The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-06-22

turned and occupied the seat next to
her mother.
They surely have odd customs In
towns" concluded Marie, and then she
became absorbed in the play.
When the curtain fell after the first
act, her mother asked the usher some
question, and his reply led to a discus
sion of plays and players. Marie lis
tened idly. AS the curtain again rose,
she couldn't resist stealing a surrep-
titious glance IN his direction. Their
eyes met. His were eloquent and ap-
pealing, with look of recognition. It
amused and annoyed Marie that she, a
woman of the world, was confused by
the encounter of glances while he was
perfectly composed.
When the curtain fell for the last
time he assisted Mrs Warburton with
her wrap and asked her If he should
get her carriage. She gratefully &C
cepted his OFFER.
81 think 1 must make an expIana-
tion," he said as they waited for the
cab he hailed to drive up to the curb.
Quite naturally you mistook me for
an usher. l did not contradict the er-
ror, because I saw you were stran-
gers, and I knew l could give you
much better seats than the ones you
occupied"
1T was certainly bIunder on my
part" laughed Mrs. Warburton, but L
am very grateful for your kindness"
The street seemed crowded to a
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 endeav-
oring to prevent him and to dispense
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,
1icked 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-
ASO IL C1Sd11AS pdSSS1SS. AAcAAAy AO
succeeded in reaching a corner which
he turned and they found themselves
in dark, quiet street. Marie still
chung to her escort, speeches. and
breathIess 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"
Il was on the football team at Har-
vard,'' he laughed.
Before she could reply a cab drove
up to the curb and Mrs WarbuTton
looked anxiously out.
las soon as 1 succeeded in making
the driver understand she said. i
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-
casion 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 a cold,
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 joyous little ex-
cIamation.
81 am a bona tide usher this time, -
he said, land l trust | have the Ioca-
ton of the pews. Did your cousin
tell you that we were to walk down
the aisle together?"
He said,'' she answered demureIy,
that 1 was assigned to a college
friend of his, Roger CORVALLIS, but
of course I did not know it was you.
That stupid cabman drove of before
we could ask your name"
THAT is where l had the advan-
tage," he said. Il was sure you were
Marie Warburton, whose picture 1
had seen in Georges room. Before
I could tell you so the cabman drove
up and then drove away again. L
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, l am glad you
two have met at Iast!"
Half past seven" replied Roger,
consulting his watch, which he still
held when George had passed on to
join the others.
He pressed the spring and the back
cover few open.
i suppose" he said. 81 ought to
show you this
And to Marie's surprise she saw in
the watch a little picture OF herself,
enc she had had taken when she first
came out.
George gave it to me-" he ex-
planned, and have always been long
ing to meet you"
And in her heart Marie was saying,
And I have always been longing to
meet you"
The other way is the trust-to-luck
way.