El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-09-23
The HeraId's Daily
ShsdStery
DISILLUSTONIZING DORA


the stage of the Empyrean theateF PR pr.
sented an animated appeaIahIe. 80
whole company was lHetS, 80
choristers were doing nothlns AZ ~
moment. with the exception OF W atcn-
ing the Drincipals rafting through
their cues, and being pulIea, up oc cts.s-.
ionalIy in ANYTHING but parliamentary
language by an individual dressed III
expensive bad taste 4.n-od,,ce-., =.
He was Bert Dean, the ProuuSSIP
and Dora was looking at him In klnd
OF Mortified fascination she was won won
dering how long it would De oeIore
this energetic bounder reailzeo now
little experience she nad VI tIie 49,
sion. 1t was the big dance at the end
of the first act that gave ner the
greatest apprehension. me move
ments were so many and SO 1ntTlcaIe
that she felt she could never learn
Her heart sank at Bert Deans next
words Come on, ladies, wen take
the first act finale, now Get 10 your
places. please" o5
Poor Dora's worst fears were speed.
ily realized. Though she put iorth
positively frenzied efforts to initiate
the action of Rosaline next her. sne
got dead out of time in very rev
steps: and Deans voice called out;
stop a minute, everybody. Anu, Sou
there in the black hat and VEIL come
pc means YOU" whispered Rosaline
to Dora. Go on. now-and don't Tor
get what 1 told you
The girls heart was humping
against her ribs as she left the ranks
of the dancers and crossed over TO
Dean. who was standing at the SIDE
After motioning with his hand Tor the
dance to go on without her, ne pulled
her to one side and looked at hef
] searchingly. .r,,--
Look here. you know" ne said, I've
had nv eyes on you for some days:
I can't make out why Tedd snoppeo
you Own up, now; you've never oeen
mo" said Dora sne was trying
hard not to cry. Mr.. Dean was led to
a closer inspection of her. by which he
did not seem displeased. His face
softened.
Riddle you can't join this company
unframed Dora started. Just the
sort of thing that Jack had often SAID
| to her. Deans voice went on GO
and get some singing and dancing les
sons-that's my advice, ne SAID
Then come back and see me here in
about three months time, and I'll take
care you get start
Her heart sank almost into her feet.
Three monthsi She had not enough
money to keep her. even at Mrs.
| Crann's for one month longer, let
| alone take expensive lessons for three
I She looked up at him through tear
dimmed 1ashes.
But II have no money" she fall
! tered. and thought he was a brute be-
! cause he laughed. The rehearsal was
2 proceeding busily. Nobody was taking
I any notice of them He came closer.
Don't be a~sillyT he said. cheerily'
| as he cast a baleful glance of admira-
/ ton at her That's all right I'll
see you properly fixed"
His washed-Out, greenish-blue eyes
/ staring at her from flabby clean
shaved face, and his long black mar
I glistening with odorous oil. made the
/ girl feel ILL., physically and naturally.
! Then his arm started to move forward
as though he was going to put II
round her She pushed it away with
a sound that was half a scream and
I half a sob. From somewhere by the
door a voice called out that Vernon
Milroy had just turned up.
'Helloi what's the matter here? The
popular author STROBE across the stage
and pushed his way through the knot
Of people round the weeping Dora
"Oh, it's you. Dean, is it," Been
bullying another Of the girls. sup
Not a bit Of it." said Dean, sulkily.
only she can't sing and she cant
dance, and didn't like to be told So
NO girl would" said Milroy. THE
way you say it"
Dora looked up at the sound of his
voice.
Jack she shieked. Take me away
from herer
Good gracious! It's Dora" said the
author. and took her away
It was a distinctly penitent but
I very happy Dora who drove away tc
/ lunch with Jack Dawlish, otherwise
! Vernon MilrOy. the author. and who
( afterwards got into an express train
: with that gentleman en- route fol
Charlton Towers.
! But why didn't you ever tell ms
I you were Vernon Milroy. jack? sht
asked; and Jack smiled slyly-.
J Because I knew that if / did you'd
: coax the life out of me to get you
on the stage he said; and when YOU
| start coaxing 1 find it so jolly diff
| cult to refuse''-an explanation tha
} met with Dora's entire approval.