The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-10-01
CHAPTER XI-Continued.

not see it. Perhaps because the child
has little to do except to follow her
father about"
IT'S that following the father about
which I mean to make the strongest
point In the first act"
Engage the child immediately
I'll have to do diplomatic work to
get her."
Howl"
"Alice Volk would rather starve
than let her child go on the stage. She
has been hoping we might find small
part for herself which she could play
crippled"
Poor soul"
Il limited that we might give the lit
tie Julie a chance. She snatched the
child away as If she thought I meant
to kidnap her. When a woman has
seen the seamy side of life as she has
you understand"
Oswald nodded graveiy. 1--WE must
ind way to get around her"
Merry sat writing letter in the
managers Office the next afternoon
when Oswald entered, accompanied by
Dorcas.
Il want you to tell Miss Wentworth
about the little Volk girl" said the
Englishman. Il have enlisted her
sympathy. II the mother felt that
some woman here would be interested
In the child she might change her
mind"
I'll do anything 1 can," said Dorcas
heartily. Il am glad you are making
a change. 1t will improve the first act
wonderfully to have the child sweet
and real. Then" the girl laughed in
a half-embarrassed way, "did you ever
look at picture of yourself when you
were at the tadpole age and wonder if
it could have possibly been you? That
has been my frame of mind since
laid eyes on the little 'Cordelia'
L don't blame you," Oswald smiled.
Il can't imagine why we made such a
blunder. Merry puts it just the way
you do"
Thank you, Mr.. Merry" Dorcas
turned to the actor with a grateful
smile. II am ready to go with you any
time to see Mrs. Volk."
Dorcas had new insight in Merry's
character when she found how his
friends held him in esteem. There
was not a touch, in Mrs. Billerwell's
greeting, of hero worship or Difference
to the man who had won fame 1t
was merely droll blend of loving de-
votion and motherly tyranny.
Merry jumped to his feet when Mrs
Vclk entered, with Julie clinging shyly
TO her gown. Dorcas felt instantly a
throb of sympathy and warm friend
ship. Merry had told her something
of the pitiful story on the way uptown.
you said once, Miss Dorcas." he re-
minded her. that you were never SO
happy as when you had some one to
mother. Alice Volk needs mothering.
doubt If she has friend in the world
except Mother Billerwen and myself.
Mrs. Bilierwell is pure gold, but Alice
needs woman like you"
Half an hour later they waited on
the platform of an L station for a
downtown train. They had scarcely
spoken since leaving the Harlem
house. Merry realized how deeply the
girls heart had been stirred. They
entered the train and took a seat to-
gether in silence. She sat gazing at the
city below. Then she turned suddenly
Little Julie is to begin rehearsals
tomorrow morning" she said. "The
mother made only one condition.: they
are to be known under another name.
She is In terror lest her husband finds
them"
That's all right, but do you think
the child can play the small Cor
delia?" asked Merry anxiously.
You can do anything you wish with
that child. She has soul and sweet.
ness, and she understands. There Ia
something in her-we call it magnet
ism in older people-which will reach
across the footlights and grip every
man and woman in the audience. The
child will help me wonderfully. Now
/ won't have to create new 'Cordelia'
when come on the stage. My Cor
della is simply the little girl grown
older and wiser, with more love for
her father and a larger knowledge of
life"
you understand perfectly"
"You and ! ought to understand
'Cordelia' if any one could"
Dorcas sat in silence while they
rushed over the lighted city with it's
insistent glimpses of sordid life. Merry
saw her chin tremble once and her
eyes grow misty; then she spoke sud-
denly: "She must have lived through
awful experiences"
Alice Volk has seen the very depths.
She suffered more than misery and
neglect; there was actual brutality.
knew her before Volk came into her
life. She played with the first New
York company was in. She was the |
gayest little creature then you can i'm |
agine-a whimsical. laughing. care |
free, happy child"
"Gay!" Dorcas spoke incredulously. |
''The gaiety has gone"
1T has been wrung out Of her." J