The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-09
NEWS EVENTS AND FEATuRES FOR WOMEN READERS

| " iSAA hN NObAA cP AAAA 5h AAAt AlWC this. shirley-just you and T." Burke's, tactful sister had engineered affairs so that the two of them should have the taxi to themselves. 'T wish we could go on--and on Here the taxi swung abruptly round corner and his head hit the roof,
 Miss Shirley laughed her clear. tlnk. ling laugh.
 All men in love were bound to be a little foolish. particularly when they reached Burke's agei
 He relapsed into wounded silence, the blow to his head, and nignity-an effectual stopper on loves eloquence.
 It was only when the party found it. self collected in a couple of boxes in the variety house he had selected for the evenings entertainment that Burke began to revive a little.
 The curtain rose on a special par Tor act" A gorgeously arrayed young woman in an equally gorgeous drawing room awaited the arrival of an alco- holic husband, that time-worn classic which always gets a laugh.
 But the moment that the injured lady came upon the stage, Haunting her grievance in low, beautifully modulated tones, Shirleys attention was com pletely held.
 For the injured lady was none other than Lucille!
 Yes. 1t was she. a younger. infinitely prettier Lucille, who trailed about the stage superbly gowned. But despite her beauty and her clothes and her attractive voice-she was an actress-even Shirley, with all her inexperience, could notice that Her acting was mechanical and suited. Half way through the act 1t seemed to Shirley as though Lucille's per formance went from bad to worse. Her gaze kept wandering toward a certain portion of the stalls, at the right-hand corner of the foremost rows. Shirley's eyes travelled toward this 1 spot as though she would try to read she stared in amazement and a quick 1 flush sprang to her forehead as she noticed a. handsome man in evening clothes seated in Row c. leaning back with weary, nonchalant air. as though | the whole performance bored him inex- 1 pressibly. It was Dalton!
 'He-he's come to see-Lucille!" | Shirley's heart was beating at a tre- mendous pace. This proves there must be something in her story, after aili" 1 She leaned little forward to get a better view
 Seen someone that you know?' Burke's voice sounded casually in her ear. Here let me lend you these" He thrust pair of opera glasses into her hand.
 She took the nstrument-mechan- ically.
 Then. pulling herself together, she gave a light, short laugh. It would never do to let Burke know the reason of her interest
 1 No one in the least important" She l smiled up at him coquettishly-thoug 1 a world of misery was weighing on her then turned her attention toward the ] stage.
 1 Yes, it was true Lucille was acting | for the benefit of Jim. With total disregard for the exigencies of her part" her gaze was necessarily fo- l cused on his corner. l He-on his side-wore an attitude of bored indifference. 1 When at last the curtain fell Jim 1 Dalton rose, as though he could stand | the stupid show no longer And then 1t was that Shirley noticed an attendant 1 advance toward him, whisper some- thing, and slip a note into his hand.
 "A message from Lucille, thought Shirley, miserably Hell go behind the scenes and see her now" 1 She could restrain her curiosity no ] longer, but--this time through levelled | opera glasses, scrutinized him. She could now see the queer, annoyed ex- pression on his face as he read the con- tents of the note.
 Then she saw him crush the paper in ant and depart.
 You're bored, Miss Shirley, aren't you? The showss not up to much" David Burke bent over the young girl solicitously. Suppose we all move on to a place where we can dance-and eat? It would at any rate be livelier than this"
 He turned and spoke word or two to his sister. The latter nodded in as- sent.
 And pretty soon the party found it.
 self in one of those hilarious. noisy spots which have recently become so much the mode in London. On the edge of a wide, highly poll ished floor whereon multitude of
 couples dipped and pirouetted, David | Burke found table to his liking and deposited his party there. The head waiter and his minions fluttered around him--for Burke was a man of means and ultra-generous with gratuities.
 Pierre, prepare something very spe- cial for us. Meantime, we're going to
 dance" Burke rose to his feet and
 very solid and determined-piloted Miss
 Shirley out into the centre of the sway
 ing, jazzing throng.
 In one corner of the hall a negro band
 immensely nervous and excited-was
 creating an extraordinary din, the inn plements of said band including every
 type of music maker from tin-pan
 to babys rattle.
 "A cheery little spot, eh, what?" said David Burke with jocularity And
 every one having a good time, too
 both young and old!" Shirley glanced round about her to verify the truth of this.
 Yes, certainly, it was true that young and old were merrily footing the light
 fantastic.
 Mothers and daughters wore the same , decollete frocks. amazingly abbre-
 viated at both ends and for the most
 part backless.
 Burke and she were dancing rhythmi-
 cally in the fox-trot- She determined to enjoy herself.
 The music came to an end on an ear , splitting crash, and Shirley paused fol
 breath
 But not one second had elapsed be.
 fore another negro band--tucked away , in another corner of the room, took UT [ the melody and merrlly carried on.' 7 "I see there's to be no cessation oi hostilities," panted David Burke. "oh
 the energy of you young creatures" Ht : beamed on Shirley. She was looking very sweet and love. lly. He appreciated that fact. What ar , adjunct she would be as wife.
 Yes. he must win her. He must leave ? no stone unturned to bring that happ! l state of things to pass
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