The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-01-04
Prince Poniotowsky Making His Way
Toward Their Table Aeross the
Room.


Room.
him in chair. We all went round to
his apartments after the theater. lie
lives in three rooms with his whole
family and he's had so many debts
and so much trouble and such poor
contract that he hasn't made much
out of "Mandalay," but / guess he will
out OF this new piece. He Rugged and
kissed me until l thought he would
break my neck"
London had gone mad over Lefty
Lane, whose traits and contour were
the admiration of the world at large
and well.known even to the news
boys, and whose likeness was nearly
as familiar as that Of the Madonnas
OF old. Her face was oval and per-
rectly formed, with the reddest OF
mouths-the most delicious and soft
est of mouths-the line of her brows
clear and straight, and her gray eyes
large and as innocent and appealing
as child's; under their long lashes
they opened up like flowers. 1t was
said that no man could Withstand their
appeal; that she had but to look to
make man her slave; and as more
than once she turned to Dan, smiling
and gracious, Ruggles watched her,
mutely thinking of what he had heard
this day, for after her letter. came
accepting their invitation he had
taken pains to find oNt the things he
wanted to know. 1t had not been
difficult. AS her face and form were
public, on every postcard, and in
every photographers shop, SO the ac'
tress' reputation was the property Of
the public. =
AS Ruggles repeated these things to
himself, he watched her beside the
son Of his old friend They were talk
ing-rather she was-and behind the
orchids and the ferns her voice was
sweet and enthralling, Ruggles tried
TO appreciate his bill OF fare while the
two appreciated each other. It was
strange to Dan to have her so near
and so approachable. His sights Of
her off the stage had been SO slight
and feeting. On the boards she had
seemed to be an unreal creation made
for the public alone. Her dress, cut
fearlessly low, displayed her lovely
young bosom-soft, blo0my, white as
a shetland her head and ears were
as delicate as the petals of white
rose. Low In the naDe Of her neck
her golden hair lay lightly, and from
its soft masses fragrance came to him.
RuggIes could hear her say: Roach
came to the house and told my people
that had fortune in my voice. |
was living with my uncle and my
step.aunt and working in the store.
And that same day your father sent
down a check for Ave hundred dollars.
He said 1t was for the little girl with
the sweet voice and It gives me lot
OF pleasure to think that began my
lessons on that money"
The son OF old Dan Blair said earn
estly: I'm darned glad you dtd-fm
darned glad you did,"
Lefty Lane nodded, $50 am /.
But" with some sharpness, II don't
see why you speak that way I've
earned my way. I made fortune for
Roach all right"
You mean the man you marrled?'
neutrality-suspicious. gracious, what
made you think that?" She threw
back her pretty head and laughed
laugh with the least possible merrl-
ment in it. "oh, Heavens, marry old
Job Roach! So they say that, do
they? | never heard that. ! hear a
lot, but never heard that fairy tale"
She put her hands to her cheeks,
which had grown crimson. That's
not tue!"
Dan swore at himself for his tact
less stupidity.
Ruggles had heard both sides. She
was adored by the poor, and, as far as
rImor knew, she spent thousands on
the London paupers, and the West