Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-24
n STAGE CAT g ANNA
By
ANNA ALICE CHAPIN

For on Gussie's white and we-powdered shoulder.
close to the little string of mock pearls which she wore
around her throat dab of rouge, Enthusiastically
shaped! 1t had obviously been placed there by some
pair of lips.
In the good-naur hubbub OF teasing and question:
ing which followed Josephine was silent for despite
the evidence she knew beyond the possibility Of a
doubt that the general deduction was false
On the next evening Guss enmity took act
i've turn
Dorrence MacGregor had brought with him to the
theatre note from his sister to Josephine asking her
to tea on the following afternoon; she made one
of her exits he whiting for her. and handed her
the little envelope with message of apology from
Grace MacGregor for the informal manner of it's
veyance Josephine paused a moment to read the
few friendly words on the inclosure and to send a
word of thanks and acceptance to Miss MacGregor
Gus making her own exit at about the same mo-
ment saw, and-misunderstood. Her limited brain
was incapable of understanding the free-masonry of
class and there but one Interpretation for her to
put upon this exchange of notes and friendly phrases
She walked heavily around behind the back drop. her
face flaming under it's rouge and pearl powder.
It's hard thing to tell of Bird Latin, the next
part of the business for she is thoroughgoing sport,
and has stood by every of in turn; but in this.
one can only suppose that she was egged on by Gus,
and was Influenced by her genuine affection for the
little woman. Be)that as it may Bird Latin came
up to Josephine with her most amiable and most cas-
ual air. and remarked in offhand way: Whats the
matter with your fchu? Here, let me what can
do with it. It's all up in the back. Got pin, any
body?'
Josephine, rather absent-mindedly, extracted pin
from the front Of her gown and held it up over her
shoulder with vague word of thanks
She felt quick touch on her neck, distance
away from the fchu, and instinctvely started away
and turned to face Bird.
The latter standing, the pin still in her hand,
her burning eyes triumphant and as Joseph
inc looked at her. wondering she cried, in a clearly
audible voice:
so ne takes them all in turn! Tonight it's the
great and only Miss Drake that he's been kissing be-
hind the seencs!"
Josephine drew herself up, the scarlet blood that
poured her neck hiding for the moment the dab
of rouge upon her neck But the dab of rouge was
there There were plenty of kind friends to tell her
So and to add: my dear! How did it ever happen?"
She dsdained to wipe it off, and went through the
rest of The evening with that crimson smirch upon
her slender neck. No matter how high she might
hold her head no matter what cold carelessness she
might call up to defend her from dersion there was
the dab Of rouge-two dabs of rouge in fact-shaped
pair of lips shaped, crimson, betraying hate
full to her pride and modesty nothing else could
have been hateful For now at last the vugarity
of this new life had entered into her existence and
hurt her Indifferent spirit.
1t was all very well to say that it made differ
ence; that she did not what such people
thought; but when group of extra men laughed
beneath their, breath she passed them, and when
she heard a whispered "Dorries latest!" ebbing
away into silence behind her, she knew that she
not really above the smart of this last attack She
knew down in the recesses of her soul that Gus had
won; she was wounded, though she would not
admit it.
When she met Dorrence face to face it was all that
she could do not to let him feel difference But