The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-29
THE DWARFED CALL.BOY.

perfect at rehearsal tomorrow, miss g.
The speaker was the call.boy of the
only theator in western town.
The girl to whom he handed the part
was tall and slight of physique. Her fea-
lures were pale as marble, but transcend
emily lovely one might almost risk the
expression, lovely as an angels.
The deep. telling eyes scanned the MS
OF the part and a look Of dismay lit their
depths.
''Mercy y she murmured; 1T is impos-
chile. Rehcasal is called at 10 sharp. No.
Their lies in a raging fever, which threat.
ems her brain, and here are twenty lengths
at least. 1t is hard life - and weary
sigh followed, as the young girl took up
her small satchel and drew her thread.
bare shawl around her fragile figure.
"Good-night Denny she said in retarn
to the old doorkeeper as she quittde the
theater.
: *'Be careful, DEAR he replied 'thc's
there again., and he :ierked his thum
over his shoulder with warming gesture.
A shade crossed her features, and her
mouth worked determinedly as her eyes
flashed, and a slight flush tinged her
white cheeks The warning evidently dis.
turbed her. Young as she was. hers
was the fate Of so many on the stage !!
She had an admirer whom she scorncd ::
but having no brother, she was unprotect-
ed save by that mother who now lay at
the point of aeath.
The night was cold, and Bessie Da, ling
cher stage name, the real one being with
hcld( was scantily clad. AS she reached
the street she looked up at the stairs,
which: glittened in the sky like polished
steel. She shiyered and fastened on.
The slight snow upon the pavement
creaked crlsp]y beneath her tread. At
the corner ayoung man intercepted her,
and raised his hat.
''Good evening" he said removing his
cigar; ''may not have tbs pleasure of
seeing you home o.
She made noreply butstrove to pass on.
Don't be foolish,' he said, Offering
her his arm, you know L would not harm
YOU"
''Your aid is not needed, "shc replied,
land yours company is unpleasant. Let
me pass. My mother is very i'll perhaps
dying at this very moment.''
'All the more reason why you should
have help he returned. "Allow me to
offer any service in my power" He drew
a roll Of grscnbacks from his pocket and
held them toward her.
II do not require your money. I would
not accept it to save my mothers life,ias
much as l love her. Let me pass or
shall call for aid.''
He sneered.
cit is late, he said; ssthe streets are
deserted: you are alone and none will hear
your appeal
''Oh, yes they will!'' It was the call. boy
of the theater who spoke.
The young man turned to the new
conner. He was singular parsonage, a
singular parsonage -dwarfed in stature,
with head much too large for the di-
minutive body.
'Whom have I the honor to address, p
inquired the young blood scornfully.
That is neither here nor there" was
the reply. But i(Miss Darling will allow
me, will see that she is no longer de.
tanned by unpleasant mcddlers.'
clio no y laughed the other; a Quas-
imodo to protect his Esmeralda."
The dwarf bit his lips and turned pale
as death.
''Look out that you do not meet the fate
of the recreant priest.
eve are not in Paris, 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-.
returned.
''I'll thrash you within an inch of your
life for this insolence, you crooked-bacA
cur! Take that -
He launched heavy blow at the man.
ikin's head. but the little fellow darted
nimbly aside.
Il am no match for you at fisticuffs, I"
he Kissed, but I have not played the
sprite for nothing
The next instant he started forward,
and planting his head full in the stomach
Of his antagonist, hurled him over
the embankment where they stood. The
blood was unable to save himself. Down,
down, he fell, and, striking head foremost
on the bank of the river, lay ipsensible.
"My God! you have killed him"
whispered Bessie.
"Not much loss, miss. But the devil
aids such as he. He is worth score of
dead men yet. But let us hasten or he
may recover, and he would makeit hot
as Hades for me-"
Half an hour later Bessie sat watching
her delerious mother. As she removed
and replaced the icy cloths upon the
bursting forehead she ever and anon ap.
piled herself to learning the part she
must be perfect in OH the morrow. Not
a wink Of sleep was hers that night, and
when she appeared At rehearsal the red
eys and feverish checks told Of that