Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-16
By CHARLES TENNEY JACKSON
Author Of Che ps, .. Soul. My Brother. K.sss, Etc.

must have-the dilemma Of the Ricl
Young Man. This time he was II
disguise abroad, where he had fol
lowed the Daughter of the Wall Stree
Operator. Then the German innkeep
er, the English lord, the American
aunt, the chauffeur, the waiter, th'
girls in the cafe, the cablegram, th'
ticker, and all those novel things To-
which the American people pay TIVE
dollars, and at which they laugh de
|lightedly. There wasn't any burglar
but he wasn't necessary.
Mr.. Curran waited feverishly. Th'
kid, something surely would go wront
and spoil his delight!
But-she came.
Mr.. Curran forgot to breathe. Sh'
was beautiful, and yet not so as HI
had seen her in the woods. But i
wasn't that-out Of her aboundint
fun loving health came alternately
a droll abandon and then occurrences
she was apart from all the profession
al people about her because Of th'
delight with which she rompet
through her part. She hadn't ghos
of a stage voice, or stage look, ol
a stage walk; the people were begin
ming to laugh when she came on. anc
she was laughing with them; and ou
Of the silly dialogue Of the Rich Yount
Man, who delighted everybody BY
stealing the chauffeur's coat she
drew more two-dollar mirth fol
Cohan & Snitz.
"She can't act! gasped Mr.. Cur
ran, Mortified. TITS just only Au'
relief" ....
That was 1t. Just Aurelie enjoy
ing herself immensely. laughing in
wonderous creation Of a gown tha
wilted Mr.. Curran even to think up
on. Then she began to sing, still II
a great good humor, that heart-throt
Of the American people: If I Were
the Only Girl in the World, Dom
You Think You Could Love Me? ant
the boys in the gallery raised a tre'
mendous racket. She had to sing i
four times and each time Mr.. Cur
ran rocked and roared. ......
"She can't sing! Oh, Aurelie."
But presently, with the uproariou!
pleasure of all these people, grea
rapture came to Wiley Curran's heart
She was just Aurelie, yet magical!
she won her way. all health ant
grace and honest gaity. That was al
she had to give. .... .
He went out after the act and hat
a drink. the tears in his eyes. "Tht
kid-the dear kid" he murmured
and had another drink.
When he got back the stage was
great splash of color, girls, hats
gowns, arms, legs, imitation cham
payne, conversation about sugar
stock and motor cars; but Mr.. Cur
ran waited impatiently for the comedi'
enne. He couldn't get to his sea
and stood by the rail. But when sht
came, this time in a dinner gown ant
opera cloak and sang My Rosebud
Girl-really, this time, with a native
lyric sweetness-Wiley sighed with
more content, which may, after all
have been two drinks. 1t was al
amazing splendor and success. and M
looked about in complacence that M
knew her and the others did not
And one Of those glances went to th'
figure OF a man standing near. which
he watched curiously, for it was IA
miliar. Then he saw it was Harlan
Van Hart. Harlan, in the gloom o
the foyer, watching imperturbably
Before Wiley could move, the youn.
mans gaze shifted. He came direct
ly, and without surprise, to the othe
man.
"Wiley?"
you here?"
You saw the Journal tonight?"
NO" He shrugged toward th'
stage. "Of her?"
Harlan motioned enigmatically
Come with me. want to show you
Although, I don't know why
should"
Curran followed to the cafe. The!
took a table. Harlan waved the wait
er aside. Its this" He drew tn
paper from his pocket. why
came here. By God, to save her
Wiley, If it's true!"
The news article announced tn
supposed engagement Of Aureli
Lindstorm, of the Cohan & Snitz com
bination, to a young man whom al
the west knew for his plunging on tn
board of trade, his motor racing, hi
divorce proceedings and his affair
with women Of the underworld.
I presume you know who Ben
ham is?"
Curran's voice came in whispers
HE lies! All, God, it's not so'
He dares publish it as so. And
came to see. 1 came to save her, an
you-to amuse yourself"
The older man stared at him. Hi
hand came from his pocket. II cam
to give her this. Her little rosary.
Harlan's eyes were on 1t. 1t ha
lain upon her neck all those night
of his summer love with her. He
name," he muttered on, "given as
former chorus girl-and couple
with Joe Benham's. It's horrible!'
Its a lie!"
| Harlan sat back coolly. His gra
eyes beckoned the waiter. "Ill see.
He was writing on a tab. Then, t
the waiter: Ring for a messenger
I'll send for her. To meet us her
after the performance"
Curran watched him silently. Har
Ian had become the man. The touc
of the Viking in his blond strength
which Wiley had always admired, wa
up. young, triumphing, primally ruth
less. Curran would not have dare
send that message-curt, direct, de
manding that she come. He was con
scious now of fighting against a
obsession of the younger mans vic
i ua Uon1d Sfnn short &