Connecticut western news., 1921-08-04

the mirror in her dressing room
 at the Theater Royal, Covent Garden, London. She was alone with rious and pleasant, If the play on her mobile features could be taken as a criterion. She was summing up her eventful career from the time when but child of eight, cold, ragged and hungry, she had been found on the Desmond quay In Dublin by an actress who undertook her professional edu- cation, to the present moment, when, as the reigning actress of the British capital, she had the world at her feet.
 She had many admirers and quite a few f1irtations, but they had all been ephemeral, as Peg Wellington could quickly detect idle flattery and the sycophancies of the jeunesse doree which hung about her shrine. She was a woman of the world, keen, suspicious and cynical, and while she tOyed with her gallants, her heart and soul were in her work. But one eve ming she noticed in box, a face new to the theater. He was a man evil dently from the provinces, but he gazed at her withsundisguised admira- tion. Night after night he was at his post, listening intently to every word she spoke and with an unmistakable air of respect.
 She waited, thinking like alr the others, he would seek an interview, but as time went on and he made no attempt to bring about an acquaint- ance, Pegs curiosity was piqued and by guarded inquiries she learned that he was Ernest Vane, a country gentle man of means and reputed a bachelor. One night, however, MT. Vane was brought to the green room by Sir Charles Pomander, a man about town who had long but unsuccessfully sought to win Pegs favor. Miss Wolf fngton was not in the room when MT. Vane first arrived. He quickly adapt ed himself to the novel surroundings and launched into a eulogy of Pegs personal charms and histrionic ability.
 During Mir. Vane's remarks Peg had entered the room and overheard her praises so eloquently sung and, know ing that MT. Vane was unaware of her presence, she was impressed with his sincerity. Then they were introduced and MT. Vane was almost speeches. with admiration. All that his imag- ination had painted, was more than realized. Her beauty, her intelli- gence, her graciousness-were over- towering and MT. Vane, in his embar rassment, could only stammer a few commonplaces. Here indeed was a novelty, and her curiosity turned to interest.
 She was still cautious and would ing moods.
 AS she stood before her mirror, she was awaiting the arrival of MT. Vane. They had become warm friends, much more, on the part of MT. Vane, who | had openly declared his love and had sent her many tokens of his affection, which Peg had accepted, but with her peculiar whim she had declined any thing save some inexpensive gift, tell ing her lover that it was the senti- ment which she desired, not the in- | trinsic value of the present. She had decided to reveal to MT. Vane that she, in turn, loved him, but the old, sus- picious feeling would not leave her.
 When they were alone together Peg and gazing fixedly into his eyes said {:
 Ernest, we actresses make good the old proverb, many lovers, few | friends but no one outside our circle knows how much we need a friend. Will you be one to meW
 And Ernest promised faithfully.
 Then she gave herself up to the in- her adulation Peg was lonely. There had been no one to whom she could go and open her heart with a sense of security, and when VuneA poured into her willing ear his avowals of un- dying love and devotion, Pegs hun gry soul drank in his words as the thirsty earth absOrbs refreshing show CTS. She was supremely happy.
 Sir Charles Pomander did not at all relish the turn affairs had taken. He had planned many schemes to win Pegs aHectlon, and when he wit messed the triumph of one he regard ed as a rank outsider his love turned to hate. He endeavOred insidiOusly to poison Vane'S mind with stories of Peg WOffingtOn'S past life and on one occasion he was nearly successful James Triplet, a hanger-on at Covent Garden, was recognized by Peg as one who had befriended her in the early days of poverty. Triplet was a play wright and scene shifter, and to give him assistance Peg offered him a com. mission to paint her portrait Pegs visits to Triplet's studio were told by Sir Charles to Vane as evidence of Pegs faithlessness, but the falsity of the charges was soon proved and , Vane's infatuation was stronger than ever. Sir Charles had almost aban- dOned hope of defeating his rival un-