Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-01-07
THE DWARFED CALL-BOY.

--iTb/tfOH ttttHodW
THE DWARFED CALL-BOY.
"Will you please to have this part
dead,perfect for rehearsal tomorrow,
miss?"
The speaker was the call boy of the
only theatre in a western town.
The girl to whom he handed the
part was tall and slight OF physique.
Her features were as pale as marble,
but ttrandscendently 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 murmurcd; "it Is I'M
possible. Rehearsal is called at 10
sharp. Mother lies in raging fever,
which threatens her brain, and here
are twenty lengths at least. 1t is a
hard lite" and a weary sigh followed
as the young girl took up her small
satchel, and drew her threadbare
shawl around her fragile figure
"Good-night, Denny" she said, in re-
turn to the salutat on of the old door
keeper as she quilted the theatre.
"Be careful, DEAR" he replied, she's
there again. and he jerked his thumb
over his shoulder with a warning
gesture.
a shade crossed her features, and
her mouth worked determinedly as
her eyes flashed, and a slight flush
tinged her white cheeks. The warn
ing 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, hav-
ing no brother, she was unprotected
save by that mother who now lay at
the point of death.
The night was cold, and Bessie
Darling (her stage name, the real one
being withhelD was scantily clad
AS she reached The street she looked
up at the stars, which gliltered in the
sky like polished steel. She shivered
and fastened on. The slight snow
upon the pavement creaked crisply
beneath her tread. At the corner a
young man intercepted her, and rails
ed his hat.
"Good evening"" he said, removing
his cigar; "may l have the pleasure
of seeing you Lome?"
She made no reply, but endeavored
to pass on.
"Don't be foolish" he said, offering
his arm; "you know would not harm
you"
"Your aid is not needed" she re-
piled, "and your company is unpleas-
ant. Let me pass. My mother is
very ill-perhaps dying at this very
moment"
All the more reason why you
should have help" he returned. "Al-
low me to offer any service IN my
power" He drew roll Of green
backs from his pocket and held them
toward her.
81 do not require your money. l
would not accept it to save my moth
er's life, much as | love her. Let me
pass or l shall call for aid"
He sneered.
at is late" ne said; "the streets
are deserted; you are alone, and none
will hear your appeal"
"Oh, yes, they will" 1t was the
call-boy of the theatre who spoke.
The young man turned to the new
conner. He was a singular parsonage
-dwarfed IN stature, with a head
much too large for the diminutive
body.
"Whom have | the honor to ad-
dress:" 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!"
"Ho! hop laughed the other; "a
Quaisimodo to protect his Esmer-
aida"
The dwarf bit his lips, and turned
pale as death.
'Look 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 DAZZLING accept my
escort home? will protect her from
this sneaking bully"
"The young man, pallid with rage,
rcturncd:
'I'll thrash you within an inch of
your life for this insolcnce, you
crooked-batk cur! Take thatm
He launched heavy blow at the
manlkin's head, but the little fellow
darted nmbly aside.
81 am no match for you at fisti-
cuffs" he said, "but l have not played
the Sprite for nothing"
The next instant he started for
ward, and placed his head full in the
stomach Of his antagonist, hurled him
over the cmbankment 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 insensible.
"My God you have killed him."
whispered Bessie.
"Not much loss, miss. But the
devil aids such as he. lie is worth a
score OF dead men yet. But let us
hasten or he may recover, and he
would make it as hot as Hades for
me-"
Half an hour later, Bessie sat
watching her delirious mother. AS
she removed and replaced the icy
baths upon the bursting forehead she
ever and anon applied herself to
learning the part that she must be
perfect in on the morrow. Not a
wink of sleep was hers that night,
and when she appeared at rehearsal
the red eyes and teverish cheeks told
of that studious vigil by her mothers
bed.