The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-21
CHAPTER III.
The Letter

+ afre.
MY Dear Elsie: This 10 &c
promise you, without condition OF
reservation. that you shall come to
me next fall.
I'm sorry 10 put you off even
so long as that. but Il can't be
helped. II l don't sign with Mr
Brauer--and | shan't except as a
last resort may be idle weeks OF
months. and Il would be madness
to increase expenses just now.
Read over my recent letters
dear child. n you've kept them. I've
explained the situation as clearly
"a could.
You say II aeems strange that
I've never sent for you in all these
years. and that I've been home 10
see you so seldom. II In strange
and dreadful. Thirteen years.
and those brief. hurried. worried
visits count for 40 little, Nothing
can ever make up 10 me for those
lost years. Nothingi But Il has all
been for your sake. Elsie. You be
lloye that. don't your
Aunt Phoebe has told you how
II was when your father diedr How
was only A. young girl. without
money or resources or training. and
not a relative In tho world | could
turn 10 but her-poor soul7
didn't care abou, the stage then.
All knew OF II was what I'd learn.
cd with your father. and that
But never mind. went 20 acting
as I'd have gone 10 sewing or type
writing II I'd known how-for the
money | could earn.
But couldn't get decent engage.
ments out West. We were horribly.
hideously poor. AZ last. In sheer
desperation. decided 10 come East
IL wasn't ambition that iured me. II
was Just plain poverty and the need
20 get where work could be had.
Il couldn't take YOU with me.
You see that for YOURSELF ! had 20
count every penny. foresaw every
kind OF hardship and privAtion. And
with Aunt Phoebe. you would At
least have enough 10 eat and a clean
bed 10 sleep in.
so came away. That frs, sea
SON. Some day. when you're older.
will tell you about H. And for
two or three years II was almost as
bad as that managed 20 keep
bread In our mouths. but that was
the best ! could do. To pay my fare
home for a visit. or yours 10 come
TO me--iust 10 find money for the
bare tickets-why. II wasn't to be
dreamed OF,
Since then. since I've begun 10
get n foothold here. perhaps
should have managed differently.
don't mean that ! should have
visited you oftencr or longer. for
that couldn't do. Winter salaries
wouldn't carry us thru the year.
had TO work summers. too. and I
had 10 be here 20 get my engage
ments, as well as 10 fill them.
"Oh. dare say I'm 10 blame for
not being able TO say 10 you. Come
this minute | should have con-
trived 10 earn more and save more.
I have tried. but-well. ! suppose
we've all been n little extravagant
However. now there viii be no more
payments on the house. we shan't
be so cramped and worried. and this
summer I'm going to be shamefully
stingy, so that. next fall. when you
come"
Anne stopped abruptly. and re.
read those last words. Next fall,
when you come'-the certainty and
definiteness OF them. set down in
black and white. sent an electric
shock OF delight tingling over her.
Elsie was coming,
The rest OF the letter was a
breathless mixture OF plans and re-
ioicines. written ut top speed, and
sprinkled with the funny, tender
little nicknames she was wont 10
use so freely.
Good news greeted her at the
theatre next morning. Brauer had
gone TO Chicago for a week This
gave Anne the few days she longed
for before signing his contract.
She spent every moment she could
snatch from rehearsals In New
York. but TO no avail
On her return from the third
fruitless Journey to New York.
Anne was welcomed with the intel
ligence that Brauer was expected
back the next day.
Anne went to her dressing-room.
Minna found her more perplexing
than ever that night
Never mind doing my hair over.
Just put some more pins in II and
let II 60" she said
She had finished dressing. when
there came a knock at the door.
"Well?" she snapped.
The door opened a crack, and old
Mr. Finlas put his head In.
Excuse me. Miss Houghton. but
I thought perhaps you'd like to
know that Mr.. Inslee is in front"
Thanks Yes. am glad TO
know" Anne was on her feet In
stantly. THAT lace gown. Minna!
Quick' I'll change" And almost
before the door closed she was
tearing off the dress she had Just
put on.
After It was over she threw her
self into a chair In her dressing
room Her mood of exultation had
departed as suddenly as II came.
mot yet. rlease," she said. wear.
lily, TO Minna. Let me get my
breath back before | change"