The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-07-22

the two girls entered the Enclosure and
found seats near the front.
Overhead the stars were shining nIEl
outside the Enclosure WAS the hum OF
city street traffic. The orchestra wns
unusually good. and Mildred found her
self strangely stirred when the vinlins
drifted into McDOwellA beautiful ia
n Wild Rose
The orchestra had played the melody
during their first meal In that Florida
hotel, and 1t brought back painful
memories OF her brief spell nf happi-
ness.
Then the title Of the play was fash
cd on the screen.
Lost and Found"
with the first picture came rcaliz-
Ing sense Of looking upon familiar
scenes. Surely, surely this was the
sunny south and the quaint streets
those of Jacksonville.
And the girl!
and cried out with surprise as she rec
ognized the lovely face of the heroine
as that Of the woman who had flown
to Roberts arms. So Roberts sweet
heart was an actress!
One scene after another flashed be-
fore her vision. melting into whole.
which brought her. trembling and in
credulous. to the moment when she
found herself gazing down the crooked
little street Of the tobacco shop.
Then she saw her own slender fig-
ure and white yelled face looking to-
ward the shop from which her hus-
band. Robert. was emerging. lighting
a cigarette. The entire scene was re-
peatcd. incident for incident. He toss
ed away the match. glanced up the
street. became eager. alert. tenderly
smiling. flung away his cigarette and
advanced with outstretched arms to
meet the heroine's graceful flying
form.
Robert in the moving picture! Why.
how had it happened?
All the way home she was asking
herself the question. and through the
darkness of her perplexity and doubt
came one ray Of light. During his
college days Robert had been one of
the college players and was consider
ed talented amateur actor.
II am glad he married the girl"
sighed Cora as they reached Mildred's
door.
"Yes." said Mildred absently. "but
he was married before that"
"who was married before?' asked
Cora. puzzled.
"why. Robert, of course"
"But there was no Robert. His
name was Arthur"
~ am stupid tonight" was MIL
dred's only explanation as she parted
from her friend.
The next day Mildred obtained leave
of absence and In her straightforward
way went directly to New York and
called at her husbands ONCE.
She was trembling like leaf when
she was shown into Roberts private
ONCE.
He stared at her as one looks at the
newly risen dead. His face was thin
and worn and his brown hair sprin-
Killed. with gray.
"Robertr' she said meekly and then
promptly tainted away. When she
opened her eyes she was lying on the
leather couch. and Robert was on his
knees bending over her. His eyes
were tender and anxious.
Can you ever forgive me?" was her
first cry.
"Yes. dearest" he said generously.
"But tell me what happened to send
you away from me that day? have
searched land and sea for you. and l
had given you up for dead when you
appeared before me-"
In a few broken sentences Mildred
told her husband of her surprise and
jealousy that day In Jacksonville and
how when she was assured of his per-
ddy she had taken train for the north
and disappeared. Then the motion pic
ture play on the screen had thrown a
ray of light on the matter.
Roberts explanation made that ray
brilliant light Of understanding
which cleared up the mystery which
had parted bride and groom for almost
year.
you remember told you always
acted In our college theatrtcals, ne re-
minded her. land many of my friends
had urged me to enter the profession:
But ] did not seriously consider 1t and
only now and then hankered to tread
the stage.
But that morning in Jacksonville I
started down to the tobacco shop with
only one thought in my mind-to get
back to you. As turned into the
street l met my old friend Of college
days. Jack Budlong. president of our
Players club. He was glad to see me
and tearing his hair insanely over the
fact that his star performer had come
down with the measles that very morn
ing
"Budlong fell upon me like a long
lost brother and pleaded with me to
take the part of the measled one. So
4 1tN o-1 xrhn0 rooohol Tho botcl