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Read Ebook: The Morning Glory Club by Kyle George A George Alexander Scott A O Arthur O Illustrator
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Ebook has 512 lines and 23180 words, and 11 pages
s little cause for wonder. Barbara's costume was new to Manville, and a surprise even to the club-women. As Fanny Tweedie had wished, it was "unexpected;" yet it was worn innocently and with pure thought, although that was something difficult for the narrow-minded to understand.
The closing feature of the entertainment was the production of Miss Sawyer's original play, "Yellow Roses" , which withered and died a painless death.
The curtain fell--part way--at eleven-thirty, with the audience "all present."
Despite the contrariness of the curtain, the lapses of memory, the long waits, and the slowly taken cues, the people of Manville enjoyed the "Big Show."
When the audience had gone, Mrs. Stout, with wrinkled forehead, sat at a table counting the proceeds as best she could with some one asking every moment, "How much did we make?" Many of the ladies looked grave and were acting strangely. There was much whispering going on, but it ceased suddenly when Barbara and Fanny came from the dressing-room ready to go home.
"You're the star, Miss Wallace," called Mrs. Stout, when she saw them. Barbara stopped before her and smiled. "And your costume," she continued, "was just the sweetest I ever saw."
At that moment Mrs. Tweedie approached, her face showing intense anger.
"What are the receipts, Mrs. Stout?" she asked, sharply.
"I don't know yet," Mrs. Stout replied. "I was just tellin' Miss Wallace how much I liked her costume. Did you ever see anything just like it?"
"Never!" thundered Mrs. Tweedie.
"Why, didn't you think it was pretty?" asked Mrs. Stout, in surprise.
"It was indecent!" hissed Mrs. Tweedie, as she glared at Barbara.
Everybody was looking and listening, but, excepting Fanny, too astonished to speak.
"Mother, how can you!" she exclaimed, indignantly, but Mrs. Tweedie walked quickly into the dressing-room, and slammed the door.
"Well, of all the tigeresses!" gasped Mrs. Stout.
Barbara was stunned. Fanny led her from the building, and on the way home tried to make amends for her mother's anger. But Barbara understood--the consciousness of her mistake had come like a blow in the face. Oh, if Will were only here, she thought. He had written that he could not come to the performance, but had sent all sorts of good wishes for her success. She needed him now more than she had ever needed a friend before.
The Tweedie family, excepting Tommy, argued long and late that night concerning Barbara and her costume. Mrs. Tweedie was the minority, but she won, and her decision was that Barbara must quit their roof the next day.
The Day After
"DID you ever!" exclaimed Mrs. Darling, as she ran into Mrs. Thornton's just after breakfast the next morning to finish what she did not have time to say the night before.
"You mean Miss Wallace?"
"Yes; did you--"
"Never!"
"I wouldn't have thought she'd dared!" said Mrs. Darling, with a sanctimonious look on her pretty face.
"Wonder what Mrs. Tweedie thinks."
"She was in a rage last night."
"Really?"
"Oh, yes, she was awfully angry."
"Not for worlds."
"And she looked terribly stunning."
"Yes, but I'm afraid that there'll be trouble over it in the club."
"Shouldn't wonder a mite."
"Well, I must be going; good-bye."
"Good-bye; if you hear anything--"
"I'll run in; good-bye."
Stout's Grocery was the objective of many of the male population that morning. Mr. Blake, the undertaker, was the first to arrive.
"A splendid show, Peter," he said.
"Fine."
"Manville ought to be proud."
"She had."
"Miss Wallace made a great hit, didn't she?"
"Say, wa'n't she great!" replied Peter, enthusiastically.
"She was, and her costume--" Mr. Blake continued, but Peter interrupted him.
"Beat 'em all," he said.
"I suppose that some of the stiff-backs are offended," remarked Mr. Blake, after a pause.
"What if they be?" asked Peter, indignantly. Just then Doctor Jones came in. "Mornin', doctor."
"Good morning," the doctor cheerfully replied.
"Did you go to the show last night, doctor?" asked Mr. Blake.
"Yes, I got there just in time to see Miss Wallace."
"Like her?"
"Well," said the doctor, slowly, "I have always liked her, but now I think she's immense. Send our order up early, will you, Peter?" And then he hurried out of the store, bumping into Sam Billings, who was coming in.
"Hello, Doc," said Sam, familiarly, "what you got to say about the show?" The doctor, not caring to listen to a long argument, continued on his way without replying.
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