The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1927-07-23
Ever Since the
Days of Old
(Copyright.)
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

had before going down for her eve
ming performance at the theater.
ooh. Miss Betty, just you look what
[ done find in this hat l bought me
this afternoon" And the faithful Cora
displayed a large linen handkerchief
with signatures of every description
embroidered on 1t. sit was tucked in
the brim Of that there hat and
couldn't get my head in nohow."
Cora, perhaps we're on the edge Of
romance" cried Betty and examined
the handkerchief "Why, this is one
Of those fad handkerchiefs we all had
about ten years ago. l had one my
self. We used to get all our friends to
write their names on them and then
embroider over them. OH" Betty
bobbed up from her comfortable posi-.
ton in so great hurry as to leopard
lie the whipped cream and cocoa.
Cora Can you believe it? Here's
the name of my best girl friend in
those days-lOOk-Alice Moore-I
never heard Of anything so exciting.
Where did you get this hat? I shall
try to trace Alice and see how the
world has treated her"
81 got that there hat down at a
secondhand store in Seventh avenue"
said Cora, "and paid one dollar for
it,"
''Well, you hop right along and offer
him another dollar If he will find you
the name and address of the girl who
sold him this hat"
AS a matter of fact, Betty's own
name was also on that handkerchief
which was like a breath from the days
Of old, but she didn't at the moment
want to tell Cora all about it. Ten
years before, when Betty was just
sweet sixteen, and living in the Mid
West, there had been the usual pri'
vate theatricals Of a small town. Betty
and the others whose names were en-
broidered on the handkerchief, had
given q fine performance of robin
Hood" The kindly reception Betty
had got at that time had been the step
ping stone to the rather splendid posi-
ton she now Occupied in the hearts OF
New York theatergoers.
att also" thought Betty a trifle
wistfully, twas the stepping stone
which enabled me to bridge that River
of Love and leave it far behind.
wonder how and where Donald Is and
If he ever thinks Of his sweetheart Of
sixteen who turned away from his love
to follow her career" Betty glanced
back into the past for a fieeting mo
ment and was looking into the blue
blue eyes of Donald Crawford--merry
love-lit eyes-eyes that had grown
terribly Swallowed when Betty firmly
babe him good-by. Something tells
me 1t is best" she had said.
Cora was more than successful 10
ner effort to get the name and address
Of the girl who had sold the hat orig
tnally.
When, at four o'clock that after
noon, Betty Barrow's card was handed
on a dainty tray to Mrs. Alfred Dray.
that lady wondered what on earth the
well-know actress was calling on her
for.
But the two girls, when they looked
keenly at one another. few into each
others arms.
you're not-you can't be that little
Bridget Bennett" exclaimed Mrs.
Dray, putting Betty off to have sec
ond look at her.
ard have known you anywhere
Alice" laughed Betty. Il must have
changed dreadfully." she added.
"Not dreadfulIy." said Alice, you're
Just dream. It's no wonder the pub
lie IS mad about. you. But tell me"
and she dragged Betty down on the
big chesterfield beside her, show did
you get my address, and"
Betty pulled out the big handker-
chief from her bag MY maid found
this In a hat she bought"
"Well, Of all things" laughed Alice
unbelievingly. ''Do you know was
going out in a rush one day right after
had my hair shingled and all my hats
were oceans too big, Of course, and ]
stuffed in the first thing that came to
hand. Can you beat it," And she
punctuated her remark with great
hug which Betty returned.
In the very midst Of this great low
ing party on the chesterfield, a big
bIue-eyed man stepped on the scene.
Both girls looked up.
Don. you'll never guess who's here
Lookl" She pulled the now blushine
Betty up and Don looked deep into the
only eyes he had ever loved. "Oh
Don-you know it's Bridget can see
IL In your facet And she's been right
here In New York all this time-she's
the famous Betty Barrow
It was Don who spoke first. "Yes
rye always known Bridget Bennett was
Betty Barrow. I've been night after
night to the theater-just to look at
her"
"Don Crawfordl" cried Betty. find
ing her voice at last and very near to
tears 1t was. do you mean to tell me
Won knew where I was all this time
ana didn't. look me upP'
Alice. because She was filed with
human emotions herself and knew real
love when she saw it. perhaps because
she and her husband had found it.
shipped swiftly of to arrange with the
maid for tea.
"You said good-by to me once" SAID
Don. 81 couldn't stand it again, little
Bridget-you mean too much to me-"
- eDIaehod from RatfvfS ewes