Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-08-24
0RQN]CIW |
A NOVEL OF NEW YORK LIFE
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ILLUSTRATIONS Or PARKER

| during the past two yearS-changeS OF
habit, of thought and of outlook; the
entire family had found it necessary to
alter their system of living. But 1t
was in the girl that the changes
| showed most. When Mrs. Knight had
forecast an immediate success for her
daughter she had spoken with the wis
dom Of Cassandra. Moreover, she
| took naturally to the work, finding 1t
more like play; and, being quite free
from girlish timidity, she felt no stage
fright, even upon her first appearance.
Her recognition had followed quickly
it was impossible to hide such perfec-
| ton Of loneliness as hers-and the
publicity pleased her. In due course
rival managers began to make offers,
which Mrs. Knight, rising nobly to the
| first test of her business ability, used
as levers to raise her daughters salary
and to pry out Of Bergman a fiye-year
contract. The role of the Fairy Prin-
! cess was result.
Lorelei had arrived at the point
where further advancement depended
upon study and hard work; but, since
these formed no part of the family
program, she remained idle. Prof.
| cheney in stagecraft of any sort comes
only at the expense Of peonage, and
this girl was being groomed solely for
matrimony
| With the support of the family en-
tirely upon her shoulders, she had been
driven to many shifts in order to
stretch her salary to Hvable proper
tons. Peter was total burden, and
Jim either refused or was unable to
| contribute toward the common fund,
| while the mother devoted her time al
| most solely to managing Loreleis af-
! fairs. Presents were showered upon
the girl, and these Mrs. Knight con-
characters are always welcome at the
prominent cafes; hence Lorelei never
! had to pay for food or drink when
alone, and when escorted she received
commission on the money spent. She
was well paid for posing: advertise
ments Of toilet articles, face creams
dentifrices, yielded something. In the
commercial exploitation of her daugh-
ter Mrs. knight developed something
| like genius. But of all the so-called
| gratis" open to handsome girls in her
| business the quickest and best returns
came from prodigal entertainers like
Jarvis Harmon.
As Lorelei and her companion left
| their taxicabs and entered Proctor's
| hotel, shortly before midnight, they
were met by head waiter and shown
into an ornate ivory gold elevator,
which lifted them noiselessly to an up
per floor. They made their exit into
deep-carpeted hall, at the end of which
two splendid creatures in the panoply
of German field marshals stood guard
over one Of the smaller banquet rooms
Harmon himself greeted the girls
when they had surrendered their
wraps, and, after his Introduction to
Lorelei, engaged Lilas in earnest con-
yersation.
Lorelei watched him curiously. She
saw powerfully built gray-haired
man, whose vigor age had not i'm
paired. In face he was perhaps fifty
years old, in body he was much less.
He had bold, incisive manner that
was compelling and stamped him as a
big man in more ways than one. Play
fully he pinched Lilas' cheek, then
turned with smile to say:
you'll pardon us for whispering,
won't you, Miss Knight? You see, Ii
las got up this little party, and I've
been waiting to consult her about some
Of the details. Awfully good of you to
come. / hope you'll find my friends
agreeable and enjoy yourself"
Perhaps twenty men in evening
dress and as many deliberately gowned
| young women were gossiping and
smoking as the last corners appeared.
Someone raised vigorous complaint
at the hosts hardness, but Harmon
| laughed a rejoinder, then gave a sig
| nal, whereupon folding doors at the
| end Of the room were thrown back, and
those nearest the banquet hall moved
| toward it.
| Harmon was introducing two of his
friends-one languid, middle-aged
| LAdI, Lie OtuCl a ldISC-lcdluIcu pei sui
with rumbling voice. The former
dropped his cigarette and bowed cour-
teously. His appearance as he faced
Lorelei was prepossessing, and she
breathed thanksgiving as she took
his arm.
Harmon clapped the other gentle
man upon the shoulder, crying: Han
nibal, saw your supper partner flirt-
ing with Handsome Dam Avery. Bet
| ter find her quick"
Lorelei recognized the deep-voiced
man as Hannibal c. Wharton, one of
the dominant figures in the Steel syn
dictate; she knew him instantly from
his newspaper pictures. The man be-
side her however, was a stranger, and
she raised her eyes to his with some
curiosity. He was studying her with
manifest admiration, despite the fact
that his lean features were cast in a
sardonic mold.
st is pleasure to meet celebrity
like Won Miss KNIGHT - ba yp11rmI1rod