Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-26
The Cast str of Mary Page
BY Frederick Lewis, Author of :: Pictures by
What Happened to Mary :: Essanay
Pictures by
ESsanay

the excitement that swept through the
crowded room.
To Langdon alone the calling OF MARY
came as no surprise. and he was at her
side in a moment. whispering reinsurance
and urging her to answer as simply and
clearly as possible the questions she was
asked Ills calm gave her back some
measure Of her own serenity. and her
voice was low but clear as she took the
oath and. stepping up into the witness
stand, looked down upon that sea Of
faces For n moment they swan before
her eyes. and with catch in her throat
she remembered the last time she had
looked down upon crowded faces; looked
down across the footlights upon thou
sands OF smiling lips and friendly eye
above a snow storm Of applauding white
gloves How long ago II seemed, and yet
how short a timei And now the faces
that stared up at her were avid with
curiosity; some hostile. some sympa-
thetic.
Then her eyes, travelling beyond them,
met the tearadlmmed ones OF her mother,
leaning forward yesrningly from the wit
ness bench; and because Of the suffering
on that face Mary sniled. Her first an
swers to the questions OF the district at
torney were spoken with quiet dignity.
Miss Page, isn't Il true that David
Pollock wished to marry your"
Yes" The answer was lower now, and
a hot flush crept for a moment into
MarY's pale cheeks.
And you found his attentions unwei-
conner"
Something in the tone brought her head
up sharply.
Il had told Mr.. Pollock that I could
not marry him." she said firmly.
Abruptly the prosecutor changed his
train OF questioning.
Now, Miss Page" he said harshly'
please tell the court exactly what hap
pened just previous to the time when
the revolver shot was heard and Mr..
LanEdon found you unconscious beside
the murdered man. Begin with the mo
meDt you left the banquet"
| With a SILVER Of aversion Mary closed
her eyes for second; then, gripping the
edge Of the witness stand she began
speaking slowly and with an obvious eff
fort.
when the hoy brought me the mes
sage--I--wss glad to go. They were
drinking and were very noisy at the ban
duear-and / was tired. The boy showed
me the door Of the suite. and ! went in.
She paused, and covered her eyes Al
II 10 shut out something terrible
MIR. Pollock was In the ROOM" sh'
said at last "He--he had been drink
ing-he wasn't himself-he could hardl,
stand He-he said, he wanted to tall
TO me alone for five minutes-and h
wouldn't let me out. though l was afrai
and begged him TO-"
Ibid you try TO get out2 Was ther
struggle between you and Mr.. Pol
lock7"
She shook her head. mot then" sh
said with little sob Butt was yer
angry--I told him he had tricked me-
and / wouldn't listen to him. View
duarreled over his being drunk and-h
tried TO make me take n drink OF III
whisky myselfl'
A shuddcr OF repugnance swept ov'
her, and her eyes grew wide and starin
and she swayed for a moment like
flower I'm n storm then. with tremen'
els effort. as one called back from Il
horderiand to consciousness. she adds
. hoarsely:
, II remember striking at him-an
! knocking the glass out OF his hand.
heard II break-and then--I must hay
r faintedl'
ITO he Continued Tomorrow