Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-24
Mrs. Harvey snorted.

Eltner your 1901, Mr.. MacGresor, she re-
torted cor else you don't know the breed!"
MacGregor's mouth hardened suddenly.
Mrs. Harvey" he said in his quiet, unconcerned
English voice, 81 have often wished from my heart
that were the brother or the personal friend of
one of these young ladies, for the purpose"
"Well?' said Mrs Harvey.
For the purpose Mrs Harvey" said MacGregor,
adopting the fragrant American methods of warfare
at last, "of giving you the calling down you
ever got in your whole life. 1t so happens, to my
own regret that do not know any woman in this
company well enough to take UP cudgel in her de-
fence without being impernent; but I'd earnestly ad-
wise you to put up strong curb your tongue, for
of these days you might up against some
fellow who more lucky than myself, has the right to
tell you just what he thinks of youl"
Mrs. Harvey departed flashing promises of future
revenge from her cold, little gray eyes.
Just then Josephine Drake stole out from the first
entrance. Her eyes bright with approval as
she turned them MacGregor.
"That was nice of you!' she said softly. "Awfully
nice!"
Gus looked at her with resentment that stormed
to be expressed This tall, clear-featured GIRL who
wore taor-built gowns when she came into the
theatre and made up Cor the street-what bust
ness had she to creep in here into the stage world
and tilt against the rightful denizens thereof? Gus
herself dark and short and plump and had made
up for so many years that she would have felt cold
if she had gone out on Broadway without her eye
lashes.
Dorrence MacGregor turned quickly, and laughed
little awkwardy.
Miss Drake!" he exclaimed. 81 did not see you
before!"
81 was in there" Josephine said, indicating the
entrance But could not help hearing your noble
defence of-us"
Mrs Harvey gets frightfuly on my nerves."
laughed MacGregor. 81 suppose really was bit abb
surd; but you know she really does slang the girls
abominaby!" he added, f-apologetically.
They had both forgotten Gus Jamec She watches
them for few blazing moments, then slppau quietly
away. In her heart was only room now for
fury of hate and love- How dared this other woman
who did not care--she knew by all the tokens oi
womanhood that she did not care-how dared she
come between her and the one dear. wonderful dream
of her sordid little life? 1t was not only MacGregors
tone of Difference equality toward the other wom
an that she resented not only the fact that on her
appearance he had forgotten the existence oil her.
Gusse--not only. even, that he had shown sucn ex-
aggerated and shocked amazement to think OF her
as having been troubled by the insolence OF Mrs
Harvey. No, it deeper and more cruel hurt
than all these-bitter as they might be. The sting
was this: Josephine had dared to speak to him as she
rtcid
had faced him with the utter frankness OF indner-
ence moment that meant life, death and the
hereafter to Gus obviously sgnifed nothing to
Josephine but casual intsfchange of amenities with
one of her own kind
From that moment Gus James lived, breathed and
had her being in company with but one thought the
humiliation and punishment of Josephine Drake.
In the company was a breathless, eager youth who
CHANGED to be very much in love with Gus. He was
short pink and plump, but he had an ardent heart'
and Gus was very far from dscouraging devotion IN
any quarter so every evening he used to wait at the
foot of the stairs to squeeze her hand excitedly as sne
passed up to the dressngroom after the performance
That night Gus smiled upon him more kindly than
usual and when the crowd of painted and powdered
nunpets thronged across the stage and on TO the
ascending steps. she permitted herself to linger
moment even to be pulled gently back into snaoo"
while the assistant stage manager was crying
strke," and the air was full of the thunder of NOV
ing scenery.
When she entered the dressing-room two or three
minutes later she looked carefully conscious, and
varied it by well-prepared start and blush when
one of the girls asked her where she had been.
I'll just stopped moment-to speak TO Mr. Mac
Gregor" she said, with a shade OF very becoming
embarrassment. 'He had something to say to mel!
'Is he going away from herc?' chanted Lii.
Josephine said nothing but in her heart she recog-