Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-04-01
WITH PHOTOG GRAPHS
FROM SCENES Elm THE PLAY
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| you would be- What do you think Of
it all 2" $ ~ Z, Al n h
AS he thus apologlzed, disguised.
worried, even frightened by the mud
die in which his friend had SO involved
himself, entirely ignorant of the sorry
cause which had led Broadway to the
fatal step, that young man entered
from the hall, having effaced as many
traces as he could of the wild night,
and rightly clothed himself for morn
Ing callers. AS he advanced he
hummed stanza from some cabaret
favorite which ran. monotonously: II
love you; oh, love you'll"
She looked at him with natural In.
dignation. ss5 81
You'll pardon me, Mrs. Gerard" he
said alphabetically, "but was think.
ing Of something funny En- +
Something that just happened? p
she said suspiciously.
NO." he replied earnestly, some.
thing that happened years ago.
For moment I thought you were
laughing at me, she admitted.
oh, Mrs. Gerard how could you ?"
| She was pacifled. Taking herself
with perfect seriousness she did not
fail to credit others with the same in.
tention. II know I'm horribly touchy
in some respects" She would gaily
almost babyishly. Mother always
calls me a silly child" \.
His establishment was genuine
Your mother! Is your mother still
living ~ h "a II
why, yes; Of course. And what q
mother!"" she cried enthusiastical
What wonderful mother! Sixty
fve!" .. &
AS she had herself at least reached
that age, he felt himself pardonable
for interpreting her meaning as he did
"sixty-fve children? Really"
mo, no; 4 s
''No. Of course not" he admitted.
"What am thinking OFF,
"Ten children" said the ancient
sweetheart Of his friend. Five boys,
five girls. The baby they always call
me" y "a
81 He was literally withered by the
bold effrontery OF this. 1t seemed in
credible even to the bald complacency
OF this extraordinary dame. But he
was young and rapid OF recovery. Il
suppose" he suggested with mild eye
and an inquiring air, that most OF
the boys are still going to school" 4
Why, OF course not!" She seemed
to be taking him quite seriously, to be
pleased, in fact. They all married?"
Foolish youngsters!" 81
.t"'Oh, don't know. married my
first husband when was eighteen. Her
eyes grew reminiscent. When she
spoke it was as If she made conces.
sion OF unwelcomel truth to him be-
cause he was "a friend--a confidential
friend. That's twenty years ago!'"
He was losing patience with the
woman. do you mean to tell me that
you re- i5$ y e p i Il,
"sh!" she cautioned playfully. Il
don't tell my age to everyone!" Il b
~ can readily understand that"
How old are you, Mr.. Wallace?" she
asked sweetly, evidently pleased at
the establishment OF confidential rela-
lions with this, Broadway's most init
mate friend. EI5i }9+s s-55
"I'll be twelve in October" he re-
piled with calm smile. i
ss'"Twelve!" She paused and then
burst into her small cackle Of artificial
laughter. "Oh. see; you want me to
add about twenty to that"
Yes" he exclaimed ungallantly, dis
gustedly, :"and add about thirty more
to your own" 5},,8s 58. 3as
What" She was instantly indig.
nant, not unnaturally. III