The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-04

lila VI III lcT dressing room at the
Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, Lon
don. She was alone with her thoughts
and they were both serious and pleas
ant, If the play on her mobile features
could be taken as a criterion. She was
summing up her eventful career from
the time when but a child of eight,
cold ragged and hungry, she had been
found on the Desmond Quay in Dub
lin by an actress who undertook her
professional education, to the present
moment, when, as the reigping actress
OF the British capital, she had the
world at her feet. She was supreme
In tragedy and captivating in comedy
and in private life brilliant as a con-
Versatlonalist, with a Wit as keen as
it was delightful.
And the reflection her glass threw
back was one Of rare beauty. An
oval face crowned by tresses which
equalled the ebon Of the ravens
plumage, lustrous eyes in which the
emotions constantly played and a
Po1se that nothing apparently could
disturb. Yet there was a curious ex-
preston on her handsome features, a
look which she had never before wit
messed. For Peg Wellington, for the
first time in her life, was in love.
She had many admirers and quite a
few firtations, but they had all been
ephemeral as Peg Wellington could
quickly detect idle flattery and the
sycophancies Of the jeunesse doree
which hung about her shrine. She
was a woman of the world, keen, sus-
picious and cynical and while she
toyed with her gallants, her heart and
soul were in her work. But one even
ing she noticed in a box, a face new
to the theatre. He was a man evident
IL from the provinces, but he gazed at
her with undisguised admiration.
Night after night he was at his post,
listening attentively to every word
she spoke and with an unmistaka BILE
air of respect.
She waited, thinking like all the
others, he would seek an interview
but as time went on and he made no
attempt to bring about an acquaint-
ance, Pegs curiosity was piqued and
by guarded inquiries she learned that
he was Ernest Vano, a country gentle
man Of means and reputed a bachelor
One night however, Mr.. Vane was
| brought to the green room by Sir
Charles Pomander, man about town
who had long but unsuccessfully
sought to win Pegs favor Miss Wof
! flngton was not in the room when Mr.
Vane first arrived. He quickly adapt
ed himself to the novel surroundings
and launched into a eulogy of Peg :
personal charms and histrionic ability
During Mr.. Vane's remarks PEG
| had entered the room and overheard
her praises SO eloquently sung and
knowing that Mr.. Vane was unaware
of her presence, she was impressed
with his sincerity. Then they were in
trCduced and Mr.. Vane was almost
| speechless with admiration. All that
! his imagination had painted. was more
than realized. Her beauty, her intelli
Gence, her graciousness-were over
towering and Mr.. Vane, in his embar
rassment, could only stammer a few
commonplaces. Here indeed was g
novelty and her curiosity turned to in
| terest.
She was still cautious and wouIc
treat her new found friend with vary
| ing moods, sometimes cordial anC
then again coldly, but all the while
she was learning more and more O.
the man who had come into her life.
As she stood before her mirror, she
was awaiting the arrival of Mr.. Vane
They had become warm friends, mnCl
more, on the part of Mr.. Eane, who
had openly declared his love and hat
sent her many tokens Of his affection
which Peg had accepted but with he
peculiar whim she had declined any
thing save some inexpensive gift, tell
ing her lover that it was the senti
ment which she desired not the in
trinsic value of the present. She hat
decided to reveal to Mr.. Vane tina
she, in turn loved him but the old
suspicious feeling would not leav,
her.
When they we're alone together Pc:
placed her hands on Vanes shoulder
and gazing fiXedly into his eyes said
Ernest, we actresses make goo,
the old proverb many lovers few
friends but no one outside our circl
knows how much We need friend
VIII you be one to me-"
And Ernest promised faithfully tina
he would while life remained
Then she gave herself up to the in
toxication of the moment. With al
her adulation Peg was lonely Their
had been no one to whom she coult
so and open her heart with a sens
Of security and when Nane poure'
into her willing ear his avowals O
undying love and devotion, Peg
hungry soul drank in his words as TIL
thirsty earth absorbs refreshing show
ers. She was Supremacy happy, NOR
so than she had ever dared to be an,
the thought almost frightened her a
she built dreams for bright future
Sir Charles Pomander did not at al
relish the turn affairs had taken. H
had planned many schemes to vii
Pegs affection and when he witnesse
the triumph of one he regarded as
| rank outsider his love turned to hate
; He endeavored insidiously to poiso
Vane's mind with stories of Peg Wo1
fington's past life and on one occs
ision he was nearly successful. Jane