The Washington times., 1920-08-08


Az the end OF the little lane IN
which the stage door was. Robert
could see the night life OF the
crowded suburb. the teeming mass
Of people and the dusty atmosphere
lit up in yellow patches by the
glare OF huge naptha lamps naring
over the costers' barrows. The
cries of vendors mingled harshly
with the roar OF traffic. At the cor
ner the lights OF a great gin.pslace
shone out, and Robert wondered.
as he saw the mob Of humanity
through its large plate-glass win
dows, to which atom Of II belonged
the tiny little girl who sat half
asleep on the doorstep, a ragged
doll clutched in the. crook OF her
fragile arm.
II was a scene sordid in the ex-
treme, aId the waiting man felt as
though he we're "a stranger In q
strange land--a land In which It
was hard to breathe. The cigar
ette-smoking YOU :. too. seemed 10
resent his presence in the domain
they had made their own, and Rob,
ert had difficulty In keeping to
what he knew was the wiser course
Of ignoring their audible remarks.
The chimes of nearby clock
told eleven. Already two or three
tawdrily dressed girls had come
through the stage door, attended
by their cavaliers. Robert could
see that in some cases they had
not quite removed. the makeup
from their faces. AS they stood
beneath the gas lamps they seemed
consciously pleased at the atten.
tion they received from the gilded
youth Of Hackney. Then Stella
came.
She stood for a moment, framed
in the doorway, looking out, before
she caught sight Of Robert. Then
she ran to him and gave his hand
a little squeeze and looked. up with
a great gladness in her gray eyes
that told Robert that all was right
with their world, and, needless OF
the remarks of the interested spec.
tators, he bent and kissed her as
he hurried her away.
AS they passed the corner Robert
saw that the child was still on thB
step Of the public-house. She was
asleep now and had covered over
the little doll with a corner of >her
threadbare Jacket. He tried to
hide the sight from the girl by his
side, but Stella saw the pathetic
little figure and she clutched at
the mans arm.
Cant we do something? Oh,
Robert, what was that you said
once about little children and that
a woman's life should be found in
their eyes? have thought Of 1t 80
often since you said that, and I
have grown to hate my audiences
the people who pay to see me"
She broke away from him, and
he watched her as she went to the
sleeping child and placed some
thing into the little lap; he recog.
nized it as a box of chocolates he
had sent her that evening to the
theatre. When she Joined him
again Robert saw that there were
tears in her eyes.
Mrs. Benham was still up when
they reached the fiat, and one
glance at Stella's radiant face was
all that she needed to make her
completely happy The three did
full justice to the dainty luncheon
that was awaiting Stella's return
from the theatre. It was good. af-
ter the sordid surroundings Of the
suburbs, to sit here with the little
shaded table-candles showing their
rose light in the silver and glass
and on the scarlet lobster in it's bed
Of tender green, and on, the gilt
neck OF the bottle Of champagne
for was not this a betrothal feast.
one to be honored and remembered
for all time?
The night was warm and the
young people stood on the little
balcony overhanging the gardens.
The man was leaning over the
shoulders Of the girl, and Stella was
drinking in the love-talk of which
her heart had so long been starved.
They had so much TO say to each
other, these two foolish persons
who had wilfnlly cut from their
lives nearly a>year of joy-so much
time to make up.
81 will be away this weekend.
Stella. I'm sorry, but it's a client
in Lincolnshire he's got a lovely
place, and some decent golf and
fishing. By-the-way, it's at Bar.
chester: weren't you there on the
tour"
Yes, the week before last--who
is the client?"
His names Dartin; there's a bit
of romance about the fellow.
he"
"Why, I met Mr.. Dartin. Bobby;
we had a kind OF picnic at his
place. Fancy you knowing Mr..