The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 243: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IN THE LAND OF ILLUSION. 229 would have died rather than appeal to her great-aunt, who was very poor, and who, she knew, would tell Bob of her predicament, and he had always said that she would never become an actress, but would return home and marry him. She ceased seeking an engagement, and remained in the house and wrote letters and worked on a crochet neck- tie which, she dared hardly tell her- self, was intended for Bob. One night terror at the thought of being stranded seized her, and in the morning she got up with the fear still upon her, and began going the rounds again. But now the wretched beings who sat and sat depressed her so that she could hardly endure the sight. She attempted to lie about her pro- fessional experience, and say that she had been on the stage, but it was no use; she always got caught. Some days she’ was actually glad to be told that a manager would not see her. Z The heat: was terrible, and she was bedraggled and fagged in every way. At night she could not sleep for worry- ing. She was half-starved, and what little food she allowed herself would stick in her throat and sicken her. On the street people often insulted her, and she was very miserable. Why prolong the agony? You doubtless have heard the tale better told by folk who know nothing what- ever about it. But you will have to jump over two weeks’ repetition of those things which I have been enu- merating, and in your jumping do not imagine that the time flew equally fast for Miss Millie Ferguson. It did not! Now, are you ready? The three weeks are accounted for? Well, the girl heard that a friend of hers was visiting in New Rochelle. She determined to go up and see her friend. She thought the other girls might cheer her up a bit. She wrote and asked when she might come, and how. The answer arrived the next day, and in it was a.note from the hostess of Millie’s friend, asking that she come at once and stay as long as her engagements would permit. The reference to “ engagements ” made a Jump rise in Millie’s throat, but she went. With the assistance of some half- dozen persons of whom she inquired the way, Millie eventually arrived at her destination. She was too late for lunch, and, being very hungry, her temper was not of the best. Fo make matters worse, she found Bob was on the scene! He, too, was visiting at the same house! He had not told her that he was even thinking of coming North, and she was provoked. Women only like sur- prises, even pleasant ones, theoretically. Millie attempted to hide her feel- ings, and later tried to flirt with her some-time beau; but he would not flirt, and, what was worse, he did not seem sufficiently attentive. Before dark Millie announced that she had to go back to the city. Bob accompanied her, although she was nasty about it. At her own door-step he asked her to marry him. “I’m not goin’ to ask you to give up the stage for me, Millie,” he an- nounced. ‘You can go on being an actress.” The girl looked at him. She thor- oughly enjoyed hearing again the old familiar, gentle voice. The stage did not seem to be at all what she wanted to make her happy. “IT want—” she began. “What?” he ifterrupted. “IT want—” Again her voice failed her. The man caught her in his arms de- spite the glare of the many lights and the passing crowds. She lay silent for a moment; then, raising herself, whis- pered: “ There isn’t going to be any actress.’ As she continued, her lips felt scratched where they had been crushed against his prickly coat: “ No, there isn’t going to be an actress: there is Just going to be a Mrs. Bob. I want you.” CoOMmicbook CO