Gilpin observer., 1919-01-02
CUPlD'S DAYDREAM.
sy MARY ). HAYES.

PUBIC lie, Wneu ueE uuty 10 WIN nc'
husband and baby?" Numbered Mr.
Merrill as he threw his paper aside
and jumped up from the Morris chair
"But, Alec" his wife pleaded, "Tm
Just tired of this dingy little place. and
baby is whining all the time. Mr.
Cardi has made arrangements for my
frst appearance on next Tuesday eve
ming. Mother Is coming over In the
morning to take baby, and shall man.
age to get into the city before dinner
and rehearse with Mr.. Cardi In the
afternoon"
my dear girl, you are making
blind mistake in needing this mans
advice. You will be sor-"
ut Is useless" interrupted Marie.
'for you to try to alter my plans. for
when my mind is set mean to carry
1t out"
Alec crossed the room and stood In
front Of the French window. The lnoon
lit up his face as he glanced out upon
his acres Of golden wheat and corn.
$50 Mr. Cardi has succeeded nt
last" he was thinking. "Yes, his o'<n
little innocent Marie had been per.
suaded by this miserable wretch" All
his happiness was to be ruined, his
little cottage. all his newly found joys
and comforts of farm life, and baby
what was to become of him? He would
grow up without a mothers love and
care.
At length he turned toward where
his wife had been standing, but she
was not there. Shutting Off the light.
he went upstairs. AS he passed her
door he stopped. Perhaps at this very
moment she was packing. Would he
knock? No, he mustn't. He would let
her carry out her plans. as she said.
and perhaps some day she would real
ize her fault and come back to him.
The next evening found Marie in
handsome chamber In one of the most
fashionable hotels of the city. She was
thinking over the events of the day.
She had met and rehearsed with Pro-
fessor Cardi as had been arranged,
and he had told her of the remarkable
talent she possessed. Never before
had she realized 1t. As she sat gazing
at all the luxuries about her she ac-
knowledged to herself how wrong she
had been in partaking of such things
that were all so unnatural to her; but
her heart, swelling with pride. re-
belled against these thoughts.
Every morning for nearly week
she spent with dressmaker. Her
afternoons were given for rehearsals.
and In the evenings she Joined Mr.
Cardi In theater parties and dances
The night before her performance she
retired early. These new excitements
were all too much for her. and she lay
awake thinking of baby and Alec, and
how she longed to be with them now.
The next morning she arose earlier
than usual. having spent a restless
night. AS she stood before the long
mirror, and the dressmaker's skilled
fingers worked busily with her cos
tune, she longed for her bungalow
apron and heaved n sigh of relief when
the garment was finished and care
fully tucked In her wardrobe. That
afternoon she spent rehearsing. and at
dined with Mr.. Cardi. Seven o'clock
found her very much excited and nerv
ous. Later in the evening Mr.. Cardi
called to accompany her to the the
ater.
She came upon the stage. her eyes
beaming with success, but with All
aching pain tugging Mt her heart. "If
Alec could only see now. how proud
he would be Of her." she consoled her
self.
The orchestra sounded the chord. and
Marie. forgetting her troubles, begnn
her selection. Her loud voice rang out
clearly and sweetly and won the hearts
OF her audience. The applause with
which her first selection WAS greeted
delighted Marie. and In the height Of
her success. she reached for tele-
gram. which n messenger boy slipped
into her hand. and in an audible wills.
per. she read. "bnby died this morn.
Ing. Alec" The audience looked from
one to another In amazement. and Ma.
rie fell back In dead faint.
Grandma Merrill. hearing the ioud
noise on the piazza. dropped the sauce
pan or potntoes that she was pnring.
and rushed out to the front door. only
to hnd Marie rubbing her eyes with
one hand. and shielding the bump on
her forehead with the other.
-. and II was only a dream after
ALL" Marie was saying. as Alec M.
peared on the scene few minutes
later. Just then baby began to CRY.
and Marie was spared the humiliation
OF explaining the drenm. while all nt.
tention was turned TO Alec, Jr.
Copyright. 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndlcate)