The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-31
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DAISY'S MISTAKE
By Rosa Les ffahirs.

She had been a SUCCESS. The man
| ager had said 80: in fact, everyone
VITO heard Ca:say Page sing in Paris
that night raid she was a wonder. It
was another laurel added tc her score
Of triumphs and although she had
beauty, wealth and fame. as one o:
the gTandest singers III the country
she wasn't happy. for she knew there
tonight amid her triunpts, she realized
how alone she was, and that Howard
Dell was the one person in tue world
who could complete her happiness.
She sat by the dying embers. with
a spray Of artubus pressed between
her fingers. for the perfume of them
had brought back memories of the old
days when she was a jolly, laughing
a card from Howard Dell that night
before she went on the stage to sing,
saying he would call on her the next
day, as he had arrived in Paris the
night before.
y
lanes. where she and Howard roamed
as youthful sweethearts, and it was
there that he told her now he loved
her, and she had laughingly poked fun
at him for being silly, but tonight
she would give half her life TO recall
those old days, for she had learned
how base and deceitful the world was.
Yes, in six years as professional
singer, she had learned her lesson
we'll.
Ten long years had slipped by since
she babe Howard Dell goodbye. She
could see the anguish in his face now,
as it was stamped there when they
parted. He had begged and pleaded
with her to give up her singing, but
she wouldn't listen to him. Indeed
she had told him '5Give up my operate
career? Why, Howard, it is cruel of
YOU 10 ask ME, for I belong to the
world, and I could never De happy i
married you, SO you SEQ now ip1pos-
sible it is. and when I've gone away
you VIII forget tina; you ever loved
ME. Five years from today you will
thank me for passing out OF Your life
and be proud to call me a friend,
only"
With these words she left him, and
tonight was the first time she had,
heard FROM him since they parted.
When she received his card she knew
that he hadn't forgotten her, and she
was glad. yet afraid, to meet him.
She arose. as her long opera cape fell
on the chair, displaying q magnificent
ly handsome woman, and went to her
desk and wrote the following:
Dearest Howard:
How glad I was to get your card,
and please call to see me at once.
I've been thinking over the past TO-
night, and l know that made mis-
take when I refused your love, for I'm
sure now that you We're my first, last,
and only love, and l will give up my
career to prove to you that repent.
Always yours.
DAISY.
The early dawn was peeping in the
windows as she stepped outside her
door to put the letter in the mai, box
Then, with a sigh Of relief, she muir
INJURED as she returned to the room,
"Now. my darling, we shall meet as
lovers instead of friends" and with
tired yawn. she laid down on coach
to get few hours rest
At eleven o'clock she had finished
her toilette. and was pinning bit OF
arbutus in her corsage. when Howard
DelIs card was brought to her, so she
rushed down the stairs to meet him.
AS she opened the parior door Howard
met her. but she saw that he wasn't
alone. There was a frail. sweet-faced
lady with him, and after giving Daisy
a warm, friendly greeting, he led TO
his companion, saying, Daisy. this IS
my wife, and I'm sure You two shall
become friends, for Helen Is an
artist"
Daisy Page never knew how the
visit ended. She was conscious OF a
dull. aching sensation, and when II
was over she knew that her life had
ended. There would never be any
little children playing around her
feet, to love and comfort her. She
had given her life Of her own free will
to her career. and her future would
pay the penalty Of her folly.
When Howard Dell read Daisy's
letter, ne pitied her with the whole
depth OF his manhood. for he had
never really cared for her-it was only
boyish fancy, and it had soon passed
away, but while he pitied her. he knew
that he loved the woman whom he
called wife.