Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-13
Evening Star
Daily Story
LAURELS AND SUNBONNET
BY DORoTHY DOUGLAS.

ing in amateur theatricals, she had
assembled to the heights of dramatic
art. Not only had she won the
hearts of the American people, but
London, too, had fallen. a ready VIC
tim, to her charm. Yet, Madge was
still the wholesome, big souled girl
of the country
When Sir John Giltroy was pre-
scented to her at the home of Lord
Danvers, at whose home a house
party was given in her honor, he
knew that the one woman had en-
tered his life. The onslaught was
sudden and compelling. So great was
the havoc wrought that his male
friends rallied HIM that evening IN
the smoking room, but Sir John only
accepted the banter with his SLOW,
easy smile.
During the fortnight following he
courted Madge with British deter
mination. There was no outward
demonstration of his purpose to win
her for his own, yet there was not
soul among the jolly house party
that failed to read Sir Johns eyes
when they rested on Madge.
Before accepting Lord Danver's in
vitation Madge had asked the privi-
lege of solitude for an hour or two
a day that she might study up her
part for the forthcoming production
of her new play.
You see-I am a slave to my
dear public-even when on holt
day." she had told her host. 81 must
work when you are all shooting
grouse and landing salmon
Thus it happened that there were
many moments of the day when Sir
John Giltroy was not happy. He was
not jealous of Madge's art, but he re-
GREETED the slipping by of precious
hours when she could have been at
his side. The time allotted him for
courtship was scant, at best. He
knew that the return to London
meant rehearsals and fatigue that
would assuredly preclude him, at
least temporarily, from her horizon.
As for Madge, she felt almost sorry
that Sir John Giltroy had appeared
upon that horizon at all. Her reason
fold her that she could not be happy
as the mistress of a London mansion,
even though the very best people in
the land would be her friends. Her
heart, in turn, seemed determined to
make her acknowledge that neither
could she be happy amid the apple
blossoms and simplicity of the coun-
try We're not Sir John beside her. He
was so detached from her ideals of
life. Now that she had won a heavy
laurel wreath, Madge had only one
desire, and that was to retire from
the footlights to some quiet country
spot and there steep her soul in
nature even as she had STEPPED her
life with the artificial moods of the
stage.
II want a brood of Riddles brought
up under the scent of fruit blossoms
and having for toys a lamb. some
chickens, rabbits and even a wee
piggy," she had once told a friend
who had been astonished at her re-
fusal to marry an eminent politician
81 think l am still a farmer at
heart" she laughingly added.
Perhaps it was because her char
acter for the new play was that OF q
simple country girl that Madge SIP II
long hours in study of it, or it mig t
have been that cpd reason told her
that in escaping Sr John she Wa
terrifying her heart against the at
tack She knew by the look n h
eyes that he would ask her to marry
him before returning to the city.
Even so, Madsc found 1t difficult
to withstand his pleading when he
poured forth his love for her with an
ardor that only deeply affected man
possesses. She had not dreamed that
a reserved, easy-going Britisher cou d
fall so completely and SO gloriorsly
in love. 1t quite took her brea h
away and left her weaker than she
had anticipated.
you know so little of me-" she said
when finally her heart quieted it's
beating. Il am deeply honored by
your love, but ! feel that our paths
are so different they are SO widr ~
separated that it would be difficu t
TO get the best out of life under those
conditions
Without knowing it, Madge swaycd
slightly toward him His arms went
swiftly about her and his lips Gov
cred her own before she could stir.
Il will give you another fortnight
to think it over he said, making an
effort to speak with control, while his
breath was coming jerkily. You
will know then if you love me-
He let her go then, and Madge
went quickly to her room. Her cheeks
were a deep scarlet and her wonder
full eyes were shining.
II will not have to wait fort
night to find out whether or not |
love him." she told herself and
laughed weakly as she compared her
emotions now with her emotionless
receptions of stage lovers.
Madge did not. however. deceive
herself into the belief that she would
marry Sir John Giltros Her dreams
of a life in the country and away
from all cares OF. social activity were
too deeply rooted in her being Her
laurel wreath and her standing in
society were as naught when COM
pared to the old sunbonnet days of
her youth,
Having returned to her apartment
in towr. Madge became entirely oc-
cupied with her new production. She
had decided when she first saw her
part that the little trunk full of
clothes with which she had come to
Broadway from the country would
costume the role as no other clothes
would. The trunk was always with
her. 1t was the closest link with the
past and a treasured possession.
When Madge opened 1t to look over
its contents she had not realized that
a tumult of emotion would sweep
over her. The longing to get back to
the old farm brought tears to her
eyes, and when she picked up the old
pink sunbonnet that had chung to her
curly head through rain and through
shire Madge wept softly into its faded
depths.
mo. mol" she told herself vehe-
raently, 81 could not marry a titled
parsonage and tie myself down to
conventional city life" She gazed
5ondly at her ginghams and quaint
Httle frilled petticoats and her Sunday
Tat with the pond lilies on it. They
were admirably suited to her part in
the new play and Madge decided that
If the play was a success she would
play her season in London and fare
we'll in New York, then retire from
the stage.
She pulled down her masses of au-
burn hair dressed it in ringIets put
the pink suhbonnet on and her Sun
day bingham and viewed herself in
the mirror. Madge laughed with de-
li.rlat A scaaralI,. s.lao lad ha clz