Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-02-20

derisive gunaW, ne went out, slam
ming the door behind him.
/ had been alone scarcely a minute
when that irritating giggle again fell
upon my ears
who's therey" I cried, nInging open
the door and peering into the dimly
lighted corridor.
SSH Go backw whispered feminine
voice. And as I obeyed its command
the doorway framed a petite golden
haired damsel. resplendent In pink sat
In and court train.
seized her hands and drew her TO
che center Of the room under the cleo
trio light
"Elfridaw l gasped. What are you
doing here?"
She dropped me stately courtesy.
THE Countess Olga, fourth lady I'm
waiting 10 her majesty Queen Sylvia
at your service" she said, with dignity.
Then she giggled and blushed.
1T was you. then, who kept laughing
aii the time / was on the stage" said
reproachfully.
Elfrida looked penitent.
IL WIS iledn VI me. Sue duilitteu
.But you did look so funnyr' She gig
gled again at the recollection.
/ made no reply in words. but ! let
her see that forgave her.
Where did you come from? How
did you get here? Why haven't you
written TO me in all these weeks" !
asked as soon as felt sure she thor
oughly understood my mental attitude
regarding her.
mime. Brenner's, New Haven. Skip
ped with the show Saturday night.
Couldn't write. Watched every min
nte," she answered with unwomanly
lucidity and brevity.
Elfrida always was different from
other girls. This was why I made
such fool of myself over her last
summer after my junior year that the
governor was afraid / never would
stand for the senior grind at Harvard.
IL he had remembered that ! was on
the crew, he wouldn't have been so
scared. II could not love thee, dear, so
much loved / not honor MORE" 1 had
quoted solemnly to Elfrida the night
we said goodby.
That was why she was packed Off to
hat beast of Bremen when she
should have been queening 1t In AL
bany society. She was so original that
when there was no immediate danger
OF her clipping with me her father was
afraid that she might take up slum-
ming or tipping or insist on going to
the Philippines to nurse the soldiers.
Bremen had doubtless been appraised
OF these contingencies, but apparently
the possibility OF Elfrida succumbing
to the ordinary schoolgirl variety of
stage fever had occurred to no one.
Consequently with her power of re-
source IL was mere child's play for her
to "break JAIL" as she expressed II,
during the relaxed vigilance OF the Sat
subsequently TO coax her way to the
managers presence. AS far as he was
concerned, to see was TO engage. Did
mention that Elfrida was a ripping.
tearing beauty? Well such Is the
case, and she confided TO me that she
was payingfo for her own costumes.
You must go back at once" said
notes on the numerous exciting events
which had occurred since our parting.
And give up earning my own liv-
ing" demanded Elfrida Indignantly.
lust when have proved how easily !
can do itf"
you've only been at Ii two days." I
remarked, land as it is the 4th of the
of your allowance"
Instantly saw my mistake. Elfrida
turned her back on me, and for fully
two minutes every one Of my usual
methods of effecting a reconciliation
failed utterly. At length brilliant
idea came TO me.
"If you will leave the company to-
night, | will, said in the tone of one
making the sacrifice of lifetime.
Elfrida displayed signs of interest.
She didn't of course know that my en-
gagement like that OF n dozen other
fellows who were members OF the
queens guard, was only for the cur
rent week
"You are willing. then, 10 forego the
pursuit OF the queen?' inquired FL
frida. quoting from the play with mock
intensity. I detected, however, an I'M
dercurrent Of real anxiety in her voice
and FASTENED to reassure her.
Anything that | gave up for your
sake would be the next moment for
gotten" replied dramatically.
She allowed me TO kiss her.
81 will do IT," she said after a mo-
ment's deliberatlon. But we will both
have to forfeit our salaries"
I glanced at the clock IL was quar-
ter after o, and I knew by the noise
outside that the first act was just over.
Selling the fourth lady in waiting I'M
tremendously by the arm, hurried
her down the corridor to the ladies'
dressing room.
Borrow long dark coat II you
haven't got one" I whispered, land
pin that fummery under IL. I will
have q cab here In five minutes, and
you can get the 9:40 for New Haven"