The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-12-19
ITS a dr,ll little world" said Merry.

smoothing them between ner fingers.
4 remember" Andrew gazed about
him In a reminiscent mood. ''one sea-
son l was tied up with a summer pro-
duction. and it was horribly lonesome
in New York. There was not a soul
in our company l wanted to fraternize
with. Enoch was West. l used to
come here night after night and work
myself into, a light-hearted mood.
had part | hated. | did not go on
until the second act. SO sometimes
stayed here until half-past seven. The
place walked me up. ] got into queer
humor while watching people. Before
it wore of l 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 l am cast for some role that
makes one fairly snort with impa-
tience, it is horribly hard to feel like
1t. II l get a human character. l love
It,"
Like John Esterbrook?
Yes. like John Esterbrook.' Miss
Dorcas." Merry went on eagerly. Il
went tramping yesterday-alone. l
found myself within sight of another
state before I pulled up. was
heaven knows how many miles from
anywhere. thrashed things out with
myself. I'm going to make John Es-
terbrook' the biggest thing that has
struck New York in years"
Dorcas laughed. She felt foolishly
happy.
Il am 80 glad" she said.
It's up to me to do the best I can;
I owe It to you." there was grim de-
termination in Merry's voice; Ito you
and Oswald. he's a prince of good
fellow; now Alice Volk and the child
come into it."
And yourself"
Yes. myself II l succeed, it means
retrieving more than you imagine"
And you will confess you wrote tho
play"
"Not-yet."
Why"
Miss Dorcas." Merry's voice had a
tone of entreaty in it, Il want to ask
one thing Of you. ask it because your
faith in me Is so 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 compact though
no word was spoken.
They fingered over strange dishes
that came and went. Food seemed
merely a circumstance, an excuse for
being alone and together. They felt
curiously isolated, for the noise made
= 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 overtures, but prelude to the
f1orid music in an italian opera.
Through the murky atmosphere a
woman's voice shrilled out with rare
sweetness.
Dorcas rose to her feet for a 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 we're stilled except
for one voice. 1t was singing the
tremendous aria from "Ernani." The
girl drew a long breath as the last
note died away into silence then she
turned eagerly to Merry.
Who is she?"
III tell you In minute"
She turned again to look at the
singer. who stood crushed into a ma.
row balcony which was crowded to
discomfort by piano and four mu-
sicians. The woman was absurdly fat
and absurdly gowned. Years ago. in
the paImy days of a concert tour she
had swept upon the platform in a robe
OF burnt orange velvet splashed gor'
geousIy with silver lace and scintillat-
ing embroidery. 1t 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 gatn.
cred into ridiculous pompadour.
Across the dining ROOM through mur.
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 as
the whiteness of her vast, bare shoul-
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 a
glimpse of beauty and picturesqueness.
dignity which belonged to the days
of youth and power. the royal days
of a singer
The room rang with an encore. then