Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-24
The Daily Story


She was such a tiny mite Of child
that when Gordon, the big stage man
ager. came to the door TO speak to her
he invoiuntariiy leaned over as II afraid
that his voice would not reach down to
$50 YOUR names Edith7" he said,
oheeriiy. 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 OF
his office; cant have a little tyke ike
that about the shop and no one to look
after her"
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
matlnees and It won't matter. We need
the money SO much"
Gordon's face softened. He was a
good-hearted Fellow. rough at rehearsals,
but as gentle as a woman at other times.
Something in the anxious, pleading face
touched him, and he patted the little
cheek.
1--WE can fix It about the matlnees," he
said kindly. you come for rehearsal at
10 in the morning"
"wlil II be very long before the pay
beglns7" she asked eagerly. She had
heard that there were weeks Of rehearsal
when the actors were not paid.
About four weeks before the piece
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
lighting up, 'Ill be here tomorrow" Ano
she ran out of the gloomy entrance.
Gordon faced Harltins qulzzical look
defantiy you don't have to pay her
till the show starts" he said, as he saw
that the other would speak. 'Ill stand
that" And he went back on the stage
leaving HarlSins too astonished to COM
ment
Gordon was a good-hearted chap, he
knew, but even that did not account for
this generous promise that the chiia
would be paid for rehearsal He coulo
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 race
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 tne
first company in which he had ever
played and who had given UP 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.
Franklyn, used to the homage OF nun
dreds of hero worshipers, was not con-
tent with the unselhsh love of one
woman; there had been divorce, anu anu
Alice had dropped from the little world
of the stage It was whispered that she
had gone to her home, but where that
was none knew, and Gordon had only
the memory of 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 Franklyn joined
the company. In the morning Baby
Edith's face reminded him so strongly OF
his lost love that he asked her If her
mothers name was not Alice Standish
Franklyn.
His heart sank as the child gravely
shook her head MY mammals maine Is
Ashley" she said, and Gordon turned
away. Somehow he had hoped that this
was her child. He took down the name
for the application for a Children's So
city 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
fancles, and found at least temporary
forgetfulness 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 conducted
the rehearsals.
1t was on the fourth day that rehearsal
was interrupted by the appearance of an
officer of the Children's Society on the
stage.
Say" scolded that wrought-up ofiicial.
what do you people mean by sending me
on a wild goose chaser That Mrs. Ashley
says she hasn't any child on the stage.
She says the kids going to school, and
she is"
Gordon called Edith. Didn't you say
your mammals name was Ashley?" he
asked sharply This gentleman says she
only has a little girl going to school,"
The child caught a glimpse of the badge
on the officers coat and threw herself
into Gordon's arms with a frightened
cry Don't let him arrest me! Don't let
him arrest met she walled.
why should he arrest your" asked
Gordon, trying to soothe her
81 told a story" she sobbed. II said
was Effie Ashley so mamma wouldn't
know / was going to be an actress. You
see mamma was so sick and needed
money so much, and when a lady asked
me on the street II / wanted TO go on
the stage mamma cried and said 1
mustn't ever. but she had TO have money.
and I went to the lady myself and she
sent me here"
what is your mammals manner" asked
Gordon, gently.
ut is Franklyn." walled the child
'just like you said 1t was. was so
afraid you knew, an you did. Oh now
mamma will know, and she'll cry just
like she did when the lady came