Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-15
CHAPTER XIV
N.w Erienda

| ing-m8nager and the stage -mahaBeI
but Curtlss stood In the wings and
watched sunny.
lie wondered a little at the charm o.
TIE girl. He was not enthusiastic. IL.
had seen many newcomers and ne nae
| also seen them go. There had been ieM
| successes and many failures. lie hau
grown to regard every newcomer as Il
potential failure.
But this song of Sunny Ducrow's was
something different from the usual run
of lovesick lyrics. 1t was song OF
home and mother, and Mr.. Curtiss,
moved by something that he could not
very well explain, had decided TO give
Sunny rather an exceptional chance. He
had had stage setting expressly ar
ranged for her. In the background was
a little cottage, the landscape lost In
dim. grayish darkness. The stage was
in darkness; Sunny's little figure was
thrown into relief by one ray of light
1t was effective. very, RnGso was the
song.
They were old-fashioned words. cut
out of an early Victorian album. Moth
ing great In the way OF poetry, but
simple and touching
II have tried. I have hoped. have
failed
My way has been weary and lone.
have longed for the rest and the peace
on your breast.
In my own little. dear cottage home.
It's windows. like stars in the night,
Are beacons to welcome me home.
And the smile l can see Is welcome for
As I'm nearing my wee cottage home"
She was singing It with all her heart
In her voice. Her sweet. childlike voice
trembled and shook, and Mr.. Arthur
Curtiss, who had long since believed
himself proof against anything of the
kind, blinked hard.
Fool" he muttered. Clever little
atnh hot ,hat oil. tyt
she'll do! She'll do! wish Barstowe
could hear her! I'll try TO get him to,
one night!'.
But that, as Curtss knew. was almost
an impossible thing.
AS Sunny neared the end OF her song
the scenic effects came into play. The
little cottage grew in relief against the
dark background; lights suddenly
sprang up In the windows The last note
died away. the cottage door opened--a
warm, yellow light streamed out: In the
doorway appeared the figure of an old
woman, standing with 'outstretched
arms. with a sob the girl turned to
her, holding out her arms, then suddenly
all was blacled out
It was effective, very, from the audi
singer moved them all. Then came a
hurricane of applause from every part
of the house.
George" Curtiss muttered. ITS
taken-gone with bang! Big sue
cess - -, He blinked. Clever little
He turned away and went to Mr..
Barstowe's private office.
Barstowe was always in his private
office on first night, but he was not
there now. Curtiss knocked and
knocked again then he opened the door
Odd that Barstowe was not there. Cur
tiss thought, as he shut the door.
He turned and Mr.. Barstowe came
into the outer office. His hard, strong
face was as impassive as ever.
I've been to the front" he said
"You-you have. sIr?"
Yes; l was curious to hear that girl. |
Well, you heard her?"
Yes, sir"
'Well?' Barstowc said, with heavy
frown. Good, eh?"
Splendid You heard how It went
a big number that"
Barstowe nodded.
What term Is her engagement? Six
months, isn't it?'
yes, sir"
see her in the morning: book her
hero for three years. to start at ten
pounds week, increasing five pounds
each year, making the last year twenty
pounds week. Understand"
Yes. sir Very good. I think it's
wise move. She looks like being"
But Barstowe had gone in and closed
the door of his office after him.
Fancy the old man going to the front
to hear a new hand :" Curtiss thought. !
Glad he did. though !"
Except for some OF the girls of the |
chorus, who were inclined to be spiteful
and jealous, they were a good-natured
lot at the Realm
Sunny came in for "a shower of con-
OF "a n a hn oh "a i1iI
Esme Ward, the leading lady, kissed
her warmly.
You sang it beautifully, dear" she
said. And it's lovely little song You
almost made me cry. and that's saying
lot. because l got beyond tha stage
years ago"
40. you amt" Sunny said She
looked up into the woman's pretty,
rather tired-looklng face. You won't
get beyond the crying stage no good
woman ever does ~
Good woman but"
you're that" Sunny said She |
reached up her arms and drew the wom-
ans face to hers, Never forget how
to cry" she said 'It--it helps-that and
smiling" She laughed gently. That's
what ! always say 10 myself, Hold up
your head, Sunny Ducrow and keep
smiling, and everything's bound to come
right In the end"
Il believe you are right, dear" Miss
Ward said You're a good little thing,
Sunny DucrOw, and I've fallen In love
with you. And I'm not the only one
either: ! know someone else who has"
Fell in love with me?"
Miss Ward nodded,
Arthur Curtiss has, | believe. He |
was standing in the wings all through |
your song. | never saw him do It be- |
fore and he was looking at you--well, |
Just as man loots--you don't under |
stand, though you're only a baby
There, good luck to you, and manymany
more successes-bigger ones than this !"
THANK you! - Sunny said quietly.
you're good TO me, Most people are
good to me. / wonder why, sometimes"
"l'll tell you why It Is just because
you are-Sunny," the woman said
Mr. Curtiss would like to see Miss
Ducrow II she would be so good as to
spare him fcw moments!'
"Oh!" Sunny said She sighed. "I
wonder II he's got the carpet laid down
for me to walk over and got n band
playing? If she II be so good as to spare
a few moments! My word, I'm getting
on =!
She laughed to herself
Tell him all right" she said to the
messenger.
She was dressed, The first night was
over, and great success II had been.
and not the meanest success had been
Sunnys simple little song of home and
mother and love.
Sunny with her hat on, and ready
room that she shared with two others.