The state herald., 1915-07-09

world.
Tony Conasso was an Italian illus
traitor who lodged and painted in
studio-apartpents in Washington
Square. South. His companions were
various. numbering among them a
group OF those pygmy celebrities of
whom one has never heard until by
chance he meets them, and of whom
their intimates speak as of immortals.
To Collasso's studio Samson was
called one night by telephone. He
had sometimes gone there before to
sit for an hour. chiefly as a listener,
while the man from Sorrento bewailed
fate with his coterie. and denounced
all forms Of government over insipid
Chianti.
But tonight he entered the door to
dnd himself In the midst of a gay and
boisterous party. The room was al
ready thickly logged with smoke, and
dozen men and women. singing
snatches of current airs. were inter-
esting themselves over chatting dish.
The crowd was typical. A few very
minor writer's and artists. model or
two. and several women who had
thinking parts in current Broadway
productions.
At eleven o'clock the guests OF honor
arrived in a taxicab. They were Mr..
| William Farbish and Miss Winifred
Starr. Having come. as they explained.
direct from the theater where Miss
Starr danced In the first row, they
were In evening dress Samson men,
, .aly acknowledged. though with in
stinctive disfavor for the pair. that
both were. In a way, handsome. Col
lasso drew him aside to whisper i'm
portantly:
Make yourself agreeable to Farbish
He Is received In the most exclusive
society, and is connoisseur of art.
II he takes q fancy to you. he will
put you UP 4 the best clubs. think
l shall sell him a landscape
The girl was talking rapidly and
loudly. She had at once taken the
center Of the room. and her laughter
rang in free and egotistical peals
above the other voices.
Come. said the host, Il shall pro
sent you"
The boy shook hands, gazing with
his usual directness into the show
girls large and deeply.penciled eyes.
Farbish. standing at one side with
his hands In his pockets. looked on
with an air of slightly bored detach.
ment
His dress. his mannerisms. his bear.
ing. were all those OF the man who has
overstudied his part They were too
perfect. too obviously rehearsed
through years of social climbing, but
that was defect Samson was not
yet prepared to recognize.
Someone had naively complimented
Miss Starr on the leopardskin cloak
she had Just thrown from her shapely
shoulders. and she turned promptly
and vivaciously to the fatterer.
1T is nice. isn't III" she prattled.
1T may look little up-stage for girl
who hasn't got line to read into
the piece. but these days one must
get the spotlight. or be dead one.
1t reminds me of little run.in | had
with Graddy-he's our stage.dlrector.
you know" She paused. awaiting the
invitation to proceed. and. having re-
ceived It. went gayly forward. Il was
ten minutes late. one day, for rehears-
al. and Grady came up with that sar-
castle manner OF his. and said: Miss
Starr. ! don't doubt you are n perfect
ly nice girl. and all that. but II rather
gets my goat to figure out how. on
a salary OF fifteen dollars week.
you come to rehearsals In n million
dollars worth OF clothes. riding Ia n
limousine-and ten minutes late!' y"
She broke on with the eager little
expression OF awaiting applause. and.
having been satisfied. she added: Il
was afraid that wasn't going to get a
laugh, after all"
She glanced inQuiringly 1t Samson.
who had not smiled. and who stood
looking puzzled.
"A penny for your thoughts. Mr..
South. from down South she chal-
lenged.
~ guess I'm sort OF like Mr.. Grad
dy." said the boy. slowly. Il was Just
wondering how you do do it
He spoke with perfect seriousness.
and. after n moment. the girl broke
into prolonged peal OF laughter.
"oh, you are delicious," she ex.
claimed. III could do the inyenus
like that. believe me. I'd make some
hit" She came over. and. laying n
hand on each OF the boys shoulders
kissed him lightly on the cheek.
That's for n droll boyl" she said
That's the best line I've heard pulled
lately"
Farbish was smiling In quiet amusc.
ment. He tapped the mountainccr on
the shoulder.
I've heard George Lescott speak OF
you" he said. genially i've rather n
fancy for being among the discover.
ers OF men OF talent We must see
more OF eacn other"