The Detroit times., 1913-08-16
CHAPTER XXI.
(Contlnued)

tu WHEY Anu Mute says lntf1
were never SO many rabbits up on
Eagle Point. He's waiting for you 20
come back, and he's training ole Mel
lies pups 10 trail EN-"
She was filed with laughter She
had pup that could beat Nellie's!
Yes. sir! And how is your old shop,
Mr.. Curran, and Aunt Abby and her
Banbury tarts; and which drunk
printer have you got now-Jim Minis
or the Dutch one?" She played her
part before her schoolday lover; not
for worlds would she have noticed his
silent stubbornness. DO you-all really
want me TO come back and play In the
tin opera-house? How big and grant
IL used TO seem! | never went excep.
way up in the gallery with Knute, and
| used TO see you boys-Mr. Currah
in front seat, for he didn't have to
pay anything; and Harlan always
there with some OF the high-schco
girls
She sighed demurely, That was
before went TO school"
"Aurelie," put in Harlan gravely
you've not changed bit.
I'm not going TO change. I'm not
gone greatly on these cities. When
all these managers and stage directors
get on their high horse with me ! say
oh. YOU 20 10 the deyil-you don't
impress me Bit And then they
threaten to discharge me or some
thing. and | say: Go ahead can
go back to Rome Iowa, and play H.
the tin opera house, Hen McFetridge
is going 10 buy it for me-"
you ever hear from Hen McFe'-
RIDGE"
The twins wrote me from San
Francisco They've made money
again out OF mineral water this time.
Harlan frowned. Hen and Ben had
not improved Aurelie's good name ~
Rome. Iowa. by going bankrupt back
ing her maiden stage tour. She ram
bled on: Now tell me, who made
this up TO come in and surprise me-
hey looked at each other We me-
here tonight" said Harlan, in the
theater.'
indeed" She read them a shrew~
instant And DO YOU like the piece
don't It's silly. Mr.. Curran.
don't think so much OF the stage as
did It's all graft. and unless cir
IS very lucky she won't get on IN
less'-Aurelie unless sh'
has the right friends. But people
nave DePU mighty SOou " mt
IL suspect. Aurelie,' murmured NJ
Curran. you are mighty good =
them"
She gave Mr.. Curran a soulful enig
matte glance.
That's why like you, Mr.. Curran'
Just saving things Ike that she
sighed: Harlan wouldn't She look
ed at him with long reproach.
Harlan could not smile He was be-
whereby trying to imagine where
Aurelie had acquired all these man
ners and yet not overlaid her natural
ness. She dressed beautifully, yet
with taste. even with all her old
vagabond love of colors. She made
them live with health. Cohan
Snitz knew this impress on the
audiences. Pretty things and glad
ness, But one of the reviewers
talked OF Aurelie and the psychology
OF dress. and Aurelie shuddered
Le bon Dieu, did not psychology have
TO do with ghosts.
She went on plaintively merry
Sometimes | do get tired. Ada Nor
man says | haven't enough talent 70
10 on except my face. Just like lot
OF kids whove come up from the
chorus-pretty soon I'll have to de-
pend on the masseurs. and grease
paint won't make up what lose
Then zing. says Oda," Aurelie look
ed thoughtfully at them both. But
you know | don't care. I'm going 10
save my money, and have cunning
little place and some babies. and go
!. hunting rabbits sometime with Uncle
Mich In the snow"
THAT Is a large and brilliant pro-
hnA n
laugh. Haran's smile came doggedly
at last II was hard TO resist her
spirits She was unspoiled. but JOY
had been set Free In the hearts OF
both men had grown a miserable
shame that they had quarreled over
Joe Benham The gilded youth. and
the blatant press for Aurelie who was
thinking Of Old Michigan and track
ing habits In the snow!
She went on stabbing the town and
stage folk with vivacious and heed
less wit. She asked OF Rome, Iowa
So Harlan was in politics? What was
he running for? She just couldn't
remember when she told the COM
edian whom she had the date" with
tonight She had said her friend was
running for the penitentiary, And
Mon Dieu, the comedian interpolated
this In his lines and broke her all up
with laughing And the house didn't
know, OF course-but II laughed with
her!
Harlan listened A Van Hart
chuckled at by a comedy maitland
chucked into his lines was exasperat-
ing-as exasperating as trying to be
stern with Aurelie, She was bubbling
with laughter District attorney. OF
course Something long and import
ant | didn't mean the penItentiary!
And she almost had the two men
laughing with her-almost. Only the
desperate hurt was there. And not
for words would they have mentioned
Joe Benham. Wiley looked triumph.
antly across the table at Harlan.
Right? OF course he was right
But why did you come, Mr. Cur.
ran? Just TO see me-"
ITO give you this, Aurelie." He
drew out the rosary, and her cry of
Joy, the quick rush OF tears to her
eyes was reward. She had the lost
trinket to her lips. to the amazement
OF all the after-theater feeders.
THE boys found II behind the clap
. boards in your little white room"
"Oh, my little white room"