The Washington times., 1920-08-22

managers wanted to offer to stage productions for
me- Il going home before you SAIL he said and
want you and your mother to be my guests in London
ono indeed " replied. 1--WE will have but thou
sand dollars when arrive, as am getting many
new gowns made and will need every dollar Of this
see through the time Of rehearsa looking about for
acceptable contracts We cannot afford to be guests of
any one" well" he said "you must let me take you
around Bit anyway
We him off at the pier His last words were, "I
be your host anywayf not for all the time, most
of the time
When we arrived we met by Mr.. Hope. He was
so glad to he really beamed. He held my hand
long time when he greeted me. He said must
with him to the Savoy, because he going to insist
upon our having dinner with him there that evening
Mother and looked at each other. The Savoy was one
of the most expensive hotels in London We could not
afford to stay there very long, but mother thought it
would be nice for to stop there for day two until
we had found cheaper hotel
That night when ushered into the dining
VIC found that whole end of the big had been
ropcd off with silver ropes and that behind 1t table
set for threedecorsted so avshy almost gasped Lon
don knew had arrived and before the dinner well
under way the word got out that May Yohe dinner
in the Savoy dining room, Soon there was regular
parade of London Johnnios sticks silk hats evening
clothes and Inverness capes, marching along the silver
ropes in endless procession.
was almost hypnotized by the novelty of it when the
parade began. / didn t know what it meant until Mr..
Hope explained that the London Johnnie eStah-
lished institution and that this its customary reccp-
ton to idol 1t meant, he said that already
cnthroned in the heart of London and that would have
trouble in securing advantageous contracts.
The next day Mr.. Hope went about with while
looked for cheaper hotel He asked if he might not
be with me when received the London theatrical
ayers, who already showering down upon
quests for interviews 1t when he made this request
that he said thing which set my little heart a-buzzng
"You know, Miss May, am hoping awfuy that you
going to let me have lot TO do with your afairspcr-
haps have the interest in them that you have"
II took my breath away. ] looked at him quickly.
lie just smiling, strange, whimsical sort Of smile,
but there a very earnest light shining in his eyes
why" said to myself, "ths is really proposal
of clearing the decks for the direct question little
lattr He's just giving warning, with English
mans spcrsmanship, so may throw him aside if de-
eide not to welcome him further"
When got my breath and could trust my voice just
said. That will be very nice, Mr.. IIope-l'm sure
He took my hand, gave little squeeze and said in
matter Of fact way, just if he were making casual
arrangement for tea something like that, "Then it
all settled I'm terribly glad
We didn't get away from the Savoy that day. and that
evening Mr.. Hope visited us in suite There was
big fireplace in the drawing ROOM and We mother and he
and J. grouped in front Of this fireplace talking
the different shows in London, Of which had
on this side and discussing the hundreds Of letters that