The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-12-09

tatiou to attend one OF the open MIR
moving picture thenters.
Mildred rather liked the silent dra.
ma. 70. clad In dainty white gowns.
the two girls entered tho Enclosure and
found seats near the front.
Overhead the stars were shining. and
outside the Enclosure was the hum OF
etty street traf1c. The oechsstSa was
unusually good, and Mildred found her.
self strangely stirred when the rioilns
drifted into McDowell's beautiful ITO
q Wild Rose"
The orchestra had played the melody
during their nrst meal In that Florida
hotel, and It brought back painful
memories of her brief spell Of happi-
ness
Then the title Of the play was fash
ed ON the screen.
"Iost and Found"
with the first picture came q realis-
Ing sense Of looking upon familiar
scenes. Surely. surely this was tho
sunny south and the quaint streets
those of Jacksonville.
And the girl!
Mildred almost arose from her seat
and cried out with surprise ~ she rec
ognixed the lovely face Of the heroine
as that of the woman who had hown
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
q cigarette. The entire scene was re
peated, Incident for incident. He toss
ed away the match. glanced up the
street, became eager, alert. tenderiy
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 1t happened
All the way home she was asking
herself the question. and through tho
darkness of her perplexity and doubt
came one ray Of Hight. During his
college days Robert had been one OF
the college players and was consider
ed talented amateur actor.
81 am glad be married the girl.
sighed Cora as they reached Mildred's
door.
YES" said Mildred absently. "but
he was married before that"
"who was married beforer' asked
Cora. puzzled.
"why, Robert. Of course"
.But there was NO Robert. His
name was Arthur"
~ am stupid tonight" was NIL
dred's only explanation ~ 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 q 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 bis brown hair spfin-
killed. with gray.
"R6bertr' 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 meT' was her
first cry.
"Yes. dearest" he said generously.
But tell me what happened to send
you away from me that dayi have
searched land and sea for you. and I
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-
Hdy she had taken train for the north
and disappeared. Then the motion pic
ture play on the screen bad thrown .
ray of.light on the matter.
Roberts explanation made that ray
a brilliant light Of understanding
which cleared up the mystery which
had parted bride and groom for almost
a year.
"You remember told you I always
acted in our college theatricals," be re-
minded her. land many Of my friends
had urged me to enter the profession.
But did not seriously consider It and
only now and then hankered to tread
the stage.
But that morning in Jackson Vile
started down to the tobacco shop with
only one thought in my mind-to get
back to you. Az l turned Into the
street I met my old friend Of college
days. Jack Budiong. 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