The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-10-14
THE DWARFED CALL.BOY.

THE DWAkFED CALL.bO1s
evil. you please have this part dead
perfect at rehearsal tomorrow, miss"
The speaker was the call boy of the only
theater in western town. The girl to
whom he handed the part was tall and
slight in physique. Her features were
pale as marble, but transcendently lovely
-one might almost risk the expression,
lovely as an angels.
The deep-telling eyes scanned the MS.
of the part, and look of dismay lit
their depths.
"Mercy!" she murmured; I" it is i'm
possible. Rehearsal is called at ten
sharp. Mother lies in a raging fever,
which threatens her brain, and here are
twenty lengths at least. 1t is hard
life" and a weary sigh followed, as the
young girl took up her small satchel
and drew her threadbare shawl around
her fragile figure. Goodnight, Denny"
she said, in return to the salutation of
the old doorkeeper as she quilted the
theater.
"Be careful, DEAR" he replied; "he's
there again." and he jcrked his thumb
over his shoulder with warning gesture.
A shade crossed her features, and her
mouth worked determinedly as her eyes
flashed, and slight flush tinged her
white cheeks. The warning evidently
disturbed her. Young as she was, hers
had been the fate of so many on the
stage! She had an admirer whom she
scorned; but, having no brother, she
was unprotected save by that mother
who now lay at the point of death.
The night was cold, and Bessie Dar-
ling cher stage name, the real one being
wilhheld), was scantily clad. AS she
reached the street, she looked up at the
stars, which glittered in the sky like
polished steel. She shivered, and has
tened on. The slight snow upon the
pavement creaked crisply beneath her
tread. At the corner young man in
tercepted her, and raised his hat.
"Good evening"" he said, removing
his cigar; "may ] not have the pleasure
of seeing you homer
She made no reply, but strove to pass
him.
"Don't be foolish" he said, offering
his arm; "you know that l will not
harm you."
"Your aid is not needed" she replied,
"and your company is unpleasant. Let
me pass. My mother is very ill-perhaps
lying at this very moment"
All the more reason that you should
have help" he returned. "Allow me to
offer any service in my power" he
drew a roll of greenbacks from his
pocket, and held them toward her.
"I do not require your money. L
would not accept it to save my mothers
life, much as l love her. Let me pass,
or shall call for aid"
He sneered. "It is late," he said !;
"the streets are deserted ; you are alone,
and none will hear your appeal"
go, yes, they willp 1t was the call
boy of the theater who spoke.
The young man turned to the new
conner. He was singular parsonage
dwarfed in stature, with head much too
large for the diminutive body.
"Whom have the honor to addressT'
inquired the young blood, scornfully.
"That is neither here nor there" was
the reply. But, if Miss Darling will
allow me, will see that she is no longer
detained by unpleasant meddlers."
"Hol hop laughed the other; ga
The dwarf bit his lips, and turned pale
as death. clock out that you do not
meet the fate of the recreant priest"
"We are not in Paris" retorted the
blood, "and there are no towers OF
Notre Dame at hand"
"Will Miss Darling accept my escort
home? ! will protect her from this
sneaking bully"
The young man, pallid with rage, re.
turned, "Pll thrash you within an inch
of your life for this insolence, you
crooked-back cur! Take that!" He
launched heavy blow at the manikin''
head, but the little fellow darted nimbly
aside.
"I am no match for you at fisticufis,
he hissed "but / have not played tht
Sprite for nothing"
The next instant ne started forward
and, planting his head full in the stomach
of his antagonist, hurled him over th'
embankment where they stood. Th'
blood was unable to save himself. Down
down he fell, and, striking headforemos
on the bank of the river, lay insensible
"My God you have killed him.
whispered Bessie.
Not much loss, miss. but tne ueVi
aids such as he. He is worth score o
dead men yet. But let us hasten, or h
may recover, and he would make 1t a
hot as hades for me-"
Half an hour later Bessie sat watching
her delirious mother. As she removed
and replaced the icy cloths upon tn
bursting forehead, she ever and anol
applied herself to learning the part sh
must be perfect in on the morrow. No
a wink Of sleep was hers that night, ant
when she appeared at rehearsal the re-
eyes and feverish cheeks told OF tha
studious vigil by her mothers bed.
That night Bessie Darling took tn
town by storm.
The play was ended.
The curtain rang down on heart tha
little reckoned the floral offerings or tn
loud applause that called her before th
green scene; for,'as she returned to tn
prompter's box, news reached Bessl
that her mother was dead.
, The reaction was terrible. The poe
: girl was stricken down herself, and, whe
: the mother was buried by the kindl
members Of the company, the daught
was nearly fit subject to occupy u
: same resting place.
Time passed, and slowly the your
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