The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-04
Eoening Story
Tinsel Is Gold.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE.
Morella De Lue was at home.


but there were high lights of color
where a gay silk petticoat burst thru
the swelling curtains of a corner clos
ct. or pink lingerie tumbled carelessly
out of a half-open drawer. The wide
couch that served as a bed by night
was heaped high with gorgeous pillows
and for the rest, there was Morella
herself, red-gold- hair endowed by ma
ture, seS-blue eyes set beneath
thoughtful brow; a large, sweet mouth
that always smiled-ofttime when it
wanted to droop with weariness-a
tiny mite of Morella, who could
dance like an elf on the brim of the
Magic Fountain, and who could sing
cheerily in the dull room as she sewed
spangles on gossa mer elfin wings that
she must wear that night.
Heavy footsteps sounded outside her
door, and she heard the plaintive voice
of her landlady.
"a gentleman to see you, Miss La
Rue-here's his card" The steps wan
dered away\and Morella snatched at
the bit of white pasteboard under the
door Andrew" she breathed soft
ly. Andrew Fenton-coming here to
see me. Morella, wake up. this is a
drcam-it's a joke-Nony Waite has
played a joke on you and is now gig
Cling in\the parlor downstairs. New
ertheless, she kissed the card and
tucked it away in her w0rkbasket. In
a moment she had changed the XII
mona for a little gray gown, twisted
her glorious hair into a semblance or
order and went demurely downstairs
to the grim parlor where Andrew rem
ton author of the musical show. The
Magic Fountain" was waiting to see
her-for Morella was the humblest
member of the dancing elves. Some
times Fenton had talked to her benlnd
the scenes, but this was the first tune
he had singled her out for marked at
tention.
Andrew Fenton' was a clever looking
man of thirty-five, with brilliant DARK
eyes and a fine mouth that smiled
down at Morella's astonishment IN
very kindly way.
'iIt's a glorious day, Miss DeLue,"
he said. you looked pale last night
my car is outside and I'm going to
take you out to the shore to see the
waves dancing in the sunshine-per-
haps you might learn some new steps.
but 1 believe you could teach the
waves to fly!"
angelic rnanr sighed Morella, twin
roses in her cheeks, feeling like saucy
Nony Waite.
Later, when the wheels of the
powerful machine crunched a sandy
shore and the fresh sound breeze had
whipped more color into Morellas
/, lovely little face. Fenton brought the
conversation around to the play.
Morella's part in it, and finally asked
her bluntly what she was doing in
New York anyway, all alone at her
age.
Born here" said Morella briefly.
But not bred here" smiled Fenton.
= ''Well-we did live in a little coun-
try town for years-then mother died
and father married again-well, I've
always longed for New York and
Broadway-isn't it wonderfuI?" she
sighed the sigh of the neophyte.
Fenton laughed. Dear child,
what is Broadway"
Broadway is New York, and New
York is Broadway-it is life" she
blazed defiance.
Poor child he pitied. New York
is display of fireworks-you are daz-
zled by it. What you call life is
well. three-quarters of the men and
women streaming in and out of the
folk dizzy with the lights and the
music and dancing-some day. often
too late. they wake up"
Morella was a little frightened. In
spite of her bravado she had grown
to fear the merciless city.
"But am part of New York" she
protested at last. 'I help to make it
gay with my dancing-of course I
know 1 am only bit of the tinsel of
life" all the fresh-color drained
from her face. 81 hope you will par
don me-but I read in the paper the
other day of your engagement" her
voice became hating. She is very
beautiful
yes"
longer engaged. and" he bit his
lip viciously and Morella saw that the
memory of the other girl hurt him.
81 am sorry" she said, and tried to
talk of other things, but her voice
failed. She could not help thinking of
the girl he loved-a girl who was pure
gold and not tinsel of the stage That
night as she dressed for the last scene
she hated the glitteTing elfin dress
creature of the hot lights of Broad
way. Once LONE one asked her if she
felt ill.,, but che shook her head and
eyed. beautiful until the curtain rang
down, when suddenly she became a
weary, draggled elf-the last to leave
the dressing room.
Then, as she was leaving. a sweet
feminine voice drew her back again.
The great empty space behind the
stage was vacant. with here and there
a dim light burr3ng in a wire cage
and Morello- gasped as she recognized
the charxniny girl in a rich evening
coat who had an elusive air be-
longing to the gold of life.
It was Andrew PENSIONS Mis- var |.
Il couldn't find a messenge - she
said plaintively, land 1 wonde' IL yor
will be kind enough to find out If -.
Fenton is here-and take a messa GO"
Morella was quite pale ssfs@ vas
wearing the little gray DIRE - AM, Aet
and her hair was knotted &c on nar
neck. II shall be glad to ta.se Z. mes
sage" she said slowly, for she was
afraid. q
Thank you" said Miss Ware. and
now, please tell him that Miss Ware
will be waiting for him in the lobby
and that she will drive him hcme-he
will Stand-tell m At.e will wait
only five minutes" the eT.eet voice
broke little. and IS sia- b-ned away
Morella saw a triu71phan; carl Of the
naughty lips.
"She looks unkind'' q ought Mo-
rella. speeding o. Ter Grand then she
suddenly leaned against the wall and
cried a little She - mid q rnldi