The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-11-29
CHAPTER xI,l.-(cont,nued).

Claire Barton-her real name was
Clara Barton. and the trifling altera-
lion had been made because it looked
more professionalism started life
IN q millinery establishment. Her
good looks. her graceful carriage, and
her figure had procured her advance
ment from the work room to the show
room, and when she was twenty-three
she was the principal model" in a
fashionable establishment in Regent
street. -
It was upon her graceful form that
the lovely nantes and jackets and
sets of furs were placed when ladies
wished to see "how they would look"
They looked great deal better on
Miss Barton than they did on many
Of the ladies who paid for them. But
then all the ladies had not Miss Bar
tons figure and very few of them had
Miss Barton's pretty face.
In the workroom Clara Barton had
made great friends with one of the
skilled hands, a Miss May Wilson, and
when Miss Wilson was promoted to
eested that Clara Barton should be
brought down from the work room,
where she was not a first-class hand,
and employed in the show room,
where she would certainly be a first
class figure.
Clara was very grateful to May Will
son for the promotion. 1t was much
nicer to walk about in beautifully
fitting silk gown and put on the latest
Paris fashions in order to show them
of to the greatest advantage. 1t was
ever so much nicer than sitting in a
stuffy work room and getting all over
little pieces of cotton, some of which
would stick ON even after business
hours and betray the pretty girls oc.
cupation to every passing eye, no
matter whether said eye was under
q false fringe or over real NOUS
tache.
The stage producer" of the Pan
dora, coming to the Regent street es-
tablishment to inquire about some ex-
pensive modern dresses for the chorus
was struck with Miss Barton's appear
ance.
Discovering after little converse
ton with her that she had a good
voice, he suggested that she should
come on the following Monday to
voice trial.
Clara Barton went, and the manager
agreeing Mith-the- producer that she
was just cut out for a chorus girl, she
was engaged for the chorus at thirty
shillings a week, seven shows-extra
for Wednesday matinees-and COM
menced her stage career.
She was success with the stalls at
once, for she was by all accounts the
nowned for it's beauty
Her portrait soon appeared in the
illustrated papers and in the shop
windows, and she became "the talk of
the town." Beautiful presents were
left at the stage door and invitations
to supper were sent round between
acts.
Claire accepted the homage and the
presents, and she went out to supper,
but she always took a friend with her,
and the friend was generally Norah
Cassidy
She had not quite so many dia-
monds as some of the young ladies',
but she had all she wanted. and get
ting to know one or two stock ex-
change admirers she had some good
''tips," and presently found herself
able to take pretty furnished fiat in
Russell Mansions.
She led the Bohemian life and liked
It. but no one had a word to say
against her.
Claire, with all her gaiety and frank
Joy of life, was not foolishly romantic.
She had seen something Of poverty in
her childhood and young girlhood and
had made up her mind when the stage
door opened to her that it should lead
her to a marriage which would make
her position safe when the days of her
youth were over.
She didn't particularly want to
marry q millionaire. But she thought
she should like title with good in
come attached to it. She didn't build
upon becoming a peeress, but she
thought If she could be cher ladyship'
that would be very satisfactory end
to her stage career.
During the first five months of her
career as an actress she saw good
deal Of May Wilson.
There was nothing Claire liked bet
ter than to be driven up to the Regent
street establishment in motor, and
20 stroll In and make purchase and
= chat with the girls who had known
Der when she was one of themselves
In this way she had seen gool
deal of May, and had asked her t.
come to the theater. May had beer
e once. seen the performance, and ad
Il nired her friend, but she had ex
plaiHed 10 Claire that ME liked to ge
Aon,s after her work was done, AMI
"a that TIE theater was not an amuse
a 1bent which she cared to take up.
sittf 0ysr her breakfast late til,
1losh aiter her parting with Capt
olnelSig The belle Of the Pandora Il
III No. that II was some time sine