The Washington herald., 1915-07-25
DAILY SHORT STORY.
GORDON'S DEBUTANTE.
By COLIN .. COLLINS.

She was such a tiny mite Of child
ager. came to the door to speak to her
he involuntarily leaned over as II afraid
that his voice would not reach down to
her unless he did so.
so your names Edith" he said.
cheerily. as he glanced at the card from
the dramatic agency. where's your
mammal"
Please" the child answered com
posedly. my mammals sick and she
can't come"
That's bad" he muttered to Harkins.
the manager. who had just come out o.
his office; cant have a little tyke like
that about theehop and no one to look
after her."
The child's sharp ears caught the
speech. and she tugged at Gordon's coat
to command his attention. Please" she
urged, Nellie can come with me In the
evenings. Nellie works in a shop day.
times. but I'll be awfully good at the
matinees and 1t won't matter. We need
the money so much
Gordon's face softened. He was a
good-hearted fellow. rough at rehcarsals.
but as gentle as a woman at other times.
Something in the anxious. pleading face
touched him, and he patted the little
cheek.
I'VE can fix It about the matinees" he
said kindly You come for rehearsal at
10 in the morning.
will it be very long before the pay
begins?'' she asked eagerly. She had
heard that there were weeks of rehearsal
when the actors were not paid.
h&,,t h1T& H.
goes on" he said carelessly. but you
get paid for rehearsing." he continued.
unable to face the mute dismay in the
little face, and deciding that he would be
the treasurer for the time being.
I'm so glad" she cried, her face light
ing up; I'll be here tomorrow" And
she ran out of the gloomy entrance.
Gordon faced Harkins quizzical look
defiantly. You don't have to pay her
that the other would speak. "1'n stand
that And he went back on the stage.
leaving Harkins too astonished to COM
ment. a
Gordon. was a good-hearted chap. he
knew but even that did not account for
this generous promise that the child
would be paid for rehearsal. He could
not know that In the secret chambers of
Gordon's heart an old wound was bleed
ing afresh, and that II was a child's face
that had evoked the buried memory of
the woman he had loved and would love
till death. The little girl was the image
Of Alice standish. who had been in the
first company in which he had ever play
ed, and who had given UP q strong mans
love for the graceful wiles Of the leading
man/whose passion for his pretty wife
had turned to distaste before they had
been married two years.
Franklin. used to the homage Of hun
dreds of hero worshipers. was not con-
tent with the unselhsh love of one wom-
an: there had been a divorce. and Alice
had dropped from the little world Of the
stage. 1t was whispered that she had
gone to her home. but where that was
none knew. and Gordon had only the
memory and his love-
All through that day the face Of Alice |
Standish was before him. and even in !
his dreams that he lived again, that old |
memory Of days before FRANKLIN Joined |
the company. In the morning Baby |
Edith's face reminded him so strongly of |
his lost love that he asked her II her |
mothers name was not Alice Standish |
Franklyn. |
His heart sank as the child gravely
shook her hear. MY mammals name is |
Ashley she said. and Gordon turned |
away. Somehow he had hoped that this |
was her child. He took down the name J
for the application for a Children's So
ciety permit allowing the child to appear
on the stage and turned 1t over to Har-
kins. Then he put from him the hope |
which had led him these will-o'-the-wisp
fancies. and found at least temporary
in the work Of directing the
rehearsal
For two days he was depressed and ,
not himself when he was away from his
work. and the actors complained at the
feverish energy with which he conduct
ed the rehearsals.
1t was on the fourth day that rehearsal
was interrupted by the appearance Of an
ofncer Of the Children's Society on the
stage.
Say" scolded that wrousht-up onicial
what do you people mean by sending
me on Wild goose chase! That Mrs.
Ashley says she hasn't any child on the
stage. She says the kids going to
school. and she H."
Gordon. called Edith. Didn't you say
your mammals name vas Ashleyr. hei
asked sharply. This gentleman says
SIP only has . little gtri going to school"
The child caught . glimpse OF the
badge on the omcers coat and threw
herself into 0ordea's arms with al
ffishtsnsd cry. 'Doat 1t him arrest