Show 20 Student enough to hear the story Often she had pleaded for it but careful Mrs Ashton held her off until she was completely over her excite- ment and nervousness So well was the story told by Mrs Ashton that Ada really enjoyed it and almost envied her mother who had been so charming on the stage But when she heard of the way her mother died and of the way she had been treated by her aunt anger rcse in her heart and she was mad with a revengeful spirit but now it was too late That night however as she lay awake thinking of her past the thought struck her that she was taking advantage cf the Ashton family in its goodness Why should she receive all this hospitality? She was in no way related to them She had no right to be here Why should she not fight her own way through life? Then she remembered the praises she had received for her acting in all the plays she had participated in Why not? She was alone she had talent her parents had lived the stage life Whv net she? So all spring she planned and waited and it was a sad parting at the Ashton home when she left them in June She stooped to pick up a large Li f bouquet of La France roses and with a face wreathed in smiles of gratefulness she recognized the appreciative audience and disappeared in the wings She was “starring” in the new comedy “The Right Man” and this was the first night of a week’s engagement in a beautiful city in Maine Everywhere she had gone she had made a “hit” and tonight was no exception The audience was wild with delight Having a few moments between this last exit and her next entrance she hurried to her dressing room and anxiously opened the note attached to the flowers Now it was no new thing to receive a note Several times she in this manner had done so but had ignored them as only the cheap flirtation of a “sport” But tonight some thing told her to read it and she did “Dear Ada” it ran “Accept these few roses as a token of my appreciation of your acting If possible dine with me tonight and we will talk over old times Yours sincerely Hugh Ashton Seat 3S Section H She felt her heart swell as she placed a rose in her hair and left the In her room for her entrance anxiety to locate him she almost |