Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1881-11-30
lie seemed to be well suited

AhS
Mile. Cclinc, and her wild, p02lic
pas seuls. And the more popugr
she became with the audiences, he
more the other members Of the en-
pany held aloof from her!
One evening Celine was dancing
in a new part. Mrs. Pinkard M.
self had helped to dress her. NE
manager was away bargaining f a
limited series of representations Il
neighboring city, SO the old MY
felt the weight of little additidhal
responsibility.
"Celine is born artist said MIR.
Pinaard, "but she don't alxays
make use Of her lnxuriafst g.sss.s'
and the rich compilation she has!n
Mrs. PinKard was sitting half
asleep in the little dressing-room,
waiting for Ccline to ''come off,
Celine herself had just fioated from
the stage in a cloud of star-sprink-
led white tulle, with a tiny silver
wand held high above her head,
when there was binding flash Of
brilliance across the stage which did
not come from the foot-lights "a
cry from the audience-a sitting
cloud of rolling smoke.
One of the scene-shifters had care
lessly rolled fly too near the gas
light which depended behind the
scenes--the inhamable material had
blazed up like SO much tinder, and
the whole building was in q blaze
before the audience were we'll clear
of it, The terrified actors rushed
out into the bitter starlight of the
frozen winter night in their velvet
and tinsel just MS they were-ths
dancers flinging their cluaKs over
tulle and stage jewels, fled in Wild
.aflright-and not until they were
all out in the street did any one no
tice that Mrs. PinKard was not
among the number.
''She must have fallen asleep in
the green room, away back of the
scencs!" cried Mile. Celine, with a
cry which seemed to rend the vault
of heaven itself "Oh, God, have
mercy upon us, she viii be burned
to deatt!o
People looked with white, appall-
ed faces at each other. In this out
of-the way, torpid little country
town there was no "raid fire depart
ment," no gallant heroes TO rush to
the rescue. Miss Alvarez caught
Cissy by the arm as she was making
q rush toward the lurid building,
whose frame door and window cas-
ings stood out black against the glar-
ing background of fire.
care you mad, grip" she cried
hoarsely. "ihe woman is past all
rescue now-you will only imperil
your life."
But Cissy snatched her arm away.
'She was good to me" she cried
"She never spoke a cross word to
me. And / loved her! She shall
not perish in the flames if ! can
help it,
"Fool!" muttered the other, as Cis-
sy disappeared, seeming almost to
rush into the red, gaping jaws of the
flames.
"We are sorry fer Mrs. Pinkard,
too" said Montague, who in his
red velvet stage doublet and white
silk tights, stood shivering in the
old blanket which did duty for an
overcoat, "but it don't follow that we
are to risk our lives!"
"When it can do no good" hys-
terically sobbed Mrs. Teriini. e1ph
dear, oh, dear, do YOU suppose
death by fire is very painful, Mr.
Montague?"
At that very moment, however
Cissy rushed out, her flowing blacl
hair all singed away, her dress
blackened and scorched, but drag
ging hy main force the limp ane
helpless form OF poor old Mrs Pink
ard, who, stupefed by the smoke
had herself lost all power ofvolition
And. almost simultaneously, Til.
manager himself. who had arrive,
by late train, hurried upon til
scene.
| my mother!w he shrieked. m
mother! They tell me she is insid
the blazing theatre-they tell N
she is burned to deathl"
1She is here" cried Montagu,
dead or alive, that dancing girl hs
brought her out Of the very furnac
of flames.n
| They TOOK them both in an amb,
lance to the hotcl--poor Mrs. Pinl
ard, al SCARED and senseless, Ciss
pale and silent.
II don't know how / did ii" sai
she; Il only knew that I could nj