New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-26
Why Robert Savarin Said ''1he Dear
Plucky Child!'


Plucky Child!'
Who is this?' Robert Savarin
asked the question tritie sharply.
He was standing by the mantel in the
living room after Katie had cleared
away the luncheon we had enjoyed by
the fire, and had just picked up
photograph of Lillian Underwood
which she had given me once when l
begged her for it,
1t was a photograph of Lillian as
she appeared before her hair had
turned gray from grief and worry, and
she resorted to rouge and hair dye at
Harry Underwoods behest. 1t showed
her steadfast eyes, her soft, abundant
hair, and her beautiful, clear-cut
features as they had appeared in the
days that were past.
When I had first caught sight of it
] had felt that here was the real
Lillian Underwood, for 1 had always
detested the mask of rouge she had
formerly worn. And when she gave
me the photograph 1 kept it always in
the place Of honor on the mantel
THAT is Mrs. Underwood, my dear
est friend,' l returned quietly, but my
heart was beating wildly with excite
ment. Lillian had told me of her
early romantic alteration for this man
who had given her the chance TO pur-
sue her art studies, and who, accord
ing to her account, hardly knew. she
existed save as a recipient OF his Kind
ness. But his question made me Won
der if he might not have admired his
little protege in that long ago time.
He studied the picture.
What was her name before her
MARRIAGE" he asked at last.
Lillian Gale" I replied, and was
gratitied to see sudden flush mount
to his forehead.
Lillian Gale" he repeated slowly,
almost dreami1y, and then after mo-
ment's pause, 81 thought 1 recognized
the face, although it is older, more
serious than that of the girl l knew
years ago.
He studied the picture carefully,
then looked up abruptly.
you say she is a friend Of yours?
Then shall l have the pleasure of see
ing her once more?"
"Oh, yes" I returned, and 1 could
not keep tremor of excitement out
of my voice. She's coming out here
tomorrow, and has asked us if she
may entertain for you while you are
here"
Into his eyes there flashed the CLEAN
Of some strong emotion. His voice
was tense as he repeated my words.
ENTERTAIN for mel" he said slowly.
1 saw that the man was sincere in
his modesty. His voice held real
establishment that his little protege
should have kept him in her memory.
But T read more than surprise in his
thing deeper, yet more elusive, echoed
in his tones.
Indeed she remem berS you very
WE'LL I said warmly, and I did not
feel that I was betraying any conf
dence of Lillian's in making the asser-
ton. Il have often heard her speak
of your kindness to her when she was
struggling to become an artist. She
says it was your help and encourage
ment alone that enabled her to realize
her ambitions
Robert Savarin's face is as trans
parent as that of a child. At my
words there crept into it a slow
flush, suffusing it's paleness.
And she remembered that all these
years." he said.
I could hardly hear the words they
were uttered in so low a tone. I real
dressed to me, but to his own inner
consciousness, and l waited until he
should emerge from the dreamy
reverie into which my words had sent
him.
When he did come BACK to himself
his words startled me.
''She did not realize her ambitions
then % he asked,
For a moment I looked at him in
amazement Was it possible that Lii
lian's long series Of professional tri-
umphs which had made her famous
as an illustrator and a coiner of ad-
vertising jingles meant nothing to him
that he held the view that work
| such as hers was only pot boiling?
And then the truth flashed upon me.
He knew nothing of her triumphs,
! had never heard Of them. His martial
! tragedy which had dealt the final
! crushing blow to his delicate nervous
| organization, already strained by years
, of struggle with world slow to com =
! prehend his genius, had occurred be-
| fore Lillian came back from Paris.