Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-06

could i'll afford the shilling admit
tance, but it was raining fast now,
and what use was it to 60 back to
the dismal place she knew for home.
She bent the battered hat into
some sort of shape and pinned it to
her thick fair hair-it looked old, al
most grotesque. .
Two girls close to her, who looked
like city typists, nudged each other.
looked at her and giggled; the girl
flushed painfully, and turned away,
biting her lip.
A man leaning against the wall
reading paper noticed the little in-
eident, noticed too. the delicate pref
tiness of. the girl in the shabby hat;
he stood up, holding his umbrella
so that it sheltered her from the
driving rain.
He was very ordinary. looking
young man; he wore a suit that had
seen its best days, and a cheap tie;
but he had kind eyes.
The girl looked round, and
thanked him shyly. @e
1--WE have not long to wait now."'
he said.
NO" she looked away from
him, watching the passing traffic.
A blind man, led by a pinched,
white-faced =, lad passed up and
down the line, soliciting aims;
woman with guitar and a shrill,
unlovely voice was singing a popu-
lar ballad. She wore a large hat
with huge feathers that waved and
jerked grotesquely above her head
in the rough wind, like the plumes
of funeral horse. She sang on
with mechanical expressionless-
ness, her dull eyes staring before
her.
A white-faced girl wrapped in
thin shawl, with solemn-eyed
child clinging to her skirts, stood
on the curb, selling violets.
She looked i'll and miserable; she
coughed from time to time hollow
ly. The child sucked a thumb, and
eyed the crowd with grave blue
eyes-the girl with the fair hair
looked at him wistfully. -
He was about 3 years old-a
sturdy little fellow-and scrupuIously
clean in spite OF his ragged clothes.
Beneath the torn brim of an absurd
hat. his brown curls peeped saucily.
The girl fumbled for her purse.
"She is worse off than am she
thought, as she took out one of the
few pennies. Worse off-except that
she has the boy"
She stepped out Of the shelter into
the rain and gave the woman a
penny; the young man, who had held
the umbrella over her. followed al
most bashfully and gave the woman
twopence. He blushed as the girl in
the shabby hat thanked him,
Jolly little boy with her." he said
awkwardly.
Yes" The girl sighed as she
spoke. He noticed how wishfully |
she looked at the child.
The rain had stopped. He closed |
the umbrella and glanced at his |
watch-it was quite cheap watch, |
and he wore it on a strap.
I'VE shall soon be going in now,"
he said cheerfully. !
The main door of the theater was
close to the gallery entrance. Car
riages were driving up. private mo-
tor cars carrying beautifully dressed
women. and men with diamonds in
their shirt fronts.
The girl watched them enviously.
She wondered how she would look
were she dressed in silken cloak,
with white satin shoes, and pearls in
her hair, like a slim girl who had
Just stepped out on the red carpet
strip that led across the pavement.
She looked, and lost herself in
A sudden shout aroused her; she
turned her head sharply as a shrifl
scream rang out through the windy
night, and the sharp grinding noise
OF a car brought to sudden stand
still. Several persons ran from their
places in the line. Others, more
callous, looked on without moving.
"Oh, what is it-what is it," asked
the girl fearfully.
The young man answered her.
Il don't quite know-somebody
run over, / am safraid. / think il
was that green motor car. and
oh, it was the violet woman with
the little boy" He darted forward
to the crowd that had already gath
cred. The girl followed hin,-her
heart beating fast. her eyes wide in
her pale face.