The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-30
EVENING STORY
A Movie Event.
(By Marcella Hayes.)

The lights went out, the curtain
rolled up and the empty white square
flashed on the screen upon which, in
| a minute or two, would follow thrilling
scenes of love and adventure in film
| land The orchestra played Here
| Comes Tootsie," and altogether it was
a moment of general expectation. Mrs.
Smith rolled up her crochet work and
| stuck it into her bag, looking anxious
" between times at the empty seat be-
side her.
! Il wonder if he's sick?" she wor-
ried. 81 just thought yesterday when
he came in without an overcoat that
| he'd catch cold. Seems to me the
folks at home ought to take better
care of him.
Then he came, stuck his hat in it's
place and pulled down the seat.
I'm a little late he said.
Eyes, and l was worrying. You had
no overcoat on yesterday and it was
cold. I'm glad to see you've got it
out today. 1t was the same way last
week when you came in all that drizzle
with no umbrella. Your folks oughtn't
to allow you to do those things"
| ''Folks?"
"Why, yes Haven't you got any %
'Yes. a daughter, but she isn't at
| home"
do you mean you live by your
self?'
Yes. What's wrong about that? ''
| Nothing. Only. Well, you're
no worse off than 1 am. l live alone,
too. Alfred. my son. has been away
for more than a year
You don't sayi" His tone lacked
! interest because, the butcher and
baker and candlestick making having
advertised all their wares, the coming
attractions having been announced
and the operator shown his number,
the name of the ensuing feature was
f~1I
| cast.
Then the man sighed deeply.
Don't you like the Keystone come
dies?'' she was impelled by her curios-
ity to ask.
"oh, yes, they're all right. butt
! may as well tell you. When was get
ing some winter things out of the
| trunk today II came across some
stuff of Mary's-dolls and things she
had when she was little-and I've
been thinking about her all day. And
here just before 1 left the house didn't
a letter come from her chuck full of
news. She'd been working in an Of
! flee, but she had an offer from a
! photo-play company. Mary's awfully
pretty-curly hair and big eyes and
/ everything. She's acting now and get
ting along fine, she says. She is get
ting fifty dollars a week and says she
is going to send for me soon.''
Isn't that just fine?" sympathized
his neighbor.
Yes, but that isn't all Here she's
gone and engaged herself to a chap,
going to be married in a MONTH"
You don't say! That's too bad when
| she's doing so WELL
But she won't give up her acting
She'll go ahead with that after she's
married same as now. I think it's
queer. l guess I'm an old fogy. may
be, but can't get used to it. I don't
know whether I'll go or not Don't
believe I'd feel at home in a place
The audience grew noisy over some
capers OF the police squad falling
downstairs, but Mrs. Smiths sympa-
thetic eyes were on the man beside
her. The doings in the r. ctangle were
nothing to this drama.
Il guess you're right" she nodded.
my sons in New York, too, workin g
and making good money. He sends
me plenty, but keeps writing for me
| to break up here and go to him. It's
a queer place though and I've always
been afraid to make the change.
Therel Isn't that disgusting the way
those people beat each other up. I
| hope your daughter doesn't do any of
that kind of stuff"
mo, she's with the-let me see, the
Monograph company. It's new one.
/ don't know as I've ever seen any of
their plays"
''It must be new. Wouldn't it be
funny if they should show here and
your Mary be in it2''
81 was just thinking that. There.
thank goodness, that's over. Somehow
I don't feel like looking at nonsense
today"
The rectang1e was blank in a min
ute and then came the title of the next
film-"When Dreams Come True, -
produced by the Monograph company.
s-Ngr
Smith. maybe Mary's in it Look!
There's the cast. What's your name ?''
Zones"
"Mary Jones," repeated Mrs. Smith
in disappointed tones. well, it isn't
there"
And indeed it wasn't
The first was garden scene where
the earl reprimands his son for a
misspent life-1o women in the pic
ture at all. But while they are talk
ing a girl bounds in--the earl's grand
daughter-who rushes up to her faith
err and throws her arms around his
neck.
Mr.. Jones sprang up. ''Mary-that's
Nary he cried shaking all over.
Its just like her exactly. But. oh, ]
wish she wouldn't put her arms around
strangersl''
"Sit down" Mrs. Smith pulled anx-
iously at his sleeve. People are look
ing, Remember. it's only in a picture
and"
But the words died on her lips. The
scene had shifted TO a carpenters shou
in which, like Adam Bede, a youne
man was working honestly and with a
will. The earIs granddaughter was
slipping up behind him ready to cover
his eyes with her hand But it was
the carpenter who concerned Mrs
Smith
Alfred" she gasped There's m,
: Alfred"
and he's kissing my Mary" pro-