Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-07-02

"It's droll little world said Merry.
Dorcas pulled on her gloves and sat
smoothing them between her fingers.
Il remember" Andrew gased about
him in q reminiscent mood. zone sea-
son was tied up with q summer pro-
duction, and It was horribly lonesome
in New York. There was not q soul
In our company l wanted to fraternize
with. Enoch was West used to
come here night after night and work
myself into q lighthearted mood.
had q part ! hated. did not 20 on
until the second act 30 sometimes
stayed here until hRlf.past seven. The
place walked me up. got into queer
humor while watching people. Before
II wore OF I used to dash to the thea
ter. as one acts when you are over
powered with sleep. and try to get to
bed before you 60 wide awake again.
Usually l don't have to hammer my
self into the disposition for work.
When I am cast for some role that
makes one fairly snort with impa-
thence, II 10 horribly hard to feel like
Il II get . human character. love
It."
Like John Esterbrook?
"YeS, like John Esterbrook.' Miss
Dorcaa." Merry went on eagerly, Il
went tramping yesterday-alone. I
found myself within sight Of another
state before ] pulled up. ! was
heaven knows row many miles from
anywhere. thrashed things out with
myself. I'm going to make John ES-
Textbook the biggest thing that has
struck New York in years"
Dorcas laughed. She felt foolishly
happy.
II am % glad" she said.
ITS up TO me to do the best can;
I owe It to you." there was grim de.
termination In Merry's voice; Ito you
and Oswald. he's a prince Of a good
fellow; now Alice Volk and the child
come into It."
And yourself"
Eyes, myself. II I succeed. It means
retrieving more than you imagine"
And you will confess you wrote the
play?"
"Not-yet-"
WHY"
Miss Dorcas." Merry's voice had a
tone of entreaty in II, II want TO ask
one thing OF you. ask 1t because your
faith in me is 80 great and uplifting
Drop the authorship Of the play. can
not explain. ! cannot fight the thoughts
you have OF me. You said once, I be-
lieve in you Do you remember"
Dorcas looked at him with steadfast
eyes and nodded.
go on believing. It's the kindest
thing you can do for me. and-for
Enoch."
Their eyes made a compact though
no word was spoken.
They fingered over strange dishes
that came and went. Food seemed
merely q circumstance. an excuse for
being alone and together. They felt
curiously isolated, for the noise made
a retreat for them as silence does. A
sudden lull fell on the babel OF sound.
The orchestra, which had rested for a
few minutes. began again-not one OF
its long otertures. but prelude to the
ford music in an Italian opera.
Through the murky atmosphere q
woman's voice shrilled out with rare
sweetness.
Dorcas rose to her feet for q sec
ond, searching for the singer; then she
seated herself with her back to the
table. The crash Of dishes. the rattle
OF silver. and the popping Of corks con-
tinued, but tongues were stilled except
for one voice. II was singing the
tremendous aria from "Ernani." The
girl drew q long breath as the last
note died away into silence then she
turned eagerly to Merry.
Who IL she?"
I'll tell you In q minute"
She turned again to look at the
singer. who stood crushed into q ma
row balcony which was crowded to
discomfort by q piano and four mu-
sicians. The woman was absurdly fat
and absurdly gowned. Years ago. in
the palmy days Of concert tour, she
had swept upon the platform in a robe
Of burnt orange velvet splashed gor.
geously with silver lace and scintillat.
ing embroidery. II had seen years OF
service, then grown tawdry, unfashion-
able, soiled. and grotesquely queer. 1t
reminded Dorcas Of the stately door in
its last stage Of shabbiness. The
woman's straw-colored hair was gain.
cred into a ridiculous pompadour.
Across the dining room, through muir
Ky waves OF tobacco smoke the girl
could see careworn wrinkles about the |
woman's eyes. The vivid scarlet Of
her cheeks was pitifully false. false a.
the wilderness Of her vast, bare shout |
ders. Again she began to sing. some |
thing which came thrilling from the |
wonderful throat with perfect colora-
tura. She threw back her head and |
tilted her face till Dorcas saw only |
the profile. For one moment the gross |
lines disappeared: instead came .
glimpse of beauty and picturesqueness.