The Washington times., 1916-01-23
CHAPTER I.
The New Star.

u came suddenly distinct as Mary
-, opened the door of her dress
ing room. 'Old Gex," as thew called
MIN. was on his usual dress rehearsal
'dHipage, and she smiled al the sound
As she picked her way lightly through
'he heterogeneous mass of piled I'M
props to the wings. for she knew it
meant that things were going well and
'n~t only one. or perhaps two PLAYERS
We're out Of focus in his stage picture.
'"e raucous voice, now vituperative
now satir1c in assumed pleading. came
IN tonal waves as the director stormed
up and down the center aisle amid tb.
shadows, while on the stage the pIavers
themselves strove with unconsciouslv
comic rrimaces, to shield their ewes
suihclentN tn see over the 1arng foot
hsnts as they listened to his TRADE.
rake that scene over" he shouted at
S'' Nrai2. begin your entrance cue.
Vow And NOEA-where's NORA"
Mary drew back with little tremu-
US sigh of content, and, LAWN,
tressing hand on the canvas battlo-
eh's OF towering castle drew in a
sep breath of the conglomerate odors,
IL was all so familiar. so much a
art or her life! And yet it seemed
1iV Yesterday that she had stood in
iuch the same fashion in the wir,pe
lapbv and unknown. her lips drv and
er hands like ice. waiting for her re-
earsal
1t had not, after all. been SO very
lany years since that day. bu they
ad been long ones full of disilIusion-
lent and hard work. Yet to MARY
9oh1ng back at them through th,.
lamour OF their fruition. they seemed
cry happy years leading up to th.
Il i.,ht h.,
airing letters of the electric sign would
Toclaim to all the world that Mary
age was-a star. Not the star OF a
econd-rate road troupe or stock
company. but broadway star in the
MolusiVe CovinGton Theater. that
Ultima thule of the roung actress.
For moment the players blurred be-
ore her eyes. and her lips quivered
With an emotion deeper than tears, bit
he sound of familiar phrase brought
1er sharply to herself. Her cue had
sounded. and she gave a last little
feminine twitch to her costume and
tripped lightly out upon the stage.
6he had forgotten that she had been
In tho theater since o'clock that
morning; the endless repetition of
ecene and act that had set every nerve
Sang1ing slipped from her like a dream,
and she remembered only that she was
NORA, playing the slast splendid act of
the drama she loved. And at the FIRST
sound OF her voice. so bravely gay.
1zed into action. Some part Of her
radiant JOY seemed to filter into their
own souls, and dropping shoulders Were
lifted and dull eyes frightened. A new
note crept into the witty badinage of
the lines, and with sigh OF relief the
director took out his huge silk hand
kerchief and mopped his brow.
They've got it," he muttered to the
guishable shadows among shadows.
She puts the punch into il all right"
And shuffling down the aisle he
climbed clumsily into one of the baNes
and sat down.
"GeX is right mumbled the shorte:
0f the two onlookers. rolling an un-
lighted cigar between the thick lips of
his weak mouth. This play is going
Dave, she's in for a seasons run as
sure as my name is E. II. Daniels.
We picked a winner all right and
dirt low royalty at that. Take it
trust managers look sick with this
play: You wait-if you're from Mis-
souri,"
"Oh. the play" sneered his compan-
ION. '"The play is rot. It's Mary Page
that gets 1T over"
We'll. I'll grant you that too" ac-
quiesced Daniels in some haste, his
eyes narrowing shrewdly. She can
sure deliver the goods every time. You
didn't think | was trying to hand HER
But David Pollock didn't answer He
was leaning over the seat In front
staring at that gay little figure in its
quaint costume, his eyes full OF brood
ing tenderness, his ears alert not to
miss a single tone in that clear young
voice.
For to Pollock, Mary stood as the
eptome Of all that was lovely and de-
airable. Her youth, her vivacity and
perhaps most of all the flower-like in
nocence of her filled him with a tu-
multuous desire to win her; to give her
the world for plaything If she wanted
it; to flll her little hands with riches
and jewels If they pleased her-bslt to
have her-for himself.
He watched her now, as she moved
toward the wings, in her girlish love-
Of golden hair-how we'll 1t was set
upon her shoulders, and how charming
ly simple was the froCk she wore. Mary
Page was OF the rare type that looks
used to say that If she threw on lamp
shade for hat It would become her.
Her eyes. fringed with heavy dashes.
were a deep blue, and looked candidly
into ones own. But, young though she
was. there was always a little wisttul-
ness in her expression that added to
her beauty. 1t was as II some far-oir
sorrow had never been forgotten. Da-
vid wondered IL she was really happy
today.
Ostensibly wine merchant. Pollock's
financial interests thrust their steely
tentacles into hundred different en-
denvors, not the smallest OF which was
the theatrical world. Ills ever-growing
wealth, his mastCrful virility, and his
n bility to be 4 good fellow" when he
chose. marked him as big man, judged
by the material standards OF New York.
and Daniels was not the only satellite
whose career depended upon his care
less whim. 1t was a saying that what
Dave Pollock wanted he got and heav-
en- help the man that stood between;
but back OF his want of Mary hover
ed an intangible doubt and-when he
-aa sober-the bigger question OF his
Eorthiness: and now as he stood
ing her the harsh lines OF his
and chin softened and there was
lfamliar note in his voice as he
musinslv:
wonder what she'll say when she
I've backed her to the limit
,.,,.. I houGht ner stardom for her?
Has she asked about thnt side of it,"
mo" said Daniels. little nervouslY.
"she's such lntl" kiG about some
things she sort Of takes. 4 all for
granted. But see here, Dave, don't
Won 60 tellin' her tp'lHY. Stars the
hest Of 'em. are tenNera as th-
deuce. sn6 she's wC"r ont wmH rnhoars-
ir,' nv tho o",rs -"'" lnu't vet $ |
have ANY tours .:U - =. T.. over''
TOiINoG i-'-N