The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-28
4 WlLkInG GENTLEMAN
Nv LUCILLE WARRINGTON.

"IIist0n." and vance pIocoe~
read: "Wanted-A presentable. actiVe
Young man Of some Imagination ana
GOOD facial expression. Liberal com
pensation. Mrs. A., SGT Hawthorn
terrace"
"Well. I vum!" exclaimed MARI
"Now what in the world does tns'
mean! What has presentaoieness'
Imagination and facial expression "
do with IT." . -
"well, shall try for the position
announced Vance.
The Hawthorn terrace ADDRESS
proved to be fine mansion set IN =
charming nest Of greenery ana now
ers. Vance adopted his best bearing
and had handsome features and we'll
modelled form to recommend him 70
the housemaid, who showed him into
4 little gem Of q reception room, say
inx she would take word to MRS. Ar.
linxton" at once. Vance appropriated
IN easy chair and took in the warmth
and comfort OF the room luxuriousiy.
II reminded him of home. He arose
to inspect a little bijou Of water
color on the wall. He strolled about
the apartment, taking in the richness
and taste of the hangings. He ran a
covetous eye over a-well-selected shelf
of books. Then a drapery parted ana
! an active, nervous lady OF perhaps
! fifty faced him with keen eyes and q
quizzical smile.
"You came about the advertise
ment," she spoke rapidly. well, l
think you will do"
why, madam" began Vance, as
tonished at this speedy decision.
| "Oh, have been watching you, and
am sure you will suit. You know
how to walk and gesture. and / can
see possibilities Of expression in your
eyes. | shall need your services from
nine to twelve each day. The COM
pensation will be fifty dollars a week"
Vance gave a gasp. First, ! will in
troduce you to my other aid, my
adopted daughter Rilla!" and she
called loudly.
Vance felt as though he had STUN
bled across some scene OF enchant-
ment. Fifty dollars week! Three
hours work day! A fellow-worker,
one "Rilla!" And then "Rilla" came
into the room. She seemed to bring
with her the radiance of rare beauty.
an atmosphere Of roses. smiles and
! kisses commingled. His senses dizzied
as he looked upon this vision on love-
/ illness.
"You two are to be my special com.
| panions," explained Mrs. Arlington.
! while Vance grew awkward and the
young lady blushed, as they were in
troduced after Vance had murmured
his name. "You see. Mr.. Byford, am
an authoress. They call me Of the
impressionist type. am we'll ground.
ed as to theories and the plot guam.
/ tity, but deficient as to details. l first
: thought Of employing an actor and
| an actress. but they would be ranters.
! Naturalness is what l want. For In.
stance: l am now at the fourth chap
ter Of novel where the young broker
; finds himself ruined, comes to his
room to be alone. and spends an un.
happy hour deciding what he should
do. You need not speak. Just move
about and act out what you would do
under those circumstances. You can
be seated, Rilla. You are to appear
later as his sister endeavoring to
drive away the desperate thoughts
that come into his mind"
"Oh. excellent! excellent" went on
the speaker few moments later, as
Vance began his unique role. "'He
snatched close the draperies like be-
Ing at last at bay A fine line! He
sat bordering deeply at his desk, anon
casting a desolate glance at its rich
surroundings, his no more. knew
you would do. am truly fortunate!"
Within few days Vance was en-
rapport with his peculiar position.
Then the experience grew more inter.
esting. Rilla had her part In thespan.
tomime OF suggestion, alone and in
conjunction with Vance. There were
some vivid love scenes to depict. They
became all too real to Vance Byford.
One evening he met his friend Mark
with whom he roomed, just outside
the Arlington grounds. They halted
near the vine-covered wall, little
dreaming that Rilla on the other side
was an auditor.
Tnen Vance told his troubles. He
was going to give up his position And
wherefore! Rilla. Every time in
their play acting when their hand.
met Vance confessed to fervent un.
restrained impulse to clasp her in bis
arms and confess his undying love
II was the next morning when Vance
and Rilla sat awaiting promntings a.
TO some scene from Mrs. Arlington
something new in the eyes of Riua
attracted Vance. His hand s,o,.
towards her own. her eyes met hi,
Excellent! Maintain that n,o.s. .
spoke the authoress. her pen trayelin,
rapidly. "Oh. indeed"
Sne sat up rigid, staring with cen.
soring eyes at the twain. Their an,
tude showed not acting. but real 1.-Two
I think that we will end your ssrv
ices. Mr.. Byford." she said, icily br,
AFTER he had gone gloomily from ~
mousse Rilla sobbed. brokenly:
II was not play acting. mamma
love him and I shall die n he -.
away" no GOES
80. TO save the life" Of her char.
''ned darling, Mrs. Arlington r,lentss