Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-01-22
JOINS /
WITH PHOTOGRAPHS \
FROM SCENES IN THE PLAY
CoeuooHZ 90, ~ az DALInch4N corSATo

I the dreadful thought had been put into
execution. He had been certain he
would need some artificial courage.
1t gathered in his soul and helped
him fashion an extraordinary smile
vacuous and tremulous. but none the
less a smile.
''Viola?" hazarded a reckless youth
across the table. and Viola (who was
present in the makeup which she had
worn from the stage of near theater,
where she had, that evening. acted
powerfully the part OF wronged and
innocent maidenhood) hoped wildly for
an instant. Perhaps Broadway, in his
cups, had decided on this most unusual
way of asking her the fateful ques-
tionL She had had high hopes of him.
Perhaps"
No" he answered thickly Guess
again Three guesses. It's going to
take some brains, l tell you that! In
tellect's the only thing'll do it. Who
ever guesses right gets a cigar"
There was only one among the
ladies present who was not favored
by some speculative mind, and that
one was the right one.
Guesser after guesser named some
of the young and vivid creatures of
that almost wholly young and vivid
feminine company, none guessed the
only faded flower In the gay group.
Broadway, never dreaming of the-ag-
rrvHf Go 'c
much powdered bosom because of the
omission of her name, feeling few emo
tions, really, other than the keen SEN
sation of relief from his financial wor-
ries. stood smiling somewhat vacantly,
but, on the whole, without much pain.
upon the puzzled party,
Go on, guess with your brains" he
genially suggested. Its mind not
foot-work, that will win the prize"
But none guessed
Realizing that in this was something
like reflection on her fitness for the
covetable position of consort to the
youth Mrs. Gerard attracted every
ones attention, presently, by Won
derfully feigned embarrassment as she
rose and stood by Broadway's side.
The party gasped, but rose to the &C.
casion as soon as it could get its
breath again. 1t was incredible, and
there were those among the guests
who were so sure of this that they
believed a joke was hidden somewhere
inNhe episode, but the majority were
SO we'll trained to Broadway's genius
for producing mad extravaganza that
they simply charged this up as one of
them.
A dancer who had been brought up
e NE cabaret below after one
md closing time had come,
Ahtly to a table, and, to the
of the floral lobster and
sbly fine glassware. did a gay
" among the wrecks Of sangui-
afNshells and emptied bottles. The
head waiter smiled, knowing that
whatever might be broken would be
charged up in the bill at double value
and paid for without question by the
sensational spendthrift, to whose own
wealth was now linked the eXtraordl-
nary fortune of the recent John Gerard
(wholesale leather) who had made his
millions, married a very vital lady
of mis- own ripe years and then died OF
sheer antiquity, to leave her, trium-
plant in superior vitality, relict and
craving for that gaiety which life with
him had not provided.
Broadway" breathed the ancient
lady with skillful stimulation of en-
barrassment. you naughty, naughty
boy"
Naughty. possibly; but how ex
tremely lucky!" said the wholly I'M
expected bridegroom-elect without
CULVER, much to his own surprise and
self-congratulation.
As it broke up the party rioted with
joy, very largely alcoholic. Mrs &c
rard's car, when it came up from its
hiding place around the corner, was
d.