The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-02-11
A MOVING STORY
BY HELEN A. HOLDEN


the 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.
1t was maddening to have something
on ones mind that would not be for
gotten-something unpleasant to 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 ~ he queried.
II surely came uptown in that sub
way"
When he came to a theater he
scarcely hesitated. It's doors were
invitingly open.
Some jolly play" thought Stotes-
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.
eff 1t begins like that, what will it
be when the climax is reached?' 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?
Aslittle further on a brilliant sign
announced motion Pictures
THAT promises we'll" 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 it. If it comes to the worst,
1 can escape"
Stotesberry paid the required dime,
entered but did not take off his coat.
If his stay were to be as short as it
had been at the theater, it would
hardly be worth while.
Orchestra of one!" He was sitting
on a line with a young girl at the
piano. Does she keep up that pace
all through the performance? Could
MT! Yet her hands look it. The veins
are all standing out about a yard
"What would possess a girl to do
thing like that?" He had forgotten
the pictures in his interest In the girl
mice looking too. But doesn't she
look all in? 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, l won
der, how many hours a 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 herr"
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 q few minutes In
PERMISSION.
The tired hands came to a stop. The
exh~ sted girl leaned her head wear
lily on them as they rested on the
plano.
The girl fell over in dead faint.
Stotesberry was the first to reach
her.
In a few minutes 1t 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 showl She promised not
to faint again.
He had started out to forget. In the
light of another's troubles his own
had been forgotten. Now, as he re-
membered them. a wave of shame
came over him.
He had been busy trying to forget
a paltry twenty-five thousand he had
made in Wall Street that day. His
disappointment had been overwhelm-
ing-he had counted on fifty thou
sand.
The girl insisted on walking. Ii wcs
not far to her home, and she needed
the air.
81 can't tell you how sorry / am"
Stotesberry did not know just how TO
put 1t. "But | think if you know all |
the circumstances IL, would probably !
not be nearly so bad as you imagise."
"Oh. It could not be much worse.
replied the girl YEARLY. Its all over
and there's no use thinking about IT,
Hes just mad clean through. And
there are plenty OF others Whiting for /