The Washington herald., 1907-03-16
LITTLE BRIGHTEYES.
BY LOUISE NURRIFIELD.

] helped in. Ii was a good trick. that first
entrance Of the American girl They had
a mechanical arrangement for the auto
10 scoTch down the mountain pass. and It
looked as though il was going straight
over the foOtlights. There were four
turns To the run, and then Il brought up
short right in the center Of thesstage in
a seit-loeking frog, and made a mighty
effective picture.
Vida, drawing on her white gauntlets
J m Just as cool as can be. Not a bit
ratified, thank you. Let her 60"
There was the seconds pause In the
orchestra. then the crash of entrance
music, anu they released the machine. Ii
! took the incline like a boys coaster,
smooth and swift and easy Davis was
white, but Marshall stroked his Vandyke
and frowned ever so slightly as he
watched the car and its occupant. II was
a dangerous trick, but it brought down
I the house.
Marshall stared at Vida. Under the
rouge her face was dead white and he
knew she was scared. When she came
on the stage, she sent for him.
Nick, l won't go through that again
not If the whole show goes 10 pieces. ]
simply can't II is terrible. Why. il would
i
in that thing again"
Davis suggested q dummy. but Marshall
wouldn't stand FOR any fake. The girl in
the machine must be alive And sudden
ly Davis suggested Little Brighteyes.
shes got the same air and build as
MISS Lorne, and you can hide the fac,
with a veil Change the scene 50 as 10
carry OF the auto long enough for the
TWO 10 change places after the run. and
there you are. And she's the only girl /
know who has the grit to do it.
She had the grit II meant a doubling
M her salary, and she made the run night
after night with never tremor of fear.
No one knew the difference. The two
women were the same size, and the same
carriage. and Vida was delighted,
It's lots Of fun, she told Marshall.
IL IKE niring some one TO die for you
don't you know"
The laughing words flashed across Mar
shall one night when "Flim-FIam'' was
on ITS third month. He happened 10 be
standing at the foot Of the stairs leading
up 10 the platform where the machine
STOOD As she came by 10 take her placa
III II, Little Brighteyes had 10 pass him
and IOr the first time their ewes Inot
Marshall never moved when she had gone
up the stairs He had forgotten "Fliro-
rlam' and New York Sonlevhera SON,
time. so long ago that he didn't ike ~
remember it, or have other people eftber
one, Nick Marshall had run a little ona,
ring circus through the country towns
ABOUT thirteen years back, and there had
been d girl, pretty. plquant girl who
rode morse IN tie parade. and drove |
charlot Ia the funny, shabby, little CRANE
entry And after couple of years ot
"a a. N saHHa
decided his talent lay in New Yorl, ara
left the circus and the little conn,,-,,
towns and other hsndicaps behind MIN
The burst of applause from the front oe
the house recalled him. The machine v,ss
released, and the American heiress inooo
was doing her nightly stunt" And SUD 4
denly there was a dull strange crash /
and the music stopped. Marshall smoke /
over his shoulder as he made for the
stage. and they rang down the curtain /
and started up the music again for .h.
public must not see unpleasant tbirgs
when 1t takes its gayety, and there was
d most unpleasant thing lying under the
automobile that had turned turtle
She isn't dead said Davis. as he and
Nlda bent over the slim figure in the
"hite suede cloak. Get her to the hos
pitai' ana she VIII pull through. It's only
u
Marshall pushed the two to one si5a
and lifted the figure in his arms A. he
did so. Little Brighteyes opened her eves
and smiled up at him.
Hello, boy, she said. family. Mar
shaIl bent his head and kissed her he
fore the whole crowd.
Never mind the hospital. Davis" he
SAID quietly. I'll take Mrs. Marshall |
home myself"
AND the rest watched him as he strobe
Z 'croSs the stage with his burden. out 20
Where carriage waited at the side door
20 the tneater. Then Vida looked III. at
Davis and laughed as the stage was
cleared for the curtain-raising
I've known it for weeks" she said ..1
lrled and tried to think where / had
seen her before. and then all at once II
came TO me. Nick married her back in
yne circus days, and then left her out
vest IN some dead-and-alive hole. while
ne came on 10 New York 10 try tn nat-a
good. He made good. but forgot ALI sbo1,t
any responsibility out West. and she U,as
too proud to hunt him up WHOM g.
thought he didn't want her I saw ber ~
comic opera out in Frisco eight or pt,,a
years ago. She made a big srcces- =,
Fatinitza.' I remembered her ALI ~ -
her play that drum Bur n ms
Ter own affair, and 1 didn't toll VI
played fair at the climax didn't ba q,I-
Davis nodded. But as he watcbea a.
aughing, pretty face beside him Witt
% the lips as when she had toITor -
lrst ride down the run, he knew that
me other beside Nick had PLAYED fair TO
air to Little Brighteyes. ~
4OpyrlgfIf. 1907 hv q