Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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His ^ovv^^|k^f Mar* VarxVorstr x^y/v ILLV3TRATIOW M.GJ02TT?R- V \ /// \ "Hello, you," ehe nodded to Dan. "i ana awfully aorry not to have shown up at five. Just got your note. Jast got la at the hotel; been out of Iowa all day.** Dan aaw that none of the people In the room waa familiar to him, and that they were out of place In the pretty brocaded neet One of them waa a Jew, a email man with a glaea aye. whose fixed stare rested on Mlaa Lane. He had kept on his overcoat, aad bis dsrby bat bung on the back of his head "Ores Hi. Cohen the box. Hlggins." Mlaa Lsas directed, end bending for ward, brought her small face close to the glaee. sod her hands trembled as she handled the rouge ?tick. Mr. Cohen In oae hand bald a string of pearls that fell through hla tst tin gore, sa if eager to escspe from them l?gglna obediently placed s email box la Me hand "Take It sal gel out of here." ehe ordered Cohen. "Mlaa Laas has only got five minutes " Cohen turned the etub of his clgsr fa his mouth unpleasantly without tag sag the trouble to remove lt. TU take an," ho said rapidly, -and when I got good and ready 1*11 gat out of but x* before " saa here" Blair began, but Lane, who had finished her task, htm to he quiet. "Pleas*, go out. Mr. Blair/' she said, go out Mr. Cohen Is bars on and I really cant sea any body jus* now." Behind the Jew Hlggins looked up at Dan aad be understood?but ho I didn't head her waning; nothing would have Induced blm to leave Lot* ty Lane like this. Tm not going, though. Miss Lane," Tee said frankly. *Tvo got an appoint saent with ym and Tu going to stay." As he did so the other people In the room took form for blm: a blind beg? gar with s stick in bis hsnd, and by Ids side a small child wrapped In s shawl. With relief Dan saw that Poaiotowaky was ah-out from the party Cohy n opened the box, took Its con tont? out sad held up the Jewels "This." ho said, indicating a string of pearls, Is all right. Miss Lane, and the oar-drops. The rest Is no good. I'll take or leave them, as you like." She waa plainly annoyed and ex? cited, and. as "Hlggins men to isce Tsar, moved from her dressing-table to the sofa In a state of agitation. Take them or leave them, as you shs said, "but give me the key and go." The Jew took from hla wallet a roll rbsnk notes snd counted tbem. "gla." be began, but she waved htm "Don't tell me bow much It ll. 1 Jsont want to gnoa." -Let the other lady count It," the said. "I don't do business that Una, who bad laid down his over snd hat on a chair, cams quickly ard. his banda In hla pockets, snd ding In front of the Jew, ho aald "Now you look hero?" Letty Lane threw the money down saa the dressing-table. "Ploaae," she cried to Dan. "let me have the pleas are of sending this man out cf my room. Tou can, go, Cohen, and go In s hurry, too." The Jew stuffed the pesrls in bis pocket sod went by Dsn hurriedly, as though be feared the young man In tended to help blm. But Dan stopped 'Before this deal goes through 1 tat you to tell me why you are?" Mise Lane broke In: "My gracious Heavens! Cent I even sell my Jew? ess without being bossed* What bust Is It of yours, Mr Blair? Let the go. und go sll or you?sll of you. Hlggins. send them out." The blind man and the child stirred, st tils outburst. The little girl s miserable hat, a wreck of a hat. In s hieb shook a feather like a broken nast Tbe rest of her gar its sesmed made of the element!? dirt ind mud?mere flags of dls an.l the odor of the poor filled room: over the perfume and acent smell of atsge properties, this iblo smell of atago properties, this miserable smell held Its own. "Com*?. Daddy." whispered the child timidly, "come along." "Oh. no, not you, not you," Letty Lain* sai l Job Ct'hen crswle.l nut with ten thousand pounds' worth of pearls In pockots, and ss soon as tho door closed the actress took up the roll of notes. "Come here," she said to th>? child. "Now yc j can take your father to the home I told you of It Is nice and comfortable?they will treat hit eyes there." "Miss "Jine?Mlss Lane'" called the page gag "Nev t mind that." aald the actress, "It la a long wait tbla act. I don't go an yet " _ fiend us your Job work. 1 Hlgglns went to the door and open? ed It and stood a moment, then dis? appeared Into the side scenes. I Letty Lane ruffled the pile of bank? notes and without looking drew out two or three bills, putting them Into the child's hands. "Don't yon lose them; stuff them down; this will keep you and your father for a couple of years. Tske care of It. You aro quite rich now. Don't get robbed." The child tremblingly folded the notes and hid them among her rags. The tears of happiness were strag? gling orer her face. She said finally, finding no place to stow away her riches. "I expect I'd best put them , In daddy's pocket." I And Dan came to her aid; taking the notes from her, he folded and put them Inside the clothes of the old heggar. | "Miss Lane." said Hlgglns, who had come In, "It Is time you want on." "I'll see your friends out of the theater," Blair offered. And as he did so, for the first time she looker" al him. and he saw the ferer In her brll Uant eyes. j "Thanks awfully," she accepted. "It Is perfectly crazy to give them sc much money at once. Will you loos after H like a good boy and see some thing or other about them?" j He thoight of her, however, and caught up a great soft shawl from the . chair, wiapped It around her tenderly and she flitted out, Hlgglns after her leaving the rest of the money scat tared on her dressing-table. * "Come along," said Blair kindly tc the two who stood awaiting his order* with the docility of the poor, the obedience of those who have no right to plan or suggest until told to move on. "Come, I'll see you home." And he didn't leave them until he had ' taken them in a cab to their destine tlon?until he had persuaded the girl to let him have the money, look aftei' it for her, come to see her the next day and tell her what to do. j Then he went back to the theatei and stood up in the rear, for the house was crowded, to bear Lefty sing. It was souvenir night: there "How Does It Feel to Stand There and Hssr Them Clap Like a Thun der Storm snd Csll Your Name?" were post-cards and. little coral capa with feathers as bo.nbonnleres. They called her out before the curtain a dosen times, and each time Dan want? ed to cry "Mercy" for her. He felt as though this little act had estab llshed a friendship between them; and his hands clenched as he thought of Ponlotowsky, and he tried to recall that Le was an engaged man. He had an Idea that Letty Lane was looking for him through the performance. She finished In a storm of applause, and dowers were strewn upon Tier, ahfl Dan found himself. In spite of his res? olution, going back into the wings. This time two or three cards were sent In. One by one he saw the vlsl- j tors refused, and Dan. without any formality, himself knocked at I>etty Lane's small door, which Hlgglns opened, looked back over her shoulder | to give his name to h- r mistress, and said to Dan confidently, "Wait, sir; 1 just wait a bit." Her Hps were af? fable. And lu a few momenta, to Dan's astonished delight, the actress herself appeared, a big scarf over her | head and h-?r body enveloped In her snowy cloak, and he understood with a leap of his heart that she had sin? gled him out to take her home. She went before him through tho wings to tho stago entrance, which he opened for her, and she passed out bettor* him into tho fog and tho ml.* t For the first, time 'Hair followed her through the crowd, which was a big ono on thta nlsht. On the ono sldo , waited the poor, wh ) wished her many Mousing, and on the other hide her admirers, whoso thought! were quite different. Something of this Hashed thrOOgti l>an's Bind4 and in that mo? ment ho toughed the serf'.m part of lifo for tho first Hn . In liOtty Lanes motor, the small electric light lit over their heads and tho flower vaso empty, he bat beside tho fraxrant hUfflOO creature who Ixmdon adored, an 1 knew his place | 0<vu ua your job work. would have been envlea uy many a man. "I took your friends to their place all right," he told her, "and I'm going to see them myself tomorrow. I ad? vised the girl not to get married for her money. Say, this re nwfully nice of you to let me take you home!" She seemed small In her corner. "You were great tonight," Dan went on, "simply great! Wasn't the crowd crazy about you, though! How does It feel to stand there and hear them clap like a thunderstorm and call your name?" She replied with effort. "It was a nice audience, wasn't It? Oh, I don't knows how It feels. It is rather stimu? lating. How's the other boy?" she risked abruptly, and when Dan had Bald that Ruggles had left him alone In London, she turned and laughed a little. Dan asked her why she had sent for him today. "I'm mighty sorry I was out of town," he said warmly. "Just to think you should have wanted me to do something for you and I didn't turn up. "You know I would be glad to do anything. What was it? Won't you tell me what it was?" I "The Jew did it for me." | And Dan exclaimed: "It made me j simply sick to see that animal in your room. I would have kicked him out if I hadn't thought that it would make an unpleasant scene for you. We have passed the Savoy." He looked out of j the window, and Letty Lane replied: "I told the driver to go to the Carl ton first." She was taking him home then! j "Well, you've got to come in and I have some supper with me in that ' case," he cried eagerly, and she told him thi.t she had taken him home be? cause the knew that Mr. Ruggles would approve. "Not much you won't," he said, and put his hand on the speaking tube, but she stopped him. "Don't give any orders in my motor, Mr. Blair. You sit still where you are." "Do you think that I am such a sim? ple youth that I?" Letty Lane with a gesture of su? preme ennui said to him impatiently: "Oh, I just think I am pretty nearly tired to death; don't bother me. I want my own way." Her voice and her gesture, her beau? ty and her indifference, her sort of vague lack of Interest in him and in everything, put the boy, full of life as he was, out of ease, but he ventured, after a second: "Won't you please tell me what you wanted me to do this afternoon?" "Why, I was hard up, that's all. I have used all my salary for two months and I couldn't pay my bill at the Savoy. "Lord!" he said fervently, "why didn't you?" "I did. Like a fool I sent for you the first thing, but 1 was awfully glad when five o'clock came you didn't turn up. Please don't bother or speak of it again." And burning with curiosity as to what part Poniotowsky played in her life. Dm sat q\iiet. not venturing to put to her any more questions. She seemed so tired and so overcome by her own thoughts. When they had turned down toward the hotel, how? ever, he decided that he must in honor tell her his news. "Got some news to tell you," he ex? claimed abruptly. "Want you to con? gratulate me. I'm engaged to be mar? ried to the Duchess of Breakwater. She happens to be a great admirer of your voice." The actress turned sharply to him and In the dark he could Bee her lit? tle, white face. The covering over her j head foil back and she exclaimed: "Heavens!" and impulsively put her j hands out over his. "Do you really mean what you say?" "Yes." He nodded surprisedly. "What do you look like that for?" Letty Lane arranged her scarf and then drew back from him and laugh- i ed. "Oh. dear, dear, dear," she exclaim? ed, "and I . . . and I have been . . ." She looked up at him swiftly as . though she fancied she might detect some lew quality in him which she | had net observed before, but she saw only his clear, kind eyes, his charming smile and his beautiful, young ignor? ance, ind said softly to him: "No use to cry, little boy, if it's truo! But that woman lsnt half good enough for you?not half, and I guees you think It funny enough to hear me say so! What does the other boy from Montana say?" "Don't know," Dan answered lndlf ferently. "Marconled him; didn't tell him about It before he left. You see he doesn't understand England? ? doesn't like it." A littlo dazed by the way each ol the two women took the mention ol the other, h? asked timidly: "You don't like the Inichess ol Breakwater, then?" And she laughed again. "Goodness gracious, I don't know her; actresses don't sit around with duehoHse-s." Then abruptly, her boau tlful eyes, under theJr curled darlt lasbes, full on him. sho asked: "Do you like her?" "You hot!" ko said ardently. "Ol Course I do. I am crazy about her." Yet he realized, as ho replied, that lie didn't have any inclination to begin to talk about his fiancee. They had reached the Carlton and tho door of Letty Lane's motor wai held open "Better get out," ho urged, "and have something to eat." And ah*, leaning a littlo way toward him, laughed. "Crazy' Your engagemt Qt will he broken off tomorrow." And sho fur ther said: "If I really thought it would, why I'd come HKo a shot." Send us your Job work. I As she leaue? lorward, her cloak slipping from her neck, revealing her throat above the dark collar of the simple dress she wore, he looked in her dove-gray eyes, and murmured: "Oh, say, do como along and risk it. j I'm game, all right." She hesitated, then bade him good night languidly, slipping back into her old attitude of indifference. "I am going home to rest. Good night. I don't think tho duchess would let you go, no matter what you did!" Dan, standing there at her motor door, this beautiful, well-known wo? man bantering him, leaning toward him, was conscious of her alone, all snowy and small and divine in her en? veloping scarf, lost in the corner of her big car. "I hate to have you go back alone to the Savoy. I really do. Please let me?" But she shook her head. "Tell the man the Savoy," and as Dan, carry? ing out her instructions, closed the door, he said: "I don't like that empty vase in there. Would you be very 1 good and put some flowers in it If they came?" She wouldn't promise, and he went on: "Will you put only my flowers in that vase always hereafter?" Then, "Why, of course not, goose," she said shortly. "Will you please let me close the door and go home?" Dan walked into the Carlton when her bright motor had slipped away, his evening coat long and black flying its wings behind him, his hat on the back of his blond head, light of foot and step, a gay young figure among the late lingering crowd. He went to his apartments and missed Ruggles In the lonely quiet oi :he sitting-room, but as the night be? fore Ruggles had done. Dan in his . bed-room window stood looking out at ' the mist and fog through which be? fore his eyes the things he had lately seen passed and repassed, specter- 1 like, winglike, across the gloom. Fin? ally, in 8pIto of the fact that he was an engaged man with the responsibili? ties of marriage before him, he could think of but one thing to take with bim when he finally turned to sleep. The face of the woman he was en? gaged to marry eluded him, but the face under the white hood of Letty i.ane was In his dreams, 'and In tils troubled visions he saw her shining, ' iovellke eyes. CHAPTER XIV. ? i From India's Coral Strands. Mrs. Higglns. !n Miss Lane's apart- . ment at the Savoy, was adjusting the photographs and arranging the flowers when she was surprised by a caller, who came up without the formality of sending his name. "Do you think." Blair asked her. "that Miss Lane would see me half a minute? I called yesterday, and the day before, as soon as I saw that there was a substitute singing in Mandalay. Tell her I'm as full of news as a char? ity report, please, and I rather guess that will fetch her." i Something fetched her, for in a few minutes she came languidly In, and by the way she smiled at her visitor it might be '.hought Dan Blair's name alone had brought her In. The actress had been ill for a fortnight with what the press notices said was influenza. She wore a teagown, long and white as foam, her hair rolled in a soft knot, and her face was pale as death. Frail and small as she was, she was more ethereal than when In perfect health. "Don't stand a minute." And by the hand she gave him Dan led her over to the lounge where the pillows were piled and a fur-lined silk cover i thrown across the sofa. "Don't give me that heavy rug, there's that little white shawl." She I pointed to it. and Dan, as he gave it to her, recognized the shawl In which I she wtapped herself when she crossed the icy wings. i "It's in those infernal side scenes you get colds." , He sat down by her. She began to cough violently and he asked, trou? bled, "Who's taking car? of you, any? way?" I "Hlggins and a couple of doctors." "That's all?" "Yes. Why, who should be?" Dan didn't follow up his Jealous sus? picion, but asked in a tone almost paternal and softly confidential: "How are your finances getting on?" Her Hps curved In a friendly smile. But she made a dismissing gesture with her frail little hand. "Oh, I'm all right; Hlggins told me you had some news about my poor people." The fact that she did not take up the financial subject made him un? pleasantly sure that her wants had been supplied. "Got a whole bunch of news," Dan replied cheerfully. "I went to see the old man and the girl In their diggings. Gosh, you couldn't believe such things were true." She drew her fine brows together. "I guesi there are a good many things that would surprise you. But you don't need to tell me about hard times That's tho way 1 am. I'll do anything, give anything, so long as I don't have to hear hard stories." She turned to him confidentially. "Perhaps it's act? ing in false scenes on the stage; per? haps it's because I'm lazy and selfish, but I cant bear to hear about tales of woe." What she said Bomewhat disturbed his idea of her big-hearted charity. "I don't believe you're lazy or self? ish," ho said sincerely, "but I've got an Idea thsl not many people really know you." This amused her. Looking at him quizzically, she laughed. "I expect you think you do." Dan answered: "Well, 1 guess t'.ie people that see you when you are a kid, Who come from your own par', of Send ?b your Job work. "Now Please Do Tell Me About the Poop People." the country, nave a sort of friend? ship." And the girl on the sota from the depths of her shawl put out a thin little hand to him and said in a voice as lovely in tone as when she sang in Mandalay: "Well, I guess that's right! I guess that's about true." After the tenth of a second, in which she thought best to take her little cold hand away from those big warm ones, she asked: "Now please do Uli me about the poor people." In this way giving him to under? stand how really true his better idea of her had been. "Why, the old duffer is as happy as a house afire." said the boy. "Not to boast, I've done the whole thing up as well as I knew how. I've got him into that health resort you spoke of, and the girl seems to have got a regular education vice! She wants to study something, so she's going to school." "Go on talking," the actress invited languidly. "I love to hear you talk Montana! Don't change your twang for this beastly English drawl, what? ever you do." "You have, though, Miss Lane. I don't hear a thing of Blairtown in the way you speak." And the girl said passionately: "I wish to God I spoke It right through! I wish I had never changed my speech or anything in me that was like home." And the boy leaning forward as eagerly exclaimed: "Oh, do you mean that? Think how crary London is about you! Why, if you ever go back to Montana, they will carry you from the cars In a triumphal chair through the town." She waited until she could control the emotion in her voice. "Go on telling me about the little girl." "She was so trusting as to give the money up to me and I guess it will draw interest for her all right." "Thank you," smiled the actress, "you are terribly sweet. The child got HigginB to let her into my dressing room one day after a matinee. I haven't time to see anybody except then." Here Higgins made her appearance in the room, with an egg-nog for her lady, which,'after much coaxing, Dan succeeded In getting the actress to drink. Higgins also had taken away the flowers, and Letty Lane said to Dan: "I send them to the hospital; they make me sick." And Dan timidly asked. "Mine, too?" This brought a flush across the Ivory pallor of her cheek. "No, no, Higgins keeps them in the next room." And with an abrupt change of subject she asked: "16 the Duchess of Breakwa? ter very charitable?" And Blair quick? ly replied: "Anyhow she wants you to sing for her at a musieale in Park Lane when you're fit." Miss Lane gave a soft little giggle. "Is that what you call being charita? ble?" Dan blushed crimson and exclaimed: "Well, hardly!" "Did you come here to ask me that?" "I came to tell you about 'our mu? tual poor.' You'll let me call them that, won't you, because I happened to be in your dressing-room when they struck their vein?" Miss Lane had drawn herself up In the corner of the sofa, and sat with her hands clasped around her knees, all swathed around and draped by the knitted shawl, her golden head like a radiant flower, appearing from a bank of snow. Her fragility, her sweetness, her smallness, appealed strongly to the big young follow, whose heart was warm toward the world, whose ideals were high, and who had the chivalrous longing inherent in all good men to succor, to protect, and above all tc adore. No feeling in Dan Blair had been as strong as this, to take her in his arms, to lift her up and carry her away from London and the people who applauded her, from tho people that criticised her, and from Ponlo towsky. He was engaged to the Duchess ol Breakwater. And as far as his being able to do anything for Letty Lane, he could tnly Offer her this polttem I from the woman he was going to mar iy. "I never sing out of the theater." Her profile to him and she looked steadily across tho room. "It's a per feet tight to get the manager to con? sent" Blair Interrupted and said: "Oh I'll see him; I'll make it all right." "Please don't." she said briskly. "It'l purely a business affair. How much Send us your Job work. will she pay?" Dan was rather shocked. "Anything you like." And /ier bad humor faded at hit tone, ar.d she smiled at him. "Well, I'll tell Aoach that. I guess it'll make my singing a sure thing." She changed her position and drew a long sigh as though she were very tired, leaned her blond head with iti soft disorder back on the pillow, put both her folded hands under her cheek and turned her face toward Dan. The most delicate coral-like color began tc mount her cheeks, and her gray eyet regained their light. "WTil two thousand dollars be toe much to ask?" she said gently. If she had said two million to the young fellow who had not yet begun to spend his fortune, which as far ae he was concerned was nothing but a name, it would not have been toe much to him; not too much to have given to this small white creature with her lovely flushed face, and her glorious hair. "WThatever is your price, Miss Lane, goes." "I'll sing three songs: one from Man dalay, an English ballad and some? thing or other, I don't know what now, and I expect you don't realize how cheaply you are getting them." She laughed, and began to hum a familiar air. "I wish you would sing just one song for me." "For another thousand?" she asked, lifting her eyebrows. "What song la it?" And as Dan hesitated, as if unwill? ing to give form to words that were so full of spell to him, she said do* liclously: "Why, can you see a Lon? don drawing-room listening to me sing Presbyterian hymn tune?" Without lift? ing her head from the pillow she be? gan in a charming undertone, her gray eyes fixed on his: "From Greenland'a icy mountains, Frcm India's coral strands. Where Africa's sunny fountains Roll down their golden sands." Blair, near her, turned pale. There rose in him the same feeling that she had stirred years ago in the little , church, and at the same time others. He had lost his father since thoa, and he thought of him now, but that big, sad emotion was not the one that swayed him. "Please stop," he pleaded; "don't go on. Say, there's something In that hymn that hurts." Leity Lane, unconscious of how subtly ahe was playing, laughed, and suddenly remembered that Dan had sat before her that day by the side ol old Mr. Blair. She aaked abruptly: "Why does the Duchess of Break water want me to sing?" "Because she's crazy about youi voice." "Is she awfully rich?" "Urn ... I don't know." Letty Lane flashed a look at him "Oh," she said coolly, "I guess sh? won't. Day the Drice then.'i. (TO BE CONTINUED) Novelty Brings Profite? t A New York grocer has combined an advertisug novelty and a source of profit in a butter churn, which is in almost constant operation in his store. The churn is driven by a small electric ?uotor and the scheme is to sell a patron a quantity of cream and then, for a small charge, churn it into butter. The operation takes but a few minutes. 8Igns That Foretell Weathe.-. The country dweller has a thousand weather signs that the city man never knows. A red sunset means very little to the man in the street, but to the man among the lanes it indicates rain and bad weather. Smoke that rises straight in the air is another of the signs that a farmer notices and fore? tells bad weather. Circles about the moon and sun, streaks of greasy clouds and the peculiar actions of birds and domestic animals are all in? dications of some change in the weather to the man whose eye has been tnined to recognize the signs. One of the Joys of Friendship. It is the real joy of friendship that one may think out loud to a friend. ONLY ONE. The Record in Sumtor is a Unique One. If the reader has a "bad back" or any kidney ill and if looking for re? lief and cure, hotter depend on the only remedy endorsed by people you know. Doan'a Kidney Pills relieve quickly?cure permanently. Sumter Clttssns testify to this. Here is a CSSS of it: 10. W. Vogel. 401 Hampton avenue, Sumter. S. C. lays: "For years 1 saf fered from pains through the small ?>f my back ami whenever 1 stooped. 1 was in misery. My back became very weak ami severs! times I bad to up work, a physician treated me but bis medicine brought no re? lief and 1 then tried several well known kidney remedies but was not helped. One day l read a statement iti the local paper given by ? parts who had used Doan'l Kidney Pills and the remedy bad adted so bene? ficially in that case that 1 got a sup? ply ;tt China's Drug Store. After using one box. my aches ami pains disappeared and the contents ot sll boxes completely cured me." (State? ment given February S, 190S.) The Cure Lasted. < hi ,t tnuary :?. Itll, Mr. Vogel i ,i i take ph .,sine in confirming my former endorsement of Dean's Kldnes Pllta snd making the fact known thai they effected s perma? nent ? lire in my case. You may con? tinue to publish my endorsement sf this preparation." For sale by all dealers. Price r?o .ents. Foster-It11 bum Co., Buffalo, N.-w York, sole agents f<>r the United States. Remember th<' nsnae?Dona's? and take no other. No. 15