The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

discovered herself, a race trick OF max
ing the most of whatever came hei
way, with a natural players perception
of values. 1t all enhanced her blitht
! drollery, this BIT OF the manners o.
the world, and she had the wit tC
utilize it. In no other way could Jane
account for the amazingly changed
Aurelie. Her lonely pride, her de
feated pathos were gone.
. She introduced the stranger with Z
| iubilant confidence. This is Ada Nor.
man, and she was our heavy woman
She sank into Mr.. Curran's chair with
an air of having done the situation
big black eyes limpidly to young Mr.
Van Hart, with that belying spiritual
! censiveness which must once have Sc
ensnared him. "She knows how tc
be the coquette," mused Miss Vance
and glanced keenly at Mr.. Curran.
| Mr.. Curran was staring at Aurelie
with frank delight. Janet was swiftly
aware that his dependency OF the
hour vanished He was in the clouds,
! his inescapable romance, the love OF
the bizarre and the daring, had seized
| him. 'Aurelie, you incredible child p
he cried. "How-how-splendidly you
lookp
Indeed she did. She knew it. She
found happiness in it.
"Mr. Curran," she smiled: you're
the only person-except Uncle Mich
who ever understood me bit!
Harlan and Janet were silent. II
Aurelie was the vulgarian, this was
supposable in her world OF vulgarians.
Morris Feldman would assure you that
the thing was to get the money and
the press stuff. He was confident that
Miss I.indstrom could do both. And
wear clothes. What else was needful?
Wiley saw Harlan's eyes fastened on
Aurelie's hand. He knew that Janet
also was thinking of the story of Hen
McFetridge's diamonds. But Aurelie
wore only one little ring! Mr.. Cur
ran glanced deiantly at the others.
Janet looked at him with a sudden
sickness OF ,eart. He was shining
eyed. 1t took this to delight his vaga-
bond soul-a girl of fluffy clothes, the
charm al adventure out in the world,
airs and appealing graces, the typical
feminine-and he had succumbed.
Janet" he cried. do you remem-
ber her? The little rabbit-hunting
savage up in the hills, the defying
school child with a heart none could
ever fnd?"
Nobody ever tried" said the saw
age with a smile. ''NobodyT
Indeed not" drawled the languid
Miss Norman, unless it's all the
babies and beggars. l wonder how
many rehearsals she's been fined just
for them
Its fun!" burst out Aurelie. "To
have some money and give it away.
And to tickle babies-it makes 'em
starel Miss Norman and ! are going
to New York and try to get on, but
honest, I'd rather have balm"
Young Mr.. Van Hart lookS at Mr..
Curran. Mr.. Curran laughed grace
fully. Miss Vance was beginning to
smile She was concluding that
Aurelie was comicaL Slangy, droll,
good-hearted, honest-but all that
spiritual chasteness OF her face-when
she was not laughing-would be harm
less after ALL
New York." went on Aurelie. "If
one is going to really act. one must
go there. And starve, maybe. But
Ada says l won't She knows we'll
get on, and the managers will listen
to me. You know they said in Den
yer it wasn't just my face. They said
l was worth wilhelm the news
papers"
She certainly is" put in Miss Nor
man. Il never saw any one work a
part so hard-all the tricky bits. And
it doesn't seem work with her. And
she can wear clothes, and in the busi-
ness that's eveything!
The heavy woman" looked down at
herself. She was quite forty and the
stock companies had made her feel it.
AN old trouper like me-" she went on,
watches lot of these kids smoke up
and go out. But Aurelie, here, is
class. Where she got it, God knows"
When Hen and Ben and Ben make
another fortune" pursued Aurelie,
they're going to buy the tin opera
house, and I'll come back a leading
woman and show these old grannies
something"
Miss Norman laughed wearily
Plainly Hen and Ben were provocative
of glee to professional people. Angel
Henp she murmured.
Good old Henl" said Aurelie. Then,
quite innocently, "Mr. Curran, do you
know Hen McFetridge wanted to mar
ry me?"
Mono" Mr.. Curran looked
evasively at Harlan. Janet had an i'm
preston that Harlan was fighting down
a blaze OF anger. I
But then," went an Aurelie-l
everybody was good to me-"
Wanting to marry you, Aurelie?"
faltered Mr.. Curran; 10 you call that
being good to you?
"Of course" demurely, "at least it's
Harlan was on his feet. He at
tempted to pass her, and she looked |
up in wonder.
YOU'RE not going, Harlan. Why, sit
down. Tell me all about yourself. I
though" t"-she heSitated-"since you'd |
been East you'd be a great man by
nowp
"Pm practicing law here" he an
swered quietly.
Going to settle down here"
"Yes."
She looked at him with a pity that
stung him. She had grown so amaz-
ingly in the years. 81 shouldn't think
you could stand it. l couldn't. Oh, !
to be somebody! And do something |
| remember the nights l used to climb |
the hills and stare off across the river
and wonder and wonder; Out there |
was something and l wanted it. And |
if Mr.. Curran hadn't sent my picture
to the paper I'd have been there yet
climbing Eagle Point trail at sunset