The San Francisco call., 1909-03-07
Men Who Have Opened
Their Hearts to Me
BY A YOUNG WIDOW

| was very late one afternoon when Tony Gil
christ came in to see me.
Before that afternoon I had never dreamed of
catching Tony in genuinely serious moment he
has played all his life and his family don't insist
his working he enjoys himself about as we'll as
any / know.
He doesn't trouble himself about learning anything
and the only thing from book have ever heard him
quote is something from Robert Louis Stevenson
about the schools not being able to do anything for
great men,
So was all the more surprised on that afternoon
when Tony told me about the girl. OF course there
always has been girl since Tony was child
Usually he has had record of "a annually, but
somehow in spite of the sentimental halo which Tony
tried to throw around these romances they always
failed to Evep when he threatened to
commit suicide over the girl who played the part of
a poodle dog in the last Broadway burlesque l
couldn't take it seriously.
This time, however, it was quite different There
was picture of of the opera singers on
the table and Tony looked at it absent-mindedy-
Then curious expression his face and
he said: "It always gives electric shock to
sec things connected with the opera
l waited breathlessy, for l knew that real con-
fesson was coming l wasn't disappointed.
Something happened to at the Metropolitan
two years ago. Grizelda, he said, "and if | had
found that girl in time | believe she would have
made of me-.
oh gasped, but Tony didn't wait to hear.
you remember" said Tony, the afternoon Sallie
Farley gave the matinee party and we all there
in three boxcs-all that winters crowd of and
girls7"
He didn't wait to be assured of my recollection.
There was a girl just below in the orchestra,
he said eagerly; "the altogether satisfactory
girl l have ever seen | know lots of girls who
beautiful; but she good, too. | know lots
that are good, but they're not beautiful know
some that are both, but somehow they're not inter
estng-not real somehow"
I really couldn't have been expected to remember
the girl, so avoided the question by asking if he
had seen her before.
Every day" said Tony; at time were
great chums until l Is. Then she went away to
school and her again until that afternoon
at the opera. Gradually forgot about her. but in the
old days, you sce she believed was perfect and it
always made up to the scratch-seemed to
put backbone in me. know if she'd been in America
I'd have gotten through college and there wouldn't
have been-to put it genercally-there wouldn't have
been any poodle uog"
Tony paused and carefully adjusted the wood in the
CRATE. Then he continued, his face little turned
away from me:
L
knocked all of heap. You see, hadn't her be-
fore>the house was darkened. Some one was late and
the usher along with his light and suddenly her
face flashed out at from the darkness-just as
and serene as it used to be and beautiful.
The usher went on in moment with his light and
left bunch of electricity pecring into the dark
ness. And I-wel 1 suddenly knew that she was
what had really been looking for and really needing
since she went away"
"O course you to her at the end Of the act7"
asked eagerly.
q started Tony replied, "but in the foyer I met
old Snowdon, who held up for chat. AS was
trying to break away the girl passed us.
See her?' said Snowdon. There goes rare
girl, beautiful and good One Of the old fashioned
sort, high ideals, womany self-sacrihce. Really a
wonderful girl! And what you think they've done
to her?'
Well, what' asked delighted with what Snow
don had said and never dreaming what was coming
What they do with all girls nowadays he
scolded. They've married her TO pup of for
eigner; low lived, selfish little beast Never even
brought her back here to her home to give our men
chance
Il left old Snowdon still scolding and didn't &c
back to the matinee party. SaGe may not have be-
leved my note saying was i'll, but l was, and il
lasted long time, too
"And you have never seen her since?" | asked.
Never said Tony, "and I don't want to- either.
There queer huskiness in his voice he added
It's better and wiser that should never meet"
Better and wiser caught myself murmuring
after he had gone. And so there was real man with
heart that aches and Will that Is strong under
that fppant. boyish Tony all knowi