Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-07-05
While the PLAY
Was On
BY Virginia Leila WentZ
Copyright, 1865, By Beatrix Roado


Gated 10y the usher with serene noise
lessucss. The man with waxed mus
tachcS and hashy diamond studs fol-
lowed ostentatiously He sat down,
much To the annoyance Of the party
directly behind after unduly pompous
delay. Ostcntation and pomposlty were
in Mr. Smart's line
Mechanically the girl drew out her
opera glasses from their bag, but she
did not use them. Instead, with a lit
tie sigh Of content, she leaned back
against her wrap. a gorgeous thing,
ermine lined, belonging TO her aunt,
which she had been coaXed into wear
ing The lights of the house were low,
and as she leaned for a second. q bill
lowy mass of chiffon and lace against
the crminc, her heavily lashed eyelids
half closed. and she smiled family.
All. it was 50 good to be faultlessly
dressed from the top of her head to
the tip Of her shoe all at once-just
once sure of herself all around. Not
as it had always been with her down
in dear old kentucky a gown achieved
just as her hat was going out of fash
Ion, new wrap when her evening
dresses were beginning TO look a bit
worn, boots Il little shabby just as she
was able to get fresh gloves and veil.
Her eye fell on the billowy blouse of
her bodice. How all her life she had
loved lacc-rcal cobwebby lace! And
erminc to nestle against-the lordly
feel of the thing.
Well. now she was in the way to
have # all This months visit with
her aunt in New York had been fecund
IN results Dances and dinners, sup
pers. thcatcr parties, had filed the
hurrylng days and nights, but still,
with her aunts worldly inslstence, she
had found time to engage herself to
the man beside her. Capital, my
dear" her aunt had said when she heard
the news, kissing her lightly on the
cheek You see, Alberta knew what
| was doing when | sent for you to
come up from that poverty stricken
Kentucky, ana 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 niece
"Beastly stupid play" broke in upon
Alberta's reyerie. Mr.. Smart spoke in
a voice a tri1e louder than conven-
tional good form allows.
The girl lifted her eyebrows slightly
and then nodded her head In indiffer-
ent acquicscence. As a matter OF fact,
she hadn't noticed Il single bit of "busi-
ness on the boards nor heard a single
line Now. however, she raised her
glasses. II gave her right hand some
occupation 1t had been lying peril
ously close to his, she observed
During the second act the man fidg-
eted more than ever. Come" he said
finally; don't lets waste any more
time on such twlddle twaddle It's
W tAh NfiililllA ipl W ii ihil hB anu Vi
der our supper instead
But girl with an ermine cloak
thrown over the back of her chair was
leaning forward, her elbows resting on
her knees, her chin in the cup of her
two hands. Her eyes were strangely
wistful as she watched the players on
the stage.
NO" she whispered oddly without
turning 10 Smart; Il like It. Let's
stay"
Twas a simple enough little scene
that she watched; a hOmely enough
setting. too-a lane hedged with wild
roses and honcysuckle, at one end Of
which stood a white cottage, sunny in
the light Of early morning Just out
side, by the hollyhock bushes, was a
man fair and strong, looking like a
young god in his splendid strength. He
was catching up a child playfully and
holding il high in the air, as Is the way
with proud fathers. Then out of the
cottage. rosy, smiling, came a girlish
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,
patting 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 a voice softened with
reverence.
There were actual tears in Alberta's
eyes Homcly as was the setting, sim
pie as was the scene, 1t had brought to
the real sum of life. was it not, dear
God love and a home and clear, un-
bartered conscience?
"Well, If you still want to stay, I'm
going out for whisky and soda"
Smart laughed unctuously, laying his
heavy hand on hers as the curtain
dropped on the second act you don't !
seem up to conversation tonight. | |
might rs wei have taken your aunt out |
old lady's a corker when talks scarce! |
If I'm not back by the time the cur
tain goes mp don't get frightened. I'll |
be here before the bloomin' things /
over"
As he was turning out In the aisle I'M
consciously even to herself Alberta's |
eyes swept him from head to foot
physique obtrusive jewels
anl alI Size shuldcred invountarily, |
pc. Ing l. ring which she w're rath-
or sharply ...n h"r flesh.
Oh IF DHi. The orchestra would play |
that "s rim. Song Of Mcndelssohn's!