy blouse Of
her bodice. How all her life She had
loved ace-real, cobwebby lace! Ana
erh!ne to nestle against-the lor,Ilv
feel Of the thingr
Wen, now she was in the wov to
have it all This months visit with
Her aunt in New York had been fecund
II results. Dances ana dinners. SIM
pers, theater parties, had filled the
huTying days and nights. but still
with her aunts worldly insistence. she
mad found time to engage herself to
the man beside her. Capital. nv
dear. her aunt had said when she heard
tne news, kissing her lightly on the
cheek. You see. Alberta. | knew what
| was doing when | sent for you IN
come UP from that poverty stricken
Kentucky. and you had. only to come
TO conquer. OF course Mr.. Smart isn't
exactly a paragon of beauty. and he's
bit new but think of his cool little
million, his yacht, his horses, his splen-
did motor and all that sort of thing
Oh, I'll be proud of you yet, my poor
little southern niecer'
"Beastly stupid play.' broke in upon
Albertas reverie. Mr.. Smart spoke in
a voice a trife louder than conveE-
tonal good form allows.
The girl lifted her eyebrows slightly |
ana then nodded her head in indiffer |
ent acquescence. AS a matter of fact. |
she hadn't noticed a single bit of "busi |
ness on the boards nor heard a single |
line. Now, however. she raised her |
glasses 1t gave her right hand some |
occupation. 1t had been lying peril |
cCsly close to his, She observed.
Gusia@ The second act the man fdg-
eted more than ever. Come" he said |
finally: don't lets waste any more
tine on such twidGle twaddle. It's
veal, to-,lIrrot. Wen run up and or
der our supper instead"
But a girl with an ermine cloak
drown over the back Of her chair was
looming forward, her elbows resting on
her knees, her chin in the cup of Der
two hands. Her eyes were strangely
Wistiul us she watched the players on
Tie stage.
NO" sic whispered oddly without
turning to Smart; Il like it. Let's
stay"
Twas simple enough little scene
that she watched; a homely enough
setting tOo-a lane hedged with wild
roses and honeysUckle, at one end of
which stood Il white cottage, sunny in
the light Of early morning. Just out
side, by the h0llyhocll bushes, was a
man fair and strong. looking like a
young god in his splendid strength. He
was catching up child playfully and
holding it high in the air, as is the way
with proud fathers Then out of the
~''tft7Nf Ao'ys SAllllliiG. CUHe Il ElfliSn l
figure with her sleeves rolled up and
an apron on, to say goodby to her lord
before he went to his days labor. The
sire kissed his child and set him down.
pattinc the curly head Then he drew
the woman to him. "Goodby. and God
bless you, dear. till l come home to-
night" he said in voice softened with
reverence.
There were actual tears in Alberta's
eyes HOmely as was the setting. sim
pie as was the scene. it had brought to
her revelation. After all, that was
the real sum of life. was it not, dear
God-lOve and home and a clear. un-
bartered conscience?
"Well, if you still want to stay, I'm
going out ior a whisky and soda,'
smart laughed unctuously, laying his
heavy hand on hers as the curtain
'aropped on the second act. 'You don't
seem uD to conversation tOniDht