The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-11-02

tcs-tirssi fran yssssrSs,) ..rT
Good Lord, what a fool I've been
or all the show girls and chorus WON
IN | ever met--and heaven knows, I've
met lot In my time~there was only
| lust one that was really worth while:
,nly one that was different and indl
Fidual: and though | knew perfectly
we'll why she consistently and per
| Iistently frowned on my profrered at
lentions. l wasn't man enough to be
decent"
The look which Alice Davenant flung
back at him was one Of serious Ques.
| lion.
Il hope I haven't made a mistake,
after all. she said dubiously.
"A mistaken" he repeated, question
Ingly.
Il don't care for flattery. Mr. Fulte-
/ per. Ii doesn't go very far with me,
| guu know"
I'm sorry" he replied simply, 81
was never more honestly intentioned
| in my life"
| For long moment silence lay be-
tween them; strained, uneomfort-
able silence, for which each felt. In a
measure at least, responsible. II was
the girl who, little contritely, broke
1t at length with a low-voiced apology.
Il know that wasn't fair of me,
she said, still denying him her eyes.
But I've grown oyersuspicious and
cautious, guess. from having always
to be on the defensive. You know
what men are, Mr.. Fultener. That is
most Of the men that we girls of the
stage are thrown with. And it's not
the easiest thing TO go so far and no
farther with them When girl let's
one of them compliment her. he seems
TO think the bars are down for love
making: and If she let's him make
love. she must let him kiss her: and
30 II goes on The only way therefore,
have found, for n girl to keep her
self.respect, In our profession, AT
armor. and stand always with drawn
sword"
The young man pushed his salad
plate to one side and leant closer to
her across the table.
Look at me-" he commanded tense.
ly. And when, gravely, she obeyed,
and the pure, unsullied appeal OF her
dark eyes was lifted to his frank gaze
once more, he went on. Every word
that you've said. Miss Davenant. Is as
true as the multiplication table, and
just about as romantic. But because
you, in your profession, have been
thrown SO largely with men of the
type Of the stage manager that dis
missed you, you have no right to Inn
agine that there are not men of an
other sort in the world--men that
know how to appreciate and honor
good women such as you are, no mat
ter where they are found or what their
calling. is | was ever OF the degrad-
ed, blackguaYdly crew to which that
stage manager beloDgs-and, please
God, | don't believe | ever was, even
at my worst--I certainly am In an
pther boat now; and want you to
believe that few words of honest
truth from me, regarding my admira-
lion for you and the esteem in which
| have always held You, aren't going
to do you the least bit of harm, and
won't entail anything either to my
liscredit or yours
Then the girl, while her lids fiut.
tered and her eyes grew threateningly
moist, reached a slender, shapely, ring
less hand across the table to be met
before 1t had we'll started by the mans
larger and stronger and browner one,
which seemed to have been waiting
Rll the while for just this opportunity,
No exchange of words accompanied tho
hand clasp, but palm spoke eloquent
~ to palm, and shining blue eyes and
fearful brown met and held each other
as IL they meant never to be torn
apart.
The nature of the condolences that
followed was even more famlliarly
sympathetic Fultener learned much
Of Alice Davenant's antecedents. Hef
father, now dead, gentleman BORN
of scrupulous principle but feeble in
itiative. had been paralytic for years
Her mother, the daughter of once
wealthy Southern family, thorough
bred. cultured lacked, nevertheless
every essential Of temporal provision
And so It had devolved upon herself
and a younger brother 10 go out into
the world and give battle for bread
A fairly good voice had first given her
place in a Brooklyn church choir;
but the theater chorus had offered
more constant employment at added
remuneration.
He. In turn, had told her many
things And OF these not the least
interesting to her, as well as to him
self was the story OF his loss and hia
search, and of how he had even now
set in motion the wheels OF an expedi
ent by which, In three or four days,
he would be amply rehabilitated. But
The details OF his plan. foollshly proud
as he was OF It at the time, he with
held. Before parting from her, how.
ever. he won her consent, seeing how
easily he could recruit his exchequer,
to accept from him. as loan or
course. all that was necessary to clear
her of London and convey her, on
he same steamer with him. back to
New York And then, final accom-
blishment OF all. he adroitly drew from
ler the name of the stage manager
responsible for her plight. and the
TACT that he was still directing the
performances 1T the Friyolity Thea
Ia