The Washington times., 1916-01-23
CHAPTER I.
The New Star.

= came suddenly distinct as Mary
opened the door of her dress
ils room. "Old Gex." as they called
AiiHi' was on his usual dress rehearsal
IaHpaRe,' and she smiled at the sound
Sne picked her way lightly through
'he hetefogeneous mass of piled up
prOps TO the wings. for she knew IL
mieuht that things were going we'll and
InAt only one. or perhaps two PLAYERS
were out of focus in his stage picture.
Inc faucous voice. now vituperatiye.
now satirio in assumed pleading. came
IN tonal waves as the director stormed
up ana down the center aisle amid the
snadows, while on the stage the PLAYERS
themselves strove, with unconsciously
comic grimaces, to shield their eyes
sutncient!y to see over the farIng foot
HEnts as they listened to his TRADE.
rake that scene overt" he shouted at
Iast' Craig, begin your entrance cue
Now- And NOEA-where's NORA?"
MARY orew back with a little tremu-
US sigh of content, and layiny a,
ressing hand on the canvas battle
ehts OF towering castle. drew in a
SEP breath OF the conglomerate odors:
II was all so familiar so much a
art or her life! And yet 1t seemed
1iy Yesterday that she had stood I'm
uen the/ same fashion in the WINGS
laDbN ana unknown, her lips drv and
earsal -
1t had not, after all. been so very
lany years since that day. but they
ad been long ones full of dlslllusion-
lent and hard work Yet TO Mary
sOking back at them through the
lamour of their fruition they seemed
cry happy years leading up to the
appler present; for tonight the great
airing letters Of the electric sign would
moclalm to all the world that Mary
age .was-a STAR Not the star of a
econd-rate road troupe or stocl;
company. but a Broadway star in the
x,olusiVe Coylngton Theater. that
bor moment the players blurred be-
ore her eyes, and her lips Quivered
Hlth an emotion deeper than tears brt
ne sound of familiar phrase brought
bounded. and she gave last little
feminine twitch to her costume and
trtpped lightly out upon the stage.
bhe had forgotten that she had been
morning. the endless repetition of
9oene and act that had set every nerve
Sangiing slipped from her like dream,
ana she remembered only that she was
the drama she loved. And at the FIRST
sound of her voice, so bravely gay,
the tired players were suddenly galvan-
ICED into action. Some part Of her
own souls, and dropping shoulders were
lifted and dull eyes frightened. A new
note crept into the witty badinage of
the lines, and with sigh of relief the
director took out his huge silk hand
kerchief and. mopped his brow.
They've got it,! he muttered to the
two other men who stood, indistn-
Euishable shadows among shadows
She puts the punch into it all right"
And shuffling down the aisle he
climbed clumsily into one of the baxes
and sat down.
"Gex is right" mumbled the shorter
OF the two onlookers, rolling an un-
his we weak mouth. This | pIaY % is ''SS Soing
to get over big You mark my words.
Dave, she's in for a seasons run as
sure as my name is 10. II. Daniels.
Trt Ws picked 16 ro1afH Tinner al right and
from me, we're going to make a few
trust managers look sick with this
play. You wait-if you're from MIS-
souri,"
'oh, the play!" sneered his compan-
lon. ''The play is rot. It's Mary Page
that gets It over"
We'll. I'll grant you that too" ac-
quiesced Daniels in some haste, his
sure deliver the goods every time. You
didn't think l was trying to hand HER
anything, did your"
But David Pollock didn't answer. He
was leaning. over the seat In front.
staring at that gay little figure in it's
quaint costume, his eyes full of brood
ing tenderness, his ears alert not to
miss a single tone in that clear young
voice.
For to Pollock, Mary stood as the
srable. Her youth. her vivacity and
perhaps most of all the fiower-llke in
nocence OF her filled him with a tu-
nultuous desire to win her; to give her
the world for plaything il she wanted
II; to fin her little hands with riches
ana Jewels II they pleased her-bNt to
have her-for himself.
He watched her now, as she moved
toward the wings, in her girlish love-
liness. That head, crowned with a mass
OF golden hair-how well 1t was set
upon her shoulders, and how charming |
ly simple was the frock she wore. Mary !
lovely in anything. Her girl friends
used to say that II she threw on a lamp |
shade for hat 1t would become her. |
Her eyes, fringed with heavy dashes, !
were a deep blue, and looked candidly |
into ones own. But, young though she |
was, there was always a little wisttul- |
ness in her expression that added to |
her beauty. 1t was as II some far-ofI |
sorrow had never been forgotten. Da- |
vid wondered II she was really happy |
today.
Ostensibly a wine merchant PolIock's |
financial interests thrust their steely |
into hundred different en-
isaVors, not the smallest of which was
The theatrical world. His ever-groWfng |
wealth, his masterful virility, and his |
ability to be a good fellow" when he !
chose, marked him as big man, judged |
by the material standards OF New York, |
lnd Daniels was not the only satellite |
whose career depended upon his care
ess whim. II was a saying that what
Dave Pollock wanted he got and heav-
en- help the man that stood between; ,
but back OF his want of Mary hover |
I'd an intangible doubt and-when he |
@aH sober-the bigger question OF his !
Korthiness; and now rs he stood !
ing her the harsh lines OF his
! and chin sOftened and there was |
hfamiliar note in his voice as he
musingly:
wonder what she'll say when she |
I've backed her to the limit |
,,-~ bought her stardom for herr |
Has she asked about that side of it2" |
''No " said Daniels, little nervouslY. |
shes such a llttlo kic about some |
things she sort Of takes e all for |
granted, Rut see here. Dave, don't |
vou 90 tellin' her tp1Ny. Stars, the /
hest Of 'cm, are ternera mental as the |
ieuce. aTd she's worn out with rahears- |
BE- Trcr tho To",l's cot" don't let's |
have any tonrs tuI 'S.'~I- &C. over" !
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