The Van Buren press., 1912-06-08

act, neF mOIneT asked the usher Soma
question, and his reply led to a Olsen,
sion OF plays and players. Marie bs
tened idly. AS the curtain again rosa
she couldn't resist stealing a surren
titious glance in his direction. Tbe,,
eyes met. His were eloquent and an.
pealing, with look of recognition. !,
amused and annoyed Marie that she
woman of the world. was confused bv
the encounter of glances while he was
perfectly composed.
When the curtain fell for the las,
time he assisted Mrs. Warburton with
her wrap and asked her If he SHOULD
get her a carriage. She gratefully &C.
cepted his offer.
Il think | must make an explana.
ton" he said as they waited for the
cab he hailed to drive up to the curb
Quite naturally you mistook me for
an usher, did not contradict the er.
ror, because | saw you were strap.
much better seats than the ones Won
| occupied"
1T was certainly a blunder on nv
part" laughed Mrs Warburton. but
am very grateful for your kindness"
The street seemed crowded to
greater extent than warranted by the
number of people issuing from the
! theater. A vender Of patent medicine
had insisted on holding his exhibition
in the street. The police were endeay
oring to prevent him and to disperse
the crowd, who espoused the cause OF
the medicine man.
The usher opened the door Of the cab
and assisted Mrs. Warburton to enter
As he then turned to Marie, sudden
! gust of wind blew the door shut. The
cabman, without turning his head,
fiiCked his whip and drove rapidly
away, leaving Marie and the usher at
the curb
The struggling mass OF citizens,
medicine man and police came their
way with a rush, and panic ensued
The usher caught Marie up with one
! arm and used the other to good serv.
ice in clearing passage. Finally he
succeeded in reaching a corner which
! he turned and they found themselves
| in dark quiet street. Marie still
chung to her escort, speeches. and
! breathess from terror. When she re-
gained her composure they started to
walk to the hotel
I should have been trampled to
pieces by that mob, but for you" she
exclaimed How did you manager"
u was on the football team at Har.
ward he laughed.
Before she could reply cab drove
up to the curb and Mrs. Warburton
looked anXiously out
AS soon as | succeeded in making
the driver understand" she said, Il
made him drive back for you"
/ Marie got into the cab; they bade
the usher adieu, and before they had
! finished their conversation with him
| the driver was away again.
| During the journey westward
Marie found her thoughts often stray.
! ing to the usher and the incidents OF
| the evening. At Los Angeles a round
| Of gayeties awaited them, for the oc-
| CASTOR Of their trip to the coast was
the marriage Of Mrs. Warburton's
nephew, George Alexander Two or
| three days before the wedding Marie
was confined to her bed with cold,
J but at the hour set for the rehearsal
| she managed to appear at the church,
as she was to be one OF the brides.
maids. AS she entered the vestibule
she heard a voice saying: Miss War.
| burton?"
She turned with a Joyous little ex.
clamaton.
II am a bona tide usher this time"
! he said and | trust have the loca.
! ton OF the pews. Did your cousin
| tell you that We were TO walk down
the aisle together"
HE said, she answered demurey
that ! was assigned to a college
friend Of his, Roger CORVALLIS, but
of course | did not know It was you,
That stupid cabman drove of before
we could ask your name"
THAT is where had the advan'
tage," he said. Il was sure you were
Marie Warburton, whose picture |
/ had seen in Georges room, Before
| could tell you so the cabman drove
UP and then drove away again, |
called at the hotel the next morning,
but found you had gone"
Whats the correct time, Roger
asked George, coming up to them. MY
watch has stopped. Oh, ! am glad you
| two have met at last!'
"Half.past seven" replied Roger,
consulting his watch, which he stu
/ held when George had passed on to
| Join the others,
lie pressed the spring and the back
cover flew open,
81 suppose he said, 81 ought to
show you this"
And to Maries surprise she saw IN
the watch n little picture OF herself,
one she had had taken when she first
came out
George gave It to me-" he eS
planned, and have always been long
/ Ing 20 meet you
And In her heart Marie was saying
"And have always been longing TO
meet you"
The other way is the tsustto.luck