The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-10
NEWS EVENTS AND FEATURES FOR WOMEN READER

roses and gardenias. | Heavens, what a glorious lover he | had beenl
 Tears sprang to Lucille's fine eyes. | What torturing, poignant thing was memory!
 She had loved him very truly-and love dies ardl-enduring even through l disillusionment and when all respect is gone.
 But the little finger of man like David Burke is worth the whole of Daltoni" said Lucille with sudden fierceness.
 He had been very kind to her on the unfortunate occasion of their meeting had David Burke.
 And remember that you always have a friend in mer' he had told her. look i ing her straight in the eyes in the di- rect, simple way that was his special charm.
 There was sudden knocking on the 1 front door of the little flat. followed ! by the heavy sound of Mrs. Pitts large | feet en route to open it.
 Lucille sprang out of bed and shut l her bedroom door. Came the tones of masculine voice, tentative. inquiring. Then
 "A gentleman to see you, miss" Mrs. Pitts, immensely curious, thrust card into the room.
 The blood rushed suddenly to Lu- cilles head Could it possibly be--her husband?
 Then, glancing at the card. she saw the name 1t bore was: MT. David | Burke"
 ''Tell him to wait--Tll be ready in | five minutes" l She scrambled through a hasty toilet. She wanted to look nice. les, and lady : like.
 1 As she swept into the tiny sitting room Lucille looked pale and interest," ing. At any rate, both of these adjec- 1 tives sprang to David's mind. He ad- mired and liked Lucille. 1 I was wondering" he began, a little awkwardly. If you would dine with me tonight? I know it's rather unconven- tional, coming here like this--on our very brief acquaintance"-
 Not in the least" responded Lucille | graciously. She felt immensely flat tered. gro tell the truth, was feeling awfully blue--and nothing would give me greater pleasure" 1 David was very human. And after Shirley's cavalier treatment of his ad- vances this was very soothing. l q saw you at the show last night, and only wished I could change places with Miss Marsh and sit in that nice cool box and have a chat with you proceeded Lucille coyly. She understood 1 the gentle art of flattery if Shirley didn't.
 1 And David smiled, well pleased. There are one or two things l want to talk to you about. We'll have to make it early, so that you can get to the theatre in lots of time" l Lucille pouted rather cleverly. l Ugh! how I hate the stage, If only could get away from it forever" Her handsome eyes held a decided challenge in their depths as she met 1 Burkes gaze. That challenge stirred 1 him oddly. Before he had known and loved Miss Shirley Marsh, Lucille's was ! the type of beauty that he most ad- mired. Fine, generous, commanding l even trifle obvious. i For David wasn't subtle. l There was something maternal in her l beauty-and her manner. What mag nificent mother she would make. l Yes, life had dealt her some hard blows.
 'We-well see what we can do about getting you some new position He broke off recollecting that this woman was already married, and that perhaps he'd better curb his interest.
 And, anyhow, of course he was in love with Shirley Marsh.
 Tonight at 6:30, at the Cafe del Ri cardo--will that do ?" he said abruptly
 "Why, yes, I'd love to come" Lucille smiled gayly. And I'll wear my glad dest rags!"
 He strode away through the noisy Soho streets, his mind obsessed by vary emotions. l If only the cable he expected from South Africa would arrive. Surely by l now his agents had investigated the l Dalton Lucille alliance. That would | put Dalton once and for all clean out of Shirley's mind. She was bound to | turn to him, then-David Burke-why, of course she wouldi He was lonely. And he wanted to be married. He wanted kind, loving wife, who would minister toyhis needs | and flatter him. He didn't specify this | last requirement in so many words but the main idea was outlined in his mind.
 ! What was the good of all his money | If he hadn't anyone to share it with? A memory of Lucille's face came UT before him-and that remark of hers
 If only I could leave the stage-for- ever"
 Cad, if he hadn't thought the world of Shirley, his heart would certainly have been endangered by Lucille!
 He turned into Shaftsbury avenue and swung along toward Piccadilly till his club was reached.
 Gable for you, sir.' said the hal porter. handing him an envelope.
 He tore 1t open with absurdly trem-
 bling fingers.