Smyrna times., 1907-03-06

did you get here? Why haven't you
written to me in all these weelis?' J
asked as soon as l felt sure she thor
oughly understood my mental attitude
regarding her
Mime. Brenner's, New Haven. Skip
ped with the show Saturday night.
Couldn't write. Watched every min
ute," she answered with unwomanly
lucidity and brevity.
Elfrida always was different from
other girls. This was why l made
such a fool of myself over her last
summer after my junior year that the
governor was afraid 1 never would
stand for the senior grind at Harvard.
If he had remembered that l was on
the crew, he wouldn't have been so
scared. II could not love thee, dear, so
much loved not honor more" 1 had
quoted solemnly to Elfrida the night
we said goodby.
That was why she was packed off to
that beast of Brenner when she
should have been queening it in Al.
bany society. She was so original that
when there was no immediate danger
of her elOping with me her father was
afraid that she might take up slum.
ming or typing or insist on going to
the Philippines to nurse the soldiers.
Brenner had doubtless been apprised
of these contingencies, but apparently
the possibility of Elfrida succumbing
to the ordinary schoolgirl variety of
stage fever had occurred to no one.
Consequently with her power of re-
source it was mere child's play for her
to "break JAIL" as she expressed it,
during the relaxed vigilance of the Sat
urday evening recreation hour and
subsequently to coax her way to the
managers presence. AS far as he was
concerned, to see was to engage. Did
1 mention that Elfrida was ripping,
tearing beauty? Well, such is the
case, and she confded to me that she
was paying for her own costumes.
"YOu must go back at once" l said
sternly as soon as we had compared
notes on the numerous exciting events
which had occurred since our parting.
"And give up earning my own liv
ing" demanded Elfrida Indignantly,
lust when have proved how easily
can do it?''
you've only been at it two days."
remarked, "and as it is the 4th of the
month l suppose you still have most
of your allowance"
Instantly saw my mistake. Elfrida
turned her back on me, and for fully
| two minutes every one of my usual
methods of effecting a reconciliation
| failed utterly. At length a brilliant
idea came to me-
"If you will leave the company to
night, 1 WILL" 1 said in the tone of one
making the sacrifice of a lifetime.
Elfrida displayed signs of interest
She didn't of course know that my en-
| gagement, like that of a dozen other
| fellows who were members of the
| queens guard, was only for the cur
rent week.
"You are willing. then, to forego tn,
pursuit of the queen" inquired FL
frida, quoting from the play with mocl
intensity. l detected, however, an un
dercurrent of real anxiety in her voice
and FASTENED to reassure her.
anything that l gave up for you
sake would be the next moment for
gotten" replied dramatically.
She allowed me to kiss her.
81 will do it," she said after a mo
ment's deliberation. "But we will botl
have to forfeit our salaries
l glanced at the clock. 1t was quar-
ter after 8, and l knew by the nois
outside that the first act was just over
Selling the fourth lady in waiting un
tremendously by the arm, 1 hurrie,
her down the corridor to the ladies
dressing room.
Borrow a long dark coat if yo'
haven't got one" l whispered, sam
pin that fiummery under it. l vii
have a cab here in five minutes, an
you can get the $40 for New Haven"
She obeyed my directions, and tweI
ty minutes later I stood alone on tn
station platform disconsolately watch
ing the rapidly disappearing train tina
was bearing her Brennerwards.
l got back in time for the third &C
all right. but I didn't succeed in NEE
ing Miss Ellsworth after the perform
ance, nor any other time, for that ma
ter, for l kept my promise and qu
that night.
In this case, however, virtue me
with a substantial reward, for whe
the episode came to the ears of my f;
ther and of Elfrida's they were so in
pressed by my mastery handling {
the situation that they permitted OF
engagement TO be announced.
Neignbors Got Fooled.