The day book. [volume], March 17, 1914, LAST EDITION, Image 25

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
THE CONCESSIONS OF A WIFE
JACK'S CHORUS GIRL
Chapter CIV,
' I left a note and a little bunch of
violets at the stasre door last nieht.
(M as it was the opening night of the
opera in which Miss Dunlap, the girl
Dick's brother Jack wrote to me
about, appeared.
Today I received a very dainty let
ter from her asking me if I would call
at her hotel, and saying she would
stay in all the afternoon in the hope
' that she might see me.
I was very much pleased with the
letter the paper and chirography
were faultless and the message sent
was gracefully worded and gratefully
expressed. There was no reference
to Jack which a person who was less
refined, than was evidently the
writer, would have made.
I asked Eliene Symone if she would
care to go with me, telling- her the
contents of Jack's letter to me,
Eliene came for me in one of her
numerous cars and we went ti the
modest hotel where Miss Dunlap was
staying in style.
"Miss Dunlap will be right down,"
said the clerk and in a few minutes
a very prejtty girl, absolutely guiltless
of powder1 and rather pale and tired
looking, made her appearance
She greeted us without embarrass
ment and -said: "I will liave to ask
you into the diningroom to have a
cup of tea, as my roommate is not
well and we would disturb her if we
should go to our rooms."
Mrs. Symone said something about
the comfortable look of the hotel and
remarked that she had not known
there was such a hotel in the city.
"Yes, it is very comfortable," said
Miss Dunlap, "and you know the sal
ary of a chorus girl does not always
admit of comfort." Then as she saw
me looking at her rather quizzically,
she said, with a wistful little smile:
"Some of us, yotfknow, live onour
"Why don't you try to do some
thing else?" I asked, rather bluntly
I am afraid.
"Simply because I don't know how
to do anything else," she answered.
"I fancy I was brought up as many
other girls are sent to a private
finishing seminary after I was grad
uated from high school. There I
learned to-dance, to walk and be so
cially gracious. Fortunately I had a
good voice and it was cultivated after
a fashion, so when my father and
mother died within two months of
each other I was practically helpless
as well as homeless, for my father
left no money. I found that only on
the stage was there a place for such
small attainments as mine.
"There really is not' another place
in the world of work, for a girl who
does not know how to do anything,
but the stage I mean for a girl who
has a modicum of good looks and
who can carry herself gracefully and
who can dance and sing.'she said
with a slight blush.
She is very pretty, with great
brown eyes and an appealing look
that made me want to kiss her. I
mentioned Jack and her face became
radiant. ' '
"He told, me so much about you
and I did hope you would -come to
see me," she said, -ingeniously "for
it's very lonely on the road. I don't
speak to anyone but those in the
company from one week to another."
"I'll tell you what we'll do." said
Eliene Symone, impulsively, "you and
Madge come and have dinner with
me tonight. I am going to be alone
and I know Dick is out of town."
I can't come tonight because I
must take care of Miss Wills, who is
rooming with me and who is too ill
to go to the theater, but I'd love' to
come tomorrow if I may. I haven't
dined with anyone since I dined with
Jack last September, just before the
salaries.
yshQWiopened.'.' w . ..