The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-01-11
my LADY INCOGNITO
BY MILDRED M. sAsTloN.



Syndicate.)
Jack Perry and Miriam Shelby had
grown up together in the little South.
ern town as playmates. On the day
when Jack had been sent North to at
tend school, and later college, it had
been sad and to-be-remembered
parting. For carving their initials on
tree in the old garden where they
had spent so many happy hours, Jack
made solemn promise to, some day
in the near future, return and marry
Miriam. Neither ever forgot that
promise.
In New York, several years later,
Jack Perry graduated from college
with honors, and therein began his ca
reer, from which social affairs were
not barred. While guest at a week
eud party he met the Only Girl. She
was young and beautiful actress OF
Southern birth, who had recently come
North seeking fame and fortune. She
Immediately acquired both. AS soon as
Jack saw her he fell in love with her.
But not once did he forget his prom
Use to Miriam whom he had not seen
since his sad parting with her, and OF
whom he remembered nothing except
that she had always been pretty,
agreeable child. Then came one day
when he asked vivacious little Marion
Stevens, the actress, to become his
wife, and she accepted. A little later,
in happy burst of confidence he told
her of his mad promise to his child
hood sweetheart But he FASTENED to
explain that said promise could not In
any way bind him to Miriam. and that
he could easily fix it up with her and
she would understand it all perfectly.
He gave a self-assured laugh as he
said this last But Miss Stevens pref
ty face darkened with displeasure as
she listened to Jack. Then she pro-
ceeded to give him her candid opinion
of his actions, which opinion was in
deed unflattering.
She finished her scolding by telling
him to go back Immediately to the
girl to whom he had given first choice
of his heart Jack demonstrated, but
she refused to listen and at last he
grumbllngly obeyed.
Thus it was that week later found
Jack en- route for the South, Miss
Stevens having left for parts unknown
a few days before. Manlike he tried
to comfort himself by the thought that
Miriam, his first choice, might still be
very attractive, and might not regret
that choice. But somehow he could
not rid himself of the picture of Mar
ion Stevens with her wealth Of golden
hair and her large blue eyes. That be-
witching picture continued to linger
in his young heart. 1t was with sigh
that he descended at length to the
platform Of the dusty little station IN
his home town and looked about for
Miriam and some sort of conveyance.
He expected to see graceful, flower
like creature glide out into the sun
shine to greet him. He gave start
of surprise when he saw instead the
stately old two-horse carriage, driven
by an old darkey. On the back seat
of the conveyance he saw small,
prim, old-fashioned girl. She wore a
plain gray dress and her shoes were
broad of toe and low Of heel. On the
top of her yellow hair, which was
parted in the middle and drawn tight
ly back from her forhead in one long,
yellow braid was perched small, lu-
dIcrous hat. Her features, especially
her eyes, were disfigured by large dark
glasses. Instinctively Jack knew this
was Miriam, and his heart sank.
One day, thinking to draw her out
of her shell of cold reserve, Jack Of
fered to take Miriam for ride In the
one automobile that the town pos
sessed. They were speeding along out
side of the town when Jack, for the
first time heard his companion in
dulge in long, silvery laugh. Startled,
he looked at her. meanwhile forgetting
to steer in his surprise. He drove the
car straight into the foot Of tree, the
impact knocking them both from, the
car, badly shaken but unhurt. Jack re-
gained his feet first and crossed to his
companion to help her but she was
safe and sound; In fact, she was sit
ting on the ground, her body shaking
with uncomfortable laughter. Jack
simply stared ut the change that had
taken place in her, for her disfiguring
glasses had follen off, showing her
frank blue eyes to an advantage, and
her loosened hair had fallen about her
shoulders in cascade Of golden rip
pies. Jack recognized in Miriam the
girl who was known in New York as
Marion Stevens, and cried out her
name. But the girl on the ground
shook her pretty head, saying: "No;
here I'm just plain Miriam Shelby, al
though was known by that other
name up North. You see" she said,
rising and coming toward him, "when
I was of age, I attended n school Of
dramatic art, and later, with a recon-
mendation Of past successes In hack
of me, / started out seeking more
fame, and met you. ] recognized you
Immediately, though you didn't remem-