Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-03-22

Lee watched her that night and he
saw that Fred's words were not over
drawn. She danced with the light
ness of a nymph; her trim foot and
ankle seemed hardly to touch the floor,
; and her song was startlingly clear and
sweet. Lee tried to pat himself.
Then came the Butterfly chorus, and
she did not go on. He found her stand
ing a little way in the wings, looking
very uncomfortable. "fou don't dance
this, Miss Reddon?'
The color came slowly into her face.
''No-I don't want to wear tights-wa
all over; but, if you say so, Latson
said you decided it, I will"
Lee watched the shifting forms Of
the girls on the stage, and something
rose in him that he had never felt be-
fore; he looked down into the uplifted
face Of the girl beside him and realized
that he did not want her to. mo, I
don't think it necessary" he said
quietly.
He saw the great relief on her face.
"Now, after the show, will you stop
with me in one Of my haunts?"
She looked up smilingly. II have
made it a practice to go straight home,
but I will, with you" And she was
gone.
1t was a happy hour they spent to-
gether in the secluded corner of the
restaurant where Lee made it his Gus
tom to linger after the plays. He
could hardly believe that the girl
whose gentle brown eyes looked so
winsomely and frankly into his was
the girl he had aided such a short time
before.
When they left the restaurant he
suggested a cab, and she added, with
q horse, not a motor" and SO they
were soon rolling away over the smooth
pavements.
"Miss ReddOn, there has been
wonderful change in you," he said al
most before he thought, his mind led
by the picture she made in the soft
dusk of the cab.
Her voice was tender with something
that stirred him.
eyes, know, and hoped there would
be. When a girl here in this big city
that isn't half SO bad as some paint
-because-because there are noble
men in it, but when she is lonesome for
a good friend, hungry-yes, hungry,
without a cent, and-and-is fighting
to save her-her self-respect, and some
one comes who asking nothing, gives
her opportunity and help, she has rea-
son to change" she said, turning her
face to the window.
So gently, SO gravely did she say it,
that for the moment Lee wondered if
there was hidden meaning that could
answer the question in his heart. For
his part, he knew he loved her-of that
he had come to know there was no
doubt.
81 do not dare to take what you say
as mine"
"But it is" she turned sharply.
He reached over and put one hand
on her slight gloved one. II have won
dered what it was. Dorothy"-he felt
her start-"that drew me to you that
first time; I had faith in you, some
thing in your face, your voSce-well,
you have made good and the future
is big before you, if you want to keep
on, but have been dreaming tonight,
wondering, if you would take another
position if I offered it,"
His voice wavered in spite of him.
self, and he paused, knowing that here
she could by silence or word give her
decision.
"What?" she asked so softly he could
hardly hear.
81 am hungry for home, and hun
cry for someone to care for me and
for whom I can care, that means love.
I can't offer you very much; Latson
says in time you will star-it is for
you to say" he said tensely.
ut is you want-not money or
fame, or anything else; something in
the very gentleness Of your eyes that
day when you saw I was-starving-
made me love you, and it has been
growing since, dear!"
When Lee, sometime later, turned
over the mail on his table he found
letter from Graves:
"Dear Billy enclose $780, I went
over one night to see, and there she
was-say, she's dream, and ought to
be in our show; bring her over"
Lee growled and threw the. letter
into the basket. Sitting down he wrote
an answer:
"Dear Graves-I am returning the
check; the bets off. She'll never star
for Won Shn'S going To NAV with me