The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-05-21

applause. Raymond grew indignant.
What n shamep he muttered, an
grily "Theyd keep the poor little
fellow before them the whole night if
they could"
At that moment Little Dot appeared
from the wings and raised his hand to
his lips. The pink glow on his cheeks
had died out, and in its place was look
Of utter weariness. The audience must
have noticed it, for the house grew still
and the performance proceeded with the
next act.
Raymond buttoned up his overcoat
closely and left the theatre. 1t was bit
ter night and the streets were well nigh
deserted. The snow lay deep upon the
ground, and a raw, bleak wind brew the
still falling flakes remorselessly into his
face In spite of all his efforts he could
not dismiss the peaked, wan face from
his thoughts. A picture rose before him
of Little Dot, trudging his way back to
the hotel in all the snow at an hour when
other children were costly tucked away
in bed, and his heart was filed with pity
at the contrast.
Poor little chapn he said again, with
q sigh. I'll give him good notice"
The next night found him at the Va
rieties behind the scenes. At his request
he was taken by the manager to the
dressing room that Little Dot occupied,
and introduced to him. The child was
with his mother waiting to Ego on"
"lt's the gentleman who was kind
enough to write that notice about you,"
she said to him. "You must thank him
for it,"
ooh, it was you, was it9" he said, turn
ing his big blue eyes up at Raymond.
You're an editor, ain't you2"
The awe with which he asked this
question brought smile to Raymond's
face.
''Not exactly" he replied. 81 write
for the newspapers.
'Do you9'' said the child, eagerly.
"How clever you must be! Aud it was
you who wrote that about me. Thank
YOU very mnch. You are very, very
good"
He placed his hand to his forehead and
held it there a moment Raymond no.
ticed it and looked grave.
care you quite wellW he asked, kindly.
"Quite well," the child faltered.
"Only-only Pm little tired and-my
head aches. Hurry, mamma" as the call
boy appeared at the door; and, turning
to Raymond, he held out his little hand.
"Good-bye," he said. Its time for me
to go on"
Little Dot hastened with his mother
through the dark and gloomy passage
leading to the stage, and stood at a wing
waiting for his cue. His mother stationed
herself near by to assist him in making
his changes.
Raymond and the manager sought the
front of the house.
THAT youngster is going to be sick, y
said the journalist, with conviction, as
they parted. "He looked half ill now.
It's too bad that such weak, delicate
child should have to be out nights in such
bitter weather"
'Eh, what was that? Sick, did you
say2" cried the manager, with alarm. 81
hope mott hope not. 1t might affect
business, you know, if he didn't appear
He is the strongest card on the bill this
week"
Raymond curled his lip slightly at the
others heartlessness, and walked of.
Somehow Little Dot interested hin
strangely. 1t might have been that ht
regarded the tiny favorite of the foot
lights with plying tenderness, for the
sake of his own children.
The next night he returned to the Vari
cites to find the fears he had entertained
realized. The manager met him with 1
note in his hand.
"Read it, 4" he said, with a scowl upoI
his face.
Thus adjured, Raymond took it, ant
glanced hurriedly at the contents. 1t wa!
| to the effect that Little Dot was danger
ously low with the scarlet faver, and, a:
consequence, could not perform the
rest of the week
The words he read brought up viviG
recollection of the two babes who haC
lain in the terrible grasp of the scarle
tiend until only the great mother-love haC
won them back to life. A lump tool
possession of his throat.
"Poor Little Dot, " he murmured.
81 wouldn't have had it happen for {
hundred dollars" grumbled the mana
ger. 1T places me in a deuce of a fix
It's almost impossible to put any one on
in his place at such short notice"
You're in hard lines, said Raymond
coldly.
Something impelled him before hi
went to the newspaper office that nigh
to seek the second-class hotel where the
child and his mother were stopping
Passing a florists on his way, h6 pur
chased a bunch of the creamy, full
blown roses that were temptingly dis
played in the window, These he sent t
the sick room with his card and a reques
to know how the little fellow was.
Presently the answer came-no better
Would he go up9 Mrs. Whitley woulC
like to see him.
Raymond followed the boy upstair
and softly entered the darkened room
The mother, with the marks of weari
ness about her eyes, came from the win
dow where she had been standing anC
led the way to the bed.
He was taken i'll last night on hi
wAy back from the theatre she Whis