The Little River news., 1921-03-09
SYNOPSIS.

...E SYNOPSIS.
 PART I.-Robert Hervey Randolph, young New York man-about-town, leaves the home of his sweetheart, Madge Van Teller, chagrined because of her refusal of his proposal of marriage. His income, y10,000 a year, which he must surrender if certain Miss Imogen Pamela Thorn ton (whom he has seen only as small girl ten years before) Is found, is not considered by the girl of his heart ade- quate to modern needs. In don't care" mood Randol"h enters taxi, unseen by the driver, and is driven to the stage door of a theater. A man he knows, Duke Beamer, induces girl to enter the cab. Beamer, attempting to follow. is pushed back by Randolph and the cab moves on. His new acquaintance tells Randolph she is q chorus girl, and has lost her position. She is in distress, even hungry, and he takes her to his apart ment There, after lunch, Q chance re- mark convinces him the girl is the mtss- ing Pamela Thornton. He does not tell her of her good fortune. but secures her promise to stay in the fiat until the morning, and leaves her. In whimsical mood. also realizing that the girls reap pearance has Left him practically penni-
 
 take his job. and leaving word with tho legal representative of the Thornton es- tate where he can And Pamela, takes up his new duties under the name of "Slim Hervey." He loves the girl. but his pride forbids him approaching her under their changed conditions.
 ~The lowest reason of all was for cold cash," she went on. as though he had not spoken. Then came the gilt ter of precious stones, and, after that, silk underwear"
 "Silk underwear" exclaimed MT. Randolph, mystified and interested in spite of himself.
 "Of course you couldn't understand that" she said, mot unless you had seen some poor girl bury her face in crepe de chine and lace, tremble to try them on, and then sob because she had to wear clothes over them"
 Look here," said MT. Randolph, shuddering at the pity of it: we'll pass on to the next, if you don't mind."
 Curiosity comes next" resumed the girl obediently. "A woman is weak until she knows everything. Then comes funny one that you won't un- derstand at all It's called Because Because he had on coat that re- minded her of an old coat that man she had loved used to wear"
 My dear girl" protested Mr. Ran- dolph
 q said they weren't interesting" she reminded him dispassionately. Her eyes widened And now" she con- tinued, i've go up and up-spite that stabs it's own heart; the lonely soul; consuming fire. and, last and greatest reason of all, just love-" Her eyes glowed to some distant focus. eff all myself, my honor, my past, and my future dissolve to the single drop of present moment in the crystal cup of love, then let me give myself to lovers lips for, once drained, nothing will be left upon which to hang the badge of shame-nothing remain in all the world but the spirit and-and the sacrifice"
 "Girl," said MT. Randolph, crushing her to him as though he snatched her back from just beyond his clasp, where is your mind wandering2 What have you been thinking? That I was asking you toto give yourself to mer'
 Her eyes came suddenly to his face.
 "Yes," she said; "I thought that" He stared at her for a long silent mo- ment. his lips wavering nervously be- tween pity and severity. A flush swept ever her face and into her eyes crept look of fear. You don't want mer' she whispered; then, as he did not speak: kiss me. I wish you to kiss me-
 t There was something in her insist ence that clutched at his heart and bent him forward. He drew her head up slowly to meet his lips and kissed her as lightly. as impersonally as brother ever saluted sister, but far more fearfully. Immediately her body went limp in his arms, turned to a dead weight of uNinspired flesh.
 Tt Is true" she murmured, deS perately. "You don't really want me and I can never love you now"
 Randolph awoke to that still cry. He shook her, seized her head in both his hands, and forced her eyes to meet the blaze in his.
 You generous. careless. adorable little fooi !" he growied "Why, you're the most desirable and precious bundle of lovable charm that robber man ever trenlbled to hold in sacrilegious arms p '.-----.ree,s'
 She stared at htn amazed.
 ''Why don't you kiss the way you talk?" she demanded.
 Because there's no reason for your desperate barter, my dear Imogene Pamela Thornton"
 In one 1.-the motion she was out of his arms, on her feet, back to the fire, head upthrown.
 How dare you-how dare you call me by that name?" She was trans formed; her eyes flashed with such a light as made the blaze in his own a paltry thing. Do you think she would lie in your arms?'' She asked. gulping out the words. "Vivienne Vivierre"--