The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1921-02-04
A MOVING STORY
BY HELEN a. HOLDEN
,',usIIxdooy

uie SUBWAY stairs. Half way he no
ticed the crowd on the platform be-
low.
He would go until he was too weary
to think. Then, perhaps. he could
sleep.
II was maddening TO have something
on ones mind that would not be for
gotten-something unpleasant 10 be
gone over and over.
When he finally left the subway he
found himself In an entirely strange
part OF the city. AS far as he could
see the street was deserted. This
suited his mood. He pulled down his
hat more securely on his head and
started on his tramp.
with due apology to The Broad
White Way where am II" he queried.
II surely came uptown In that sub
way"
When he came to theater he
scarcely hesitated. Its doors were
invitingly open.
"Some jolly play" thought Stotes-
berry to himself. will perhaps put me
On my feet again."
The play had already begun. The
head of the house had just entered
the stage. Harassed and worried with
the cares of business, he came in look
Ing for sympathy from the assembled
family.
Stotesberry did not wait for more.
Selling his hat and coat, he escaped
IF it begins like that, what will 1t
be when the climax is reachedT he
groaned.
Wrath filled his soul as he again
hurried along the street. He wanted
so much to forget. Why did fate con-
spire to keep him reminded Of his
trouble?
A little further on a brilliant sign
announced motion Pictures
THAT promises WELL Still, after
his former unhappy experience,
Stotesberry hesitated. Anyway, 1t
would be something to know just
what a moving-picture show is like.
I'll chance 1t. If it comes to the worst,
can escape"
Stotesberry paid the required dime,
entered but did not take off his coat.
If his stay were to be as short as 1t
had been at the theater, 1t would
hardly be worth while.
Orchestra Of one!" He was sitting
on line with young girl at the
piano. docs she keep up that pace
all through the performance? Could
MT! Yet her hands look It.. The veins
are all standing out about yard.
what would possess girl to do
a thing like that?" He had forgotten
the pictures In his interest in the girl.
mice looking, too. But doesn't she
look all in2 Never in my life saw any
one so fagged-her face, her hands,
her whole attitude.
wonder what her tragedy is? It's
a bad one, or she wouldn't be playing
her thirty knots an hour, for, won
der, how many hours day, anyway
Even when she passed her left hand
YEARLY across her forehead her right
carried on the air without interrupt
ton. Once she swayed as though she
would fall.
"Why doesn't someone stop her7'
Stotesberry felt righteous indignation.
There's something worrying that girl
almost insane. And she has to keep on
playing those Jig tunes probably half
the night"
With its customary abruptness, the
curtain announced a few minutes In
Permission. ~
The tired hands came to stop. The
exhausted girl leaned her head wear
i,y on them as they rested on the
piano.
The girl fell over in dead faint
Stotesberry was the first to reach
her.
In a few minutes Ii was all over.
Stotesberry had insisted on taking the
girl directly home. The manager
stormily refused.
With grateful glance at Stotes
berry, the girl declared herself all
right. She wouldn't for anything
break up the show! She promised not
to faint again.
He had started out to forget. In the
light Of anothers troubles his own
had been forgotten. Now, as he re-
membered them, wave of shame
came over him.
He had been busy trying to forget
paltry twenty-five thousand he had
made I'm Wall Street that day. His
disappointment had been overwhelm-
ing-he had counted on fifty thou
sand.
The girl insisted on walking. 1t was
not far to her home, and she needed
the air.
at can't tell you how sorry am y
Stotesberry did not know just how to
put It. 'But ] think II you know all
the circumstances 1t would probably
not be nearly so bad as you imagine
ooh, 1t could not be much worse
replied the girl YEARLY. tits all over
and there's no use thinking about It.
"He's Just mad clean through. And
there are plenty Of others waiting fol
the job.
me and Tom went out skating al
ak o'clock this morning. Tom had to
- ...-,, NJ eavou Int the Ire was