The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-07-07


"Mary lights all the lamps in her
eyes,"
the late comers. Mr.. Langdon was to
go with mother and Mrs. Page, and
soon spotted them up il the balcony,
for the management doesn't hand out
boxes for the families of it's front row
of the chorus, but in one Of the boxes
| did see a familiar face-that Of Pol
lock. He was all gotten up in soup
and fish, but he was alone, and could
see that he was taking Mary all in,
and then some. Mary had told me
lot about him, and the piker way he'd
acted, and she'd also told me a lot
about Mr.. Langdon, so 1 decided that
I wouldn't put her wise to the fact
that Pollock was there, but would let
her play to the balcony, which she did.
She was so pretty and SO happy that
she got a silly song over big. and even
the tenor had the decency to make her
go on and take a curtain with him.
Everybody just made fuss over her
till Mary fairly cried, she was 50 hap
py. And the part that seemed to
please her most was that she had seen
Langdon applauding his hands off up
stairs
"Did you join your mother and Mrs
Page after the show?' interrupted
Langdon warningly.
THAT was the big idea," she said.
"But it hit the rocks, for when Mary
and l hustled into our glad rags and
started for the door we bumped square
ly into the stage manager and Mr.. Pol
lock-the latter all done up to kill.
even to top hat. oh, Miss Page
sings out Ecky chats the manager)
heres a gentleman from your home
town, that wants to take you out to
supper and see you home in buzz
wagon He laughed nastily as he
spoke, and l could feel Mary's hand
20 cold as ice as she grabbed mine
and says, I have no desire to take
supper with Mr.. Pollock. either now
or at any other time to come. Amy.
But that made old Ecky sore, so he
began to roar like bull and shouts.
What's this? Are you crazy? But
Pollock interrupted him-there was a
quick business of being hurt to the
heart: the misunderstood soul--and the
chivalry stunt was pulled off without
a break. Then he says, Miss Page
is quite within her rights. l do not
wish an unwilling guest Perhaps my
moment of renewing her acquaintance
was inopportune,' and he stalks away
for all the world like the heavy in the
third act. But old Ecky was up in
the air, and he began rowing Mary
for fair. He told her, the dog, that it
was her beauty, not her talent, that
got the house. and added, It's your
business here to be civil to your ad-
mirers and go to supper when they
ask you. If you're goin' to ride a high
horse I've got no use for you in this
show"
did Miss rage answer ulHu!
.'No. / think she was too horrlfed,
and old Ecky, thinkin' that silence
meant consent, told her to stay there
till he brought Mr.. Pollock back. The
minute his back was turned l gave
Mary the cue to get away quick, but
we didn't have to, for just then MT.
Langdon came in, and we beat it for
him. We didn't have time to tell him
what had happened before old Ecky
came back with Mr.. Pollock and they
both stopped short when they saw Mr..
Langdon with US, and then Mr. Pol
lock drawls out, You see this Miss
Page is not so virtuous as she pre-
tends. She's not even particular in her
choice-everybody knows that he
must have intended US to hear, but
what he didn't give any high sign for,
was for Mr.. Langdon to mako Jump
and grab him by the throat, shouting
that he'd have to eat his words or he'd
kill him. Old Ecky is deathly afraid
Of a fight and began to holler for the
stage crew, but I got out my little old
trusty hat-pin and promised anybody
that came near two or three inches OF
it. so the men just stood around swear
ing and grinning behind their hands till
Mr.. Pollock was licked to standsthl
and asked Mr.. Langdon to let up. Then
Mr. Langdon ordered him out Of the
theatre. and he-wentl But while he
was on his way I'd spied pen and
some ink on the prompt desk, and |