Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-14
THE DAILY STORY
Laurels and Sunbonnet

heights Of dramatic art Not only had
she won the hearts Of the American peo-
pie, but London. too, had fallen a ready
victim to her charm. Yet Madge was
still the wholesome, big-souied girl Of
the country.
| When Sir John Giltroy was presented
10 her at the home of Lord Danvers,
/ where house party was given in
her honor, he knew that the one woman
had entered his life. The onslaught was
| sudden and compelling. So great was
| the havoc wrought that his male friends
rallied him that evening In the smoke
room, but Sir John only accepted the
banter with his slow, easy smile.
During the fortnight following he
courted Madge with British determine
| ton. There was no outward demonstra-
ton OF his purpose TO win her for his
own, yet there was not soul among
| the jolly house party that failed TO read
| Sir Johns eyes when they rested on
| Madge.
Before accepting Lord Danvers' invi-
| tation Madge had asked tho privilege OF
solitude for an hour or two a day that
she might study up her part for the
| Forthcoming production Of her new play.
Thus II happened that there were many
moments of the day when Sir John Gil
| troy was not happy He was not Jealous
! OF Madge's art, but he regretted the slip
| ping by of precious hours when she could
| have been at his side. The time allotted
him for courtship was scant at best. He
knew that the return to London meant
rehearsals and fatigue that would as
| suredly preclude him, at least tempo
rarily, from her horizon
| As for Madge, she felt almost sorry
that Sir John Giltroy had appeared upon
| that horizon at all. Her reason told her
that she could not be happy as the mis-
| tress of a London mansion even though
| the very best people in the land would
| be her friends. Her heart, in turn, seemed
determined to make her acknowledge that
neither could she be happy amid the
| apple blossoms and simplicity of the
country were not Sir John beside her. He
was so detached from her ideals Of life.
| Now that she had won a heavy laurel
wreath, Madge had only one desire. and
that was to retire from the footlights to
| some quiet country spot and there steep
| her soul In nature even as she had
stepped her life with the artificial moods
| of the stage
II want a brood of kiddies brought
| up under the scent of fruit blossoms
and having for toys a lamb some chick
ems, rabbits and even n wee piggy" she
| had once told a friend who had been
| astonished at her refusal to marry an
eminent politician. "I think I am still
farmer at heart" she laughingly added.
Perhaps it was because her character
for the new play was that of a simple
country girl that Madge spent long hours
In study of it, or 1t might have been that
cold reason told her that I'm escaping Sir
John she was fortifyng her heart against
the attack She knew by the look in his
eyes that he would ask her to marry him
before returning to the city.
Even so, Madge found II difficult to
Withstand his pleading when he poured
forth his love for her with an ardor that
only a deeply affected man possesses.
| She had not dreamed that a reserved.
easy-going Britisher could fall so COM
pletely and so gloriously in love. II
quite took her breath away and left her
weaker than she had anticipated.
you know so little of me-" she said
when finally her heart quieted its beat
ing. "I am deeply honored by your love,
but feel that our paths are so different;
they are so widely separated that It would
be difficult to get the best out of life
under those conditions"
Without knowing It. Madge swayed
slightly toward him. His arms went
swiftly about her and his lips covered her
own before she could stir
"I will give you another fortnight to
think II over" he said making an effort
to speak with control while his breath
was coming ierkily, you will know
then IL you love me-"
He let her go then, and Madge went
quickly TO her room. Her cheeks were
ueep scarlet ana her Wonderful eyes
were shining.
Huving returned to her apartment in
town, Madge became entirely occupied
with her new production. She had de-
cided, when she first saw her part, that
the little trunkful of clothes with
which she had come to Broadway from
the country, would costume the role as
no other clothes would. The trunk was
always with her. 1t was the closest link
with the past and a treasured possession.
When Madge opened it to look over its
contents she had not realized that n
tumult OF emotion would sweep over her
The longing to get back TO tho old farm
brought tears to her eyes, and when she
picked up the old pink sunbonnet that
had clung to her curly head through rain
and through shine. Made wept softly into
It's faded depths
mo. MOI" she told herself vehenently,
IT could not marry a titled parsonage
and tie myself down to conventional city
life" She gazed fondly at her ginghans
and quaint little frilled petticoats and
her Sunday rat with the pond lilies on It.
They were admirably suited to her part
in the new play and Madge decided that
If the play was success she would play
her season in London and a farewell in
New York then retire from the stage
So engrossed was she that she had not
heard the bell ring, nor did she know
that her maid had admitted Sir John Gil
troy.
She turned suddenly and looked into
his laughing eyes He took both of her
hands In his own and surveyed her from
head to foot.
"Well. II had known you when Won
were a wee girl like that you would
never have been crowned by theatrical
laurels and I would never have been a
baronet. l would have married You and
kept yon out on the farm with me-"
"You-not a baronet? How could you
help it?' Madge questioned the man.
while she realized that she must give
this man his way whether that way led
through town mansions or country lanes.
IT won my title" he said, simply. 'It
Is a degree of honor and not hereditary
At heart long for the vastness of coun-
try life. / am a farmer by birth and a
l,aronet by endeavor." He drew MadRe
nearer 10 him and looked fondly beneath
the sunbonnet. II have come for nv an
Awer dear" he said
my answer" whispered Madge softly,
"is-yes."
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