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Newspaper Page Text
jBgftfl iVqfcfrewre ;'-N&iwf in consternation at the storm he had raised. How could they sit there so calmly when a human being was go ing to his death in such a fashion? But when Portia came in, attired as the doctor of laws, William JViullins knew her immsdiately. "That's Lucyr ia whispered. "Mother! That's our girl! Look at her!" He sat now like a man entranced, starting at her. And when she con founded Shylock with her learning, when, after appealing to hfs human ity in vain, she ruthlessly unmasked the laws and drove' him, suppliant, be fore the judge's seat, the father could restrain himself no longer. He stood up in his seat and waved his hand. "By Crickey, Lucy", you've got him!" he yelled. "Good girl! That's the way! Teach the rogue a lesson! Tell his honor not to let him get away with his life! No mercy!" There were no longer whispers of remonstrance. Instead, there was. an uproarious outburst of laughter, with a salvo of hearty handclapping to fol low. And the old parents, shrinking back Into their seats, the observed of every eye, saw that Lucy had seen them. It was wonderful! How had then little girl acquired learning enough to confute the wily, blood-mad usurer? They sat still In their seats, bewil dered and dazed, long after the cur-i tain had fallen and the theater had begun to empty. They were almost alone when they realized jthat the play wa3 over. An usher came toward them. "Mr. and Mrs. MuHlns?" he Inquir ed blandly, casting curious glances at the old couple. "Miss Margaret Lake would like to see you In her dressing room. -Will you step this way, please?" They followed him down the, stairs, through a side door, and into a wonderful place behind the Scenes, where properties of all kinds were stowed away. They could hardly take their eyes off, and the usher was conv celled to stop for them several times before he brought them to the comj. fortable room in which their daugh ter was waiting. She was attired in her street go.wn and she had carefully washed every trace of paint from her face. There ' was- no reason why she should .let them misunderstand. . " As the old couple halted,, .rattier sheepishlyi at the door, Lucy, ran to ward them, and was clasped 'in their arm. "Father!" she cried. "So you have found me out! And mother, too! Why didn't you let me know., and I would have had a box for you!" "By gum, Lucy, what woulq" we do with a box?" ejaculated -her father. "Why, Lucy, we wanted to be some where where we could see you. We couldn't have seen you in a box. Lucy, the way you did up that Drylocks fel low was scrumptlpus. Some denied old tabby told us you were on the stage, and we come down here to save you from ruin but I guess we don't mind now as much as we did do we, mother?" "0, Lucy!" exclaimed her mother, clasping her in her arms again. And then Lucy insisted on intro ducing them to her friends to Mr. Grosvenor, the "star," and to various subordinate members of the com pany. And Lucy was to drive them to their hotel in her own automobile. Al together it was a night of surprises for the old people. But, as they went outtogether, Lucy made an excuse to run back for something, and she caught Mr. Gros venor by the arm. "I wish we had told them every thing!" she whispered. "Shall I, Phil lip?" He nodded and she went on. "Pid you eyer stop to think, my dear, it's just old people like these our fathers and mothers in, far-away villages that make the stage as good as it is today, and keep so many, MtfiM-aiMttMMi