The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-12-30
THE DWAREED CALL-BOY.


THE DWARFED CALL-BoY. .,
Twill You please have this part dead
perfect at rehearsal tomorrow, miss p
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 Is marble, but transcend.
emily lovely -one might almost risk the
expression, lovely rs IN angels.
The deep.tclling eyes scanned the Ms
Of the part, and : look Of dismay lit their
depths.
"Mercy T. she murmured; ut is impos.
chile. Rehcasal is called at 10 sharp. No.
Their lies in araging fever, which threat.
ems her brain, and here are twenty lengths
at least. It 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 return
to the old doorkeepcr as she quittde the
theater.
"Be careful, DEAR" he replied "he's
there again." and he jerked his thum
over his shoulder with I warning gesture.
A shade crossed her features, and her
mouth worked determinedly IS her eyes
flashed. and = slight flush tineed 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 IN admirer whom she scorned
but having no brother, she was unprotect.
q "a hr1 hot ho
the point of death.
The night was cold, and Bessie Da, ling
(her stage name, the real one being with.
held) was scantiiy clad. As she reached
the street she looked up at the stairs,
which glittered in the sky like polished
steel. She shivered and fastened on.
The slight snow upon. the pavement
creaked crlsply beneath her tread. At
the corner = young man intercepted her,
and raised his hat.
"Good evening"" he said removing his
cigar; ''may mot have thu pleasure Of
seeing you home!''
She made no reply but strovc to pass on.
Don't be foolish;" he said, offering
her his arm, '.you know would not harm
"Your aid is not needed, I" she replied,
land you're company is unpleasant. Let
!e pass: Ny mother is very ill-perhaps
dying 1T this very moment
"All the more reason Why you should
have help" he returned. "Allow me to
otter any service in my power" He drew
= roll Of grsenbacks 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 IS love her. Let me pass or I
shall call for add
He sneered.
ut is late, he said; 'sthe streets are
deserted; you are alone and none will hear
your appeal
''Oh, yes they wilt" It was the call boy
Of the theater who spoke.
The young man turned to the new
conner. He was = singular parsonage, 4
singular personage-dwarfed in stature,
With head much too large for the di.
minutive body.
"Whom have I the honor TO address, 7"
inquired the young blood scornfully.
That is neither here nor there, - was
tho reply. But ifMiss Darling will allow
me, I will see that she is no longer de.
tanned by unpleasant meddlers.''
"Ho no laughed the other; 4 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.
1--WE are not in Paris, and there are no
towers of Notre Dame at hand.'
home! =! will protect her from this
sneaking bully"
The young man, pallid with rage, re.
returned.
''!'ll thrash you within an inch Of your
life for this insolence, you crooked.back
cur! Take that -
He launched = heavy blow at the man.
ikin' = head, but the little fellow darted
nimbly aside.
Il am no match for you 1T fisticuffs,"
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
tho embankment where they stood. The
blood was unable to save himself: Down,
down, he fell, and, striking he.d foremost
on the bank Of tho river, lay ipsensible:
my God! you have killed. him."
whispered Bessie.
"Not much loss, miss. But the devil
aids such rs he. He is worth . score of
dead men yet. But let us hasten or he
may recover, and he would make it 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 tho morrow. Not
wink Of sleep Was hers that night, and
when she appeared ct rehearsal the red
eys and feverish checks told Of that
studious vigil by her mothers bed.
That ght Bessie Darling took the
town by storm.
The play was ended.
The curtain rang down on heart that
little reckoned the floral offerings or the
loud applause that called her before the
green scene for as she returned to tho
prompter's box news reached Bessie that
her mother WAS dead.
The reaction WAS terrible. The poer
girl Was stricken down herself. and when
the mother was buried by kindly mem.
bers Of the company, the daughter Was
nearly fit subject to occupy the same
resting place.
Time passed. and slowly the young girl
recovered. Each day during the inter.
walls the invalid found fresh bopuet
nnOn $hA %ahls he hos ha1 A. 8,ok