New-York tribune., 1907-02-24

the hotel and | think 1 really wanted to die The
manager Hanson came up TO my room and told me
iuSt how bad | had been, and he pretty rough
about il too. You see, he lost everything he had
and he was sore Besides that he brute He
sNorc at for awhile, and then-thcn-wel, he
struck me
The actress stopped talking, and rubbed her hand
slowly across her eyes as If to shut out the memory
ot that night twenty-five years before. Then She
glanced up at the young man standing at the fire.
place looking down at her with grave, sympathetic
eyes
" He struck me here" the actress began again,
pointing 20 her shoulder near the throat and then
he left me alone and went down stairs TO talk 10
rour father about the play. He left me alone lying
IN the bed. hurt and bruised and my heart was
breaking And there | lay sobbng aloud and CRYING
ior the old days back Broadway and the good
friends | had then-thc college boys and the supPers
and everything | loved. You see | was really only
q girl at the time, and hadn't quite got used to the
knocks and bumps that came later
Il don't know how long lay there CRYING but
after a time | heard the door open, and your
mother came in She was very young and very
pretty | had never met her, but she had been
uoInted out TO me your fathers wife-iust a
bride, She was then She had the next room to
nne, and | suppose she must have heard Hanson
swearing and then my sobs She sat on the edge
rl the bed and tried 70 comfort about the play,
lnd You can Imagine It was pretty hard for her,
because she knew nothing about PLAYS, or actors
either, guess And all the time She kept her hand
"a the bruised place on my shoulder where Hanson
rdd struck Just 10 pretend that She didn notice
T. Anyhow, | went 10 sleep N her arms, and when
| woke the next morning she and your father had
gone back TO Selbyville They sent me some flowers
tterward, and wrote a letter 10 her; but l never
them again"
Miss Cawthorne walked over to the window, and
parting the lace curtains, stood for some moments
ookIng out on the scurrying snowtlakes. Then She
.urned back to her guest.
And So YOU see" she said. "when heard them
f2'splng about you at the theater, and | learned
%hO you We're | wanted TO meet YOU because YOU
we're the son Of your mother and your father"
And you don't know how | appreciate it," said
Brandt. - / m awtully sorry spoke as | did little
of m ir,
Miss Page. But, really, she seems such unusually
ace girl to me. don't know when have met anv-
one who was sweetcr or better bred in every way"
Miss Cawthorne nodded you're quite right
She IS very nice and very, very good to her people
DO you know her mothcr?"
did meet her once, but it was just for a moment
at the stage door 1t was so dark | don't StlDD0se
I'd know her again if | saw her"
While Brandt was talking, Miss Cawthorne leaned
against the window SASH looking down on the snow
covered streets entirely deserted for the black
cab at the door.
Look. Mr.. Brandt" she said suddenly. "It is
clearing at last and the sun is really coming out
Ism 1t beautiful don't suppose that you would
care to take me up to Miss Pages now, would YOU?
You see, promised to loan her something for the
supper tonight and I'm sure she would rather have
1t before she goes to the theatcr"
Il be only too glad said Brandt with enthusi-
aSih- Ihe electric can get us there in no time "
AS they turned into West 4oth-st Brandt began
70 recognize the houses he had Heretofore onv
at night when he had driven Miss Page home after
supper Now | begin to feel at home" he said
before, isn't it? h'''
Yes" replied Miss Cawthorne, "in wav it is
Inc CAP stopped IN front of high brick apartment
house and Brandt and Miss Cawthorne went up
INTO narrow vestlbule and looked for Miss Paqets
name under one of the many brass letter bo%es
They found it at last and in response TO their rin
the eaten OF the front door, with its ornate window
OF colored glass; clicked violently and thev pushed
on INTO dark, narrow hallway. Miss Cawthorne had
been there before SO she led the way the narrow