The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-11
Longer Does
She Hope, But No
Longer Doubts
RY MEMORY M,coRp.

she was a little woman With care
worn face, and the hand that held her
ticket showed traces of life -long work,
she was out OF place In the crowd.
Her slothes lacked the smartness > OF
many of the women entering the Lyric;
her manner. too, was humble-different
from that OF the business lady. the
modern girl or the society woman
And In the pack and jam Of the
crowd OF femininity visiting Alexan-
der's "lnonnn's only meeting" she was
iriendless and alone. She seemed TO
II the idea of running away predoini-
mated, but the doorman saved her by
ext acting her ticket and gently say
ing. Left aisle. please That fright
ened the little woman and she scurried
past like an old and weary rabbit who
had discovered a heretofore hidden trap,
inside the house was damned. Every
seat was taken, save the one she
slipped into, and far back to the exit,
standing room began to sell, The little
old woman trembled. Perhaps 1t had
been foolish TO come-the Is cents adj
mittance would have bought bread for
nearly two w~eeks-sttll-
What was 1t the program said-she
couldn't read 1t well because the light
was low. Never mind, the curtain was
going up anyway Was that tall, thin
mar the one? his clothes seemed very
odd to the little old woman, she could
count OH the fingers Of one hand her
visits to theaterE-once when she was
married, then again after Harold, the
little baby. had come; once again, too.
before he went away--and now.
Well, would IT do any good? Was
there anything he-the tall strange man
could do--could say-that would help
matters? Probably It was wicked to
come, anyway. Oh, but just TO know
that was all that she asked-just to be
sure-to reconcile herself to what must
be, She couldn't go on as 1t was -,
Alexander began his act. The old
woman listened to every word. drunk In
each bit Of advice. and carefully con.
sidered the crystal gazing IN the lower
box on the righthand side OF the stage
A woman laughed. She was a pretty
thing. a small brunette, gowned In
golden yellow, The little old woman
looked at her and smiled. The little
woman gazed wistfully wondering at
the expression Of belief and unbellef
written upon the faces.
Soon II was time for the picture MAX
ing. Names we're written upon slips by
members of the audience. These we're
collected and two from the pack Sc
Llected. Then from between two squares
OF clean little canvasses piacedytogether
some woman's mother, 1t grew all oil
itself,
The little old woman's eyes grew
bright. Patiently she waited she had
spent her ~money--those bits OF SILVER 80
sorely needed. Would they be entirely
wasted? -.
Tho second name was read and at US
reading two girls arose from n lower
| hox-and searched the faces Of the audi,
snce, The name called was Smith, y,
but, after spelling It aloud AleS S
sn1ytbe' he said, and his mother
wants to know II he is dead, Yes
lady, he was killed in France. Alexan-
der will make you a picture.
Sobn the outlines began to grow on
the canvass upon the stage. and the
nicture was removed and passed around
Later an usher took It over TO the niue
old lady. HugGing it to her breast, tot,-
petful OF everything else in the word,
| She left the theater, As she passed the
door. she smiled, but u wasa fara%ay
greeting TO someone beyond ana "e'
'@At last / know-l know"