Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-22
CHAPTER VI. (Continued.)

did you hurt you?' he was asking
with tender interest. Poor lii boy
did you hurt you?"
The stranger, completely won, dis
played scraped shin. His tears were
dried by the time he went on to his
tenement in the next block. When
Billy came hitching up the steps to tell
Toto of the narrowing accident, she
caught him to her with quick inten'
sity: but there was nothing strange
to Billy in that Toto always loved
him.
Mr.. Harper Lindsley's will, publish
ed few days later, contained no men
ton Of Sabra. Mrs. Gage was dis
tressed at the news; her old fighting
courage seemed to be waning. 1t was
Sabra who was calm and resourceful.
Il dare say it will turn out best for
me this way" she declared. Every
thing that happens to me turns out for
the best 1t is only two days now to
Ralston's play, and that may change
the whole family status. / will not
make any move till after the first
night. I don't even want to think OF
It. We must all be full of encourag-
ing and Strengthening thought for Raj.
ston."
Mrs. Gage tried not to sigh. IF it
viii only succeed she murmured,
3 hand at her forehead.
The same cry was in Chloe's heart
night and day: IF it will only sue.
ceed!" She was not concerned now for
the family fortunes; she wanted to
look Donald Cartaret in the eyes and
see him acknowledge that his cruel
estimate Of them was false.
I'VE may graft, but we don't know
five aren't leeches!" she told him
Win qufvering attempt at lightness
a. she made ready for the theater on
the great night
The weather was still sultry, for
though the first Monday in September
was too early for the sort Of audience
Ralston wanted, some difficulty about
theater dates had obliged him to take
that. The play had been given hasty
trial ont of town and Ralston had come
hack. strained, preoccupied, too ner-
vous to be asked questions.
"WeI enough-as well as you could
expect with that class of audience"
was all he would say. They had scarce
~ seen him since, and he would not
share their box, preferring to Turk
somewhere in the upper galleries.
Chloe, as she took her seat, caught a
glimpse of his white face high up
above them, and the appalling serious
ness of the occasion fell sickishly on
a brave attempt at good spirits. She
had looked forward to the first night
as festivity, a glorified party, bril-
liant with applause, but the chill de-
preston that settled down on her
made it seem more like an operation.
The play had been widely advertised
and the house was full. In a seat well
to the front she saw Mrs. Cartaret, and
tried to smile at her. but the lovely
lady, very pale and still in her rich
clothes, would not life her eyes. Pres
entity Donald Cartaret came in, but did
not join her, apparently preferring to
stand at the back. Old friends or ad-
mirers of Serene Gage paused at the
box to say friendly word, and Mrs.
Gage grew happy and animated under
the stimulus. In spite of herself,
Chloe watched for Alex, but though
she soon discovered Uncle Harry and
his family, Alex vas not with them.
Afraid he'd have to admit he was
n the wrong" Chloe muttered, to keep
up her spirit. Then, when the lights
darkened, a craven and illogical long
ing for him swept drowningly over
her. If he'd just help me through
then Fd hate him as much as ever"
she stammered to her shaken self as
three 0minous bronze notes announc-
ed the rising Of the curtain.
Two Chioes were present that be-
vfldering evening. One heard good
applause, but the other said, "They
always clap on first nights One saw
intent listening, the other cried that
they were bored. One heard on the
stage fluent and emotional speeches,
the other was tortured by faltering,
fumbled lines, and shrieked, Go on,
70 on-oh, don't drag sol" at every
significant pause. One said, ut is go
lng weil!" but the other cast over ev-
efy scene the cold blight of failure.
That Is morbid" Chloe scolded her
larker self. Mother and Sabra don't
ieei it-See how calm and pleased they
-. People are not meant to laugh
) mint comedy. They were all quiet
md interested and there were two cur
taih calls. It's success! Rawly has
Bucceeded!" The only response was a
stifed groan. She felt pilloried up
there in the box, mark for plying or
gcornful chances. If only the miser-
able failure would end and let them
crawl home!
Friends stopped them on the way
out. shaking their hands and making
vague, kind remarks. Chloe strained
to get away from them, but her moth
er would linger and talk. The trip
home in the bright, crowded car pro-
longed the general dreadfulness; phys
ical distortion and drunkenness and
coarse joy were there, pressing close
upon shrinking nerves. It seemed
very long before they escaped into
the quiet darkness of their own street.
well, they certainly listened Well
said Mrs. Gage, taking out her latch
key. Her voice was rich with con-
tent. ut wasn't an ovation, but it was
a good performance and good, solid
success. Don't you think SO, girls?"
Sabra answered without enthusi-
asm, yet with reasonable assurance.
Yes; I think it ought to go very well
for hfst play Parts of it, of
course, gre better than others: but