Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-02


there was little to complain of in that
daintily conceived decoration for the
coming of an honored guest.
Sir John Vance, the great matinee
hero and exponent of the drama, was
coming in for high tea, together with
a notable number of well-known per-
sons. Sunday evening being the only
time when theatrical stars were free,
Mrs. Garvin had chosen that night
for their entertainment.
She fluttered about the table like
small bird twittering over re-
splendent flower bed and hoped that
nothing would occur to mar the
beauty of an expected joyous evening.
Mrs. Garvin and her retinue of SER
wants had spent much time and
thought over the decorations suitable
for an eminent actor, and the result
was gratifying at least.
The centre of the table was a mass
of laurel, and around it were placed
fourteen little manikins representing
Sir John in various parts through
he had won his fame. The little fig
ures seemed to stroll about the table,
so perfectly were they fashioned
Art, master workmanship and lnow1-
edge of the drama had necessarily
combined to turn out the wonderful
figures that were Sir John Vance in
miniature.
Mrs Garvin rushed off to the
nursery in a burst of enthusiasm.
do bring the children in to see
the table, Miss Gray" she said to
the slim girl who was the children 6
loved nurse. at doesn't matter if
they're in their nighties," she added,
when two little Whitehead figures
hurled themselves into her arms
She Rugged them tight regardless of
exquisite chiffons and laces, and
trotted them off with Miss Gray to
see the table decoration for Sir john.
The children screamed with delight
and a flush of pleasure swept across
Miss Gray's face. For moment she
wished that she, too, might join that
board and gaze at Sir John Vance
from across the table even as she
had gazed at him over the footlights.
But her envy of the fortunate women
who were to have that pleasure was
short lived and she took the children
off to the nursery with a sense OF
Joy that she was not of an enyious
nature.
A few moments later the door bell
rang and the first of the twelve ex-
pected guests arrived. Sir John Vance
followed, and soon all save one Of the
fourteen visitors were safely under
the roof of their hostess. When an
other quarter of an hour had passed
Mrs Garvin became anxious lest
something direful had happened TO
Drina Warden that would prevent
her coming and thus upset the entire
table arrangements
nd tplpnhnnR
rang. Drina could not come and
there would of necessity be vacant
place at the table.
Mrs. Garvin sighed. But since there
was no chance of getting another
guest at that late time. she followed
her party into the dining room, her
fingers resting lightly on the arm of
Sir John.
81 wanted Drina Warden especially
Ito meet you,'' she told him with
dainty flattery in her eyes. at is her
loss, however, that she is unable to
be here
The great actor, rewarded her fat
terry with his whimsical smile.
'I can assure you | will not notice
the absence of-anyone," he returned,
and Mrs. Garvin blushed prettily.
1T cuts our number down to thir-
teen, though" she said laughingly.
IT hope you are not superstitious, Sir
john she added, and was startled
by the quick glance he cast over the
guests.
But | am Sir John told her
frankly. 81 cannot sit down with thir-
teen at table. The greatest loss I
have sustained in my life followed
such an occurrence. Do ask someone
in; it does not matter who"
He smiled so appealingly into Mrs
GarVin's eyes that once again she re-
allied the truth that genius and ex-
treme boyishness go hand in hand.
The guests were seated even then,
and in a moment Mrs. Garvin had
their attention, though it was diff
cult to draw them from ordinations
of delight over her unique table dec
Grafton.
"Sir John is so superstitious," she
told them laughingly, that / must
go out and drag in some one to fill
the fourteenth chair vacated by Miss
Warden. Do excuse me for a sec
ond." She went off directly and a
general laugh followed at Sir John
expense. He took it good-naturedly
and the situation took on new IN
terest. Whom could Mrs. Garvin find
to offer them by way of an unex-
pected guest?
protested in vain.
"You look as sweet as a blown
rose in that pink blouse" Mrs Gar
vim told her, as she led her toward
the dining-room, land there is no
need to stand in awe of our Sir John.
He is Just like an over-groWn boy
with no airs or graces."
Enid Gray was flushed and inward
ly trembling as Mrs. Garvin pulled
her by the hand into that assemblage
of notable people, but outwardly she
expressed the calm of a placid lake.
The ordeal of presentation was most
trying, and only when she was seated
beside the guest of honor did she
find time to realize that she was not
dreaming. He had offered her the
flower from his lapel the moment she
had seated herself.
THAT is for being a good girl" he
told her with his delightful smile.
81 would have had to miss this high
tea Mrs Garvin invited me to had
you not completed our number"
And since the ice had been broken
in so effective manner tea proceed
cd with more merriment than 1t
would have had Drina Warden graced
the table with her presence. Mrs.
Garvin sighed happily and found her.
self watching Sir John and Miss Gray
with curious and intuitive eyes. She
felt strangely glad in her heart that
her little nurse was conducting her.
self with so great degree OF dignity
through which her natural charm
was reaching out to touch the heart
of Sir John Vance.
"a match' she told herself in
wardly, 81 will wager everything
possess on it,
Later when the guests returned to
III nor- inn