The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-24
No. 20.


 Jane passed a night of miserable un- certainty and lf-cemmisseration. She realized that Holladay had shown him self to be a gentleman of resource as well as innate chivalry.
 And yet-in her own mind was doubt of every one with whom she had come in contact during the two strenu- ous days of her life in New York.
 As she disrobed. in the flickering light of the weak gas jet of her tiny bedroom, she looked more than once at her reflection in the cracked mirror of the ancient dresser.
 How old and ugly I look" she mur- mured to herself. as she brushed back the stray locks of dark hair with a hand which trembled despite her ada mantine will power "Tomorrow,I must face Mir Mortimer in his office and, after his seeing me with these horried people in that cabaret restaurant what will he think of me?'
 Jane carefully folded the new gown, which had come so near destruction in the surprising events of this curious l evening in the Bohemia of the great metropolis. As she hung it over the | back of the decrepit chair near her bed there being neither closet nor coat hooks-she sighed.
 | q wonder if 1t was mistake for me | to come to this mad whirlpool of life?' she asked herself. Tt seems as though | I have presumed too much upon the good nature of the fates. And yet ! if | had remained in Fernbank I should still be teaching the rule of three' to | tiny tots-subject to the whims Of the .~I 4tSn if1d nf n old women of the Pastors Aid society and should have been criticized for ] every thought and ideal of my own which did not correspond with theirs. Before she turned out the light Jane gazed tearfully at the small framed photograph of the little mother which | was the chief decoration of the dresser. l Mother, dear" she whispered on her knees, guide me and help me in these | bitter days. have never missed you so much as in the loneliness of this great l city where no one understands or | cares"
 | She bowed her head in silent prayer, and then in the darkness turned to the | little couch. As her fevered cheek touched the pillow Jane strove to drive | the memories of the disagreeable even | ing from her mind.
 | Yet it was impossible, strive as she would It had been such stirring, ai- most unbelievable day, and it seemed | that a century had passed.
 q wonder if I did wrong in accept ing an advance payment in money from MT Mortimer" she unused, as even in the darkness hot flush mount = | ed to her checks What must he think of me now--after seeing me in that
 wretched cabaret show? He will have no respect and will believe that l did not tell him the truth about having no 1 friends in New York"
 The tears trickled down her face, as
 she strove vainly to ease her anxiety in the blessed forgetfulness of sleep But again and again would come up the memory of H. Montague Mortimer
 smiling at her from the adjoining table
 of the restaurant, as she sprank 10 her feet In horror at the thought Of her new gown-bought with his money ruined. as she thought, by Billy Bruns drunken carelessnessi
 T wonder if any other girls nave run this miserable gamut during thelI first days in New York?" thought Jane of they had I would know that l was not unique and would feel that 1t wa'
 not entirely my fault"
 Jane tossed from side to side Of th'
 narrow bed, vainly trying to drive iron