The Democratic advocate., 1909-02-05
BY Grace
Of Gladys.
BY CARL WILLIAMS.
Copyrighted, 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.
BY CARL WILLIAMS.

week In the smaller towns, always
dramas In which the small star could
shine TO advantage
As stage attraction the child was a
wonder. She could play little girls who,
like all the good, die young, and she
also played rough soubrette parts with
dash that made more important
managers wish that there were no
children's societies In the large cities
to prevent her appearance in the big
theaters.
Her father, Joe Glidden, had tried
the cities, but after half q season he
reorganized his old company and took
to the small towns, where the child
was favOrite and where childPcn's
societies were unknown.
There, among old friends. he felt safe
once more. He staggered about as he
had done before he know what It was
to regard every stranger approaching
the box Office as possible police Off
Ger In plain clothes.
Gladys, as though TO. make up for
lost time, became more incorrigible
than ever.
Versatility, her precious dramatic
gift, she displayed only on the stage.
The members Of her fathers company
never were treated TO any private dis
plays Of the angel children that Gladys
played to perfection on the stage.
In private life the child was steadily
and consistently n torment Jack Trent
and Elvia Mordant, Of her patient sup.
port, were her especial victims.
Gladys sharp eyes had discovered
the birth Of love even before EIvia
was certain OF her own feelings and
announced that fact TO tho rest OF tho
company at supper that evening. Her
shrill. piping voice, trained TO oil a
theater, reached to every corner Of the
dining room, and the gleeful statement
that Miss Mordant IL awfuily gone on
Jack Trent" set the room I'm roar.
With flaming face Elvia sprang 90
her feet and rushed from the room,
the laughter Of the company and the
other guests ringing IN her cars long
after she had reached her room.
Scaldlng tears stained her pillow.
but she was at last certain that she
did love Trent, and, had he only known.
he had cause TO be grateful TO the
youngster Instead he savngely sug.
gested to Joe Glidden that good
spanking would be the salvation OF the
child.
Glidden knew better than TO take the
advice. Once, and once only. had
Gladys been spanked II had hap.
pened on a Sunday. and business was
bad all the following week, because
the child played abominably IN spite
OF all threats. Not until the promise
was made that she should not be
spanked any more did she appear at
her best again.
Glidden only smiled indulgcntly at
Trent's suggestion, but Gladys hated
the man for IT, and thereafter she Sc
leeted Jack and Elyia as her special
victims.
1t did not matter that on the trains
they sat at opposite ends OF the car.
Gladys would discover Trent gazing
AhNNhhAJ AhlV rBdNG Nuil
to the fact that he could not keep his
eyes Off Elvia
The company laughed at her pert re-.
marks. because they were selAshly
glad that Gladys found vent for her
love of mischief that did not involve
themselves.
Their laughter encouraged the child
to fresh endeavors, and since the two
victims would not provide her with
material for jokes of the stage she
formed the habit Of guying their per.
formance ON the stage
Jack and Elvia were cast for lovers
roles, and 1t was diseoncerting TO hear
n sibilant "Ahp as their lips met In a
stage cnress. Only IN the theater did
they see each other now, so Gladys
made those stage scenes moments Of
torture.
Not for a moment did the child re.
lent, and her father only smiled Indul.
gently at Trents protests and threats
to leave. Engagements were not easy
TO be had In the middle OF the season,
and Glidden knew that Trent would
not take chances with mother to sup
port
He had no wish to lose Trent who
was n clever man and worth double
what he was getting, but there seemed
small danger Of his resigning, and It
was not an easy matter to control
Gladys
No one read better than the child the
true state OF affairs, and she made the
most Of It, More than once Trent
made up his mind to leave in the hope
that Gladys might then leave Elvia IN
peace, but Elyia would not hear Of IT,
BY suggesting that he would leave her
to bear the brunt of the child's enmlty
she dissuaded him from his purpose.
But the crisis was bound to come.
Gladys, with a sense Of false security,
passed all limit. The favorite play
with the public was one Of her "angel"
parts, and the "big scene" in the last
act showed the child at her mothers
knee praying that her father, who had
been estranged, might return.
He is lurking behind the curtains
madly jealous and waiting to XIII his
wife when the child is put to bed.
The naive plea wins him to a belief
In his wifes innocence.
1t was Saturday night, and the littl,
theater was packed to TIE doors. El
via and Jack had both been accorded
tumultuous welcome. and this reused
the child's professional jealousy.
She was unusually quiet when OF
the stage, and Trent wandered at her
meekness. Just when Nthe big scene
was progressing finely aud the petition
frnIn the chilli xvna. AnIr,1. rond "a