The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-06-13
Written for the ADVOCATE.
Gabrielle webster; or. A WOman's
Wrongs.
ruE BALLET 'e1nL.

Walter Armand, the popular manager OF
Chicago theatre, was walking dreamily up
and down one of the long corridors Of the
building, when he felt his arm touched. and
turned to see who the intruder was, and,
beauty proof, as his nature was, it could not
resist the fascinating power that instantly
was inspired by the vision OF very beauti-
full creature who stood awaiting his atten-
ton. A girl young and fair and exquisitely
formed, with profusion Of nut-brown hair
falling on her shoulders, and large, lustrous
eyes veiled by the longest lashes he ever be-
held, eyes that were large and bright, and in
which the softest light fluctuated in a thou
sand prismatic rays. One white, dimpled
hand held worn shawl together, the other
clasped the hand Of a child, boy of eight
years.
"You wish to speak to me2" asked Mr..
Armand, looking al her with righteous eyes,
and without that questionable glance so many
men bestow on a woman, standing alone and
unknown before them.
Il saw your advertisement" the girl an
swered. 81 have no employment, and would
like to earn something as a dancer | can
give good reference"
Il care nothing for reference" Mr.. Ar
pretty face and good figure was the best re-
ference she could bring
He looked at her critically "Come this
afternoon at three, and / will see what you
can do. Stage dancing is very different
from parlor display. If you meet the re-
quirement, ] will engage You al weekly
salary"
So she was dismissed. Business with Man.
ager Armand meant business he had moi
asked her into his Office ,r offered her a seat
or asked any questions about her family
She was about to tell him thai her mother
was very i'll, that they were poor and friend
less, and she must support them all, and the
tears came into her eyes at his brusque man
ner. She had yet to learn be had done hei
great kindness by his non-questioning. HI
had such applications every day. All balle
girls are poor many of them have sick mo
Tiers, and with all Of them-it is q hand-to
hand struggle with want, debt, shame ant
misery, Of which as yet Gabrielle WebsteI
knew nothing.
Manager Armand looked after her retreat
ing form and shook his had. SIT is pity
he said, shut | cannot hgip it. will war;
her Of the evils attend It on such life
Thousands avoid them, but she is very younl
and very beautiful If she has the poetry
of motion in her feet, her fortune is made
The next day when she came again lead
ing her little brother, Eugene, by the hand
he gave her into the hand of an assistant
who, in turn, led her behind the scenes {,
the dancing room, where she was soon iress
ed in the tinsel and gilt OF stage inery. =
little did Gabrielle know Of the world tha
she did not blush when she came out on th'
stage before the manager and company. In
deed it was rather pleasure to her innocen
mind to again wear the short dress Of child
hood. The white slippers on her dainty fec
pleased her; and she danced with the ut
most abandon OF child. The smile On be
red lips was not the stereotyped smile Of {
professional She loved TO dance. AM
motion of her little shapely limbs was III
perfection Of art. She spurned the floor ant
Haunted in the air, balanced on her toes
went through all the difficult, intricate figure
lof the dance, with perfect ease, and won TO
herself tumults Of applause from the critica
and fastidious company, interspersed witt
glances and tones Of envy and jealous feeling
the qualifying element Of . merited success
"And now for home" )" said Gabrielle, whe'
she had changed her dress, made terms witt
the manager, and was again IN the stree
with her little brother. "And remembei
Eugene, you must not tell mamma where v
have been; know its wrong to deceive .
good and kind person, but IT Is all tor he
and you: We would have starved 70 death
1'Genie, if had not thought of this Ho'
J little dear, good Mons. Cutin thought shoul
yet earn living by those fancy dances b
taught me. Good people say the theatre
. wicked place, but what temptation can
D have for me. with you ant dear mamma m
2 my prayers to guide ,ne. So do not o.
anything about It to mamma, for itwoul
ioniy worry her."