Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-06-03
A WALKING GENTLEMAN
BY LUCILLE WARRINGTON.

i
and with some satisfaction, scanning
the Help Wanted" column OF the
newspaper he had bought.
what now?" queried Mark.
Listen" and Vance proceeded to
read: "Wanted-A presentable. active
young man OF some imagination and
good facial expression. Liberal COM
pensation. Mrs. A., 537 Hawthorn
terrace"
well, I vum!" exclaimed Mark.
Now what In the world does that
mean! What has presentableness,
Imagination and facial expression to
do with lit"
well, l shall try for the position"
announced Vance.
The Hawthorn terrace address
proved TO be a fine mansion set In
charming nest Of greenery and now
ers. Vance adopted his best bearing
and had handsome features and we'll
modelled form to recommend him TO
the housemaid. who showed him into
q little gem OF q reception room. say.
| ing she would take word to- Mrs. AT
ltnRton" at once. Vance appropriated
an easy chair and took In the warmth
and comfort of the room luxuriously.
Il reminded him of home He arose
to inspect q little bijou OF water
color on the wall. He stroiled about
the apartment, taking in the richness
and taste OF the hangingA He ran Q
covetous eye over q well-selected shelf
of books. Then q drapery parted and
an active, nervous lady Of perhaps
fifty faced him with keen eyes and Q
quizxical smile.
"You came about the advertise.
ment," she spoke rapidly. We'll, !
think you will do"
why, madam" began Vance, A.
tonished at this speedy decision.
ooh, I have been watching you. and
I 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 q week"
Vance gave a gasp. First, / will In
troduce you to my other aid, my
adopted daughter. Rllla!" and che
called loudly.
Vance felt as though he had STUN
bled across some scene Of enchant-
ment- Fifty dollars a week! Three
hours work a 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 diSxied
as he looked upon this vision % 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 sitter Vance had murmured
his name. you see, Mr.. Byford. ami
an authorizes. They call me Of the
impressionist type. am well ground.
ed o. to theories and the plot guam
tity, but deficient as to details. ] first
thought Of employing an actor and
an actress, but they would be ranters.
Naturalness Is what want For In.
stance: / am now at the fourth chap
ter of a novel where the young broker
finds himself ruined, comes to his
room to be alone, and spends an I'M
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 q 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 pondering deeply at his desk, anon
casting q deSolate glance at its rich
surroundings, his no more I knew
you would do. am truly fortunate!"
Within a few days Vance was en-
rapport with his peculiar position.
Then the experience grew more inter-
esting. Rilla had her part In thevpan-
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 uncovered wall, little
dreaming that Rilla on the other side
was an auditor.
Then Vance told his troubles. He
was going to give up his position. And
wherefore? Rilla. Every time In
their play acting when their hands
met, Vance confessed to q fervent I'M
restrained impulse to clasp her in his
arvna and nnnfoaa hia uHdvfnR love