The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-04-24

darkened eyes shone out weirdly. With
an inarticulate cry, the girl put out
her jeweled hand to Bobbie, but Bob
bic Bronson cast it from him and turn.
ed upon his heel.
After that Missile Belle disappeared
She left, as she had come. without ex-
plana ton, without a word of farewell
to the hotel keepers wife, who still
spoke Of her with fearful tenderness
One evening, as we met before a mo.
| ton picture theater, Ned and l per
suaded Bobbie to accompany us inside
and as we awaited an usher at the
back of the darkened room l heard
| Bobbie catch his breath sharply, and,
| raising my eyes. looked straight into
the beautiful face Of little Missile
Belle
Look" whispered Ned in my ear,
and read the words. "Have you seen
her-Miss Belle Murray, popular mo-
| ton picture actress. the girl of hum
dred facesY'
Then always, with the girl as central
figure, we saw a tragedy enacted be
fore us. Like fash came to me for.
mer pictured tragedy which had been
SO painfully associated In my memory
with this same sweet face But now
her tumbled hair, her shabby skirt torn
| by brambles, leaving behind In a rough
mining camp scene of squalor and
crime. Again she bursts upon us, a
being transformed, the miners daugh
ter. now an heiress. wooed in her white
plumed hat and her gown of lace by a
fashy villain. of course. He holds the
ribbons Of a high, jaunty cart as they
speed down the very road toward us
And now, arm In arm, they pass
Grants tomb. her trusting eyes up
raised to his.
'"That was the thing | remembered
Neddie whispered excitedly-''the fel
low who posed for the picture is the
accused gambler. Nan. This must
have been one Of his many short liveC
professions. But for the last time
Missile Belle steps across the dancing
screen. Good night" flashed the screen
and we made our way into the street
At the door Bobbie grasped our hands.
| .'YOu will not see me for some time,
he said. and instinctively we knew
that he was going to search the world
If. need be for Missile Belle. Weeks
| passed and months, still Robbie Bron
son stayed away.
Then one purple twilight as Ned and
| passed through the great house gates
a carriage stopped before us, and Bob
bic sprang to the ground He was
quickly followed by a well remem
bered girlish figure.
my wife," cried Bobbie proudly
and Missile Belle smiled radiantly
"She led me chase" Robbie went on
''but ! found her at last. Somebody
had put that rot about lordlings and
duty to ones family In her head. and
she was effacing herself in mistaken
effort for my good"
| We stood hack abashed as BObbie
rushed into his mothers arms. Pres
emily the old lady beckoned to the girl
) so they stood. her arms about them
both.
II fear it will be distasteful to you
the girl murmured, having daughter
whose face is published almost round
I, the world. but perhaps when | explain
you will better understand.
There was mother at home, you
know, fraiI and fine, like you, and a
crippled sister who had not walked
| since before our father died Teaching
music, German or French as ! could
brought too little for our needs, SO
when an operation became a necessity
to the crippled sister, when an unex-
pected opportunity for making money
presented itself''-Missie Belle laughed
| shortly-"well. I accepted the dazzling
Offer" she said. "In secrecy ] posed
for the pictures. in secret l stayed in
your country town. while they thought
| me still in New York. Not until nv lit