The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-04-18

worldwise Allen had ushered In this
same theater for many months and
knew frost when he saw II. even
in rehearsal But he did not contradict
her when she ratified on about the won
derful things she intended to DC for
her half invalid mother on that IS a
week for The Love OF Princess"
was to have two matinees a week.
The night Of the dress rehearsal Al
len sat watching her with hungry eyes
Almost he wished that he had tried TO-.
the position OF walking gentleman
just to promenade the stage with that
vision in soft old lavender brocade OIL
his arm. Then his eyes snapped, and.
when Betty came off he whispered: &
Take of that lace thingumbOb and
carry it homo with you"
Betty looked surprised. but she had
learned to defer to his suggestions, and
so, when she came out in her long
rough coat and fur toque she carried
the lace bertha under her arm.
THAT is what makes the dress look
so pretty" she urged. ITS real lace"
Yes, | saw that" answered Allen.
but some Ave cent yard stuff will
do for stage wear. and If some Of
them got wise to the fact you had real
lace they'd cop it and pawn it. Say,
you don't know anything yet about life
behind the scenes"
At first Betty had felt inclined to re-
sent Aliens espionage. but he was u
good looking chap, and she soon found
especially after the first night, when
she was the only ono Of tho extra la
dies to receive fowers-violets that
must have cost several dollarS-that his
regular attendance upon her made her
the envy Of many fellow players
The papers gave the new production
bad notices, but the audiences contin-
ued large, especially in the orchestra
and Betty remained hopeful
Paper" said Allen in disgust as be
watched the audience gather on Thurs
day night. And he was right The
house was being filed on passes THE
Love Of Princess was failure.
But Betty, watching the big audi
ences, could not be persuaded-not
until Saturday night came, when the
company was called together and dis
missed without salaries.
Betty was very quiet and white
when she came out, her grandmother
frock under her arm.
Its all over" she said sadly. You
were right. And-and we didn't even
get one weeks salary There's all my
car fare, and my new slippers, and u
bill at the druggists. Mothers cough
has been so much worse
Aliens firm clasp closed over her
trembling hand
There, there, don't you worry.
saw Ii coming before the first night
even, and my brother, who's got a
good thing in the Daniels Realty COM
pany, is going to put you in there to
mind the switchboard. Tomorrow's
Sunday, and he'll take time to show
you how TO run it, so when you start
in Monday you won't seem green It's
eight week to start and something
better ahead, cause you've got a pull
see?"
"Oh, you are 50 kind to me. | don't
see Why
Betty was half sobblng.
Allen looked down upon her droop-
ing head in speechless amazement
Girls certainly were queer things. he
argued. Hadn't he shown her plainly
enough: He cleared his throat, but
his voice remained husky.
Don't YOU know-ain't you seen
that l loved you-loved you from he
first day you came into my car? But
l wasn't going to tell you just yet-not
until | got a better job. The first Of
the year I'm going into the advertising
line with that firm on the tenth floor
and then Say, have you seen those
model fats up on West Eighty
street? | think that sunlight from the
south court would be grand for your
mother, and If you get an advance
and the advertising business pans out
we might
Goodness, was she never going to
stop crying? Was this the way girls
always behaved when men proposed
" tAcill
Suddenly the brocaded dress fell at
his very feet, and before he could pick
1t up Betty's two hands clasped on his
arm, and her eyes, raised to his, shone
like two vlolets bathed with dew.
"Oh, Allen, you are perfectly grand.
II the princess had had a love like
yours, the show never would have
closed"
And then But never mind. Some
policemen are very tactful and the one
who was strolling their way turned
his back and picked up the brocade
dress that was rolling straight for the
gutter.
"Fox Hunting" In 1900.
Two or three hundred years ago any
ha no,