The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-01-17

/ OF beautiful girls! III would pay ne
better than the sewing and it would be
pleasant change. Without giving hersel
time for reflection she went there AM
then to the stage door of the big theatr
and asked to see the manager Of the com
pany that was to give the production.
He came to her and she did not fain
when he appeared. On the contrary, sh
was very much on the alert and answered
all questions with self-assurance tha
evidently pleased the gentleman who pu
them.
He apparently liked her appearance
and he smiled with a sort OF gratitude
when she said she couldn't act, anC
wasn't at all accomplished, because man
ayers very rarely meet that kind of per
son. Applicants for positions on tn
stage are nearly always the creates
people on earth-in their own estima
ton.
~ will give you a chance, young
lady," he said at last, and will cast yo,
for small part called the Queen of tn
Gnomes. You have but few lines It
speak, and have finished at the end o
the second act, when you can go home tt
your mother"
For Peggy had told this kindly
looking manager everything. She wa
delighted at her luck and went HON,
ION air" 1t was not till later, whe1
her mother had fallen asleep over hel
knitting, that Peggy began to feel {
little doubtful. She would not dare tC
tell Mrs. bennington what she was going
to do. The old lady had a perfect horrol
of theatres, and, after all, Peggy re
tlected, it would not be necessary to di
vnlge her secret. She could look fo1
work in the shops every day, and ther
when she found it she could resign from
her queenship of the gnomes. It was alb
solutely necessary that she earn money
Starvation stared them in the face with
out it.
And Jacll-no, she could not tell jack
Mr. Burlington would certainly not care
to imagine that his afianced wife wa;
every evening queen of the gnomes fol
the benefit of a critical public. Poor
Peggy She rebelled at the idea of de
ception. 1t is easy to be frank and
straightforward when there is no reason
why you should be otherwise One thing
she remembered with joy. Jack was
obliged to work every night now. He
would not miss her. They could spend
their Sundays together just the same as
ever. SO Peggy went to rehearsal, and
was pronounced entirely competent. The
work was very distasteful to her; the
people with whom she came in contact
disguised her. But she associated with
them as little as possible, and was careful
TO avoid giving offense.
Peggy's trials began during the first
week The King OF the Gnomes per
sisted in prosecuting her with attentions.
He was a very Objectionable creature,
and she tried hard to let him see that
she thought so. She longed to conide
in Jack-dear, old Jack-but there she
was without a soul in the world TO whom
she could tell her troubles. In her princi-
pal scene with the King of the Gnomes
she had to tear from his face a black veil
which he wore, and manifest astonish-
ment at his features which she was sup
posed never to have seen before, having
married him by some weird rite. The
King always seized this opportunity TO
smile sweetly and to press her hand af-
fectionately as possible.
One night as she reached her home,
she was going TO her room, tired and
when, standing in the par
lor, with an angry pallor on his face, she
saw Jack. Ia an agony of apprehension
she tried TO mentally formulate some ex-
cuses for her absence before she went TO
him, but he gave her no time. He rushed
to meet her, and drew her into the room.
Peggy WINS Z hs S sid, l biz sgss big with
Peggy was silent Her load of woe
seemed really greater than she could
bear.
~ asked your mother, y Jack went on.
looking into her tear-dimmed eyes, "and
she told me that you were out every
night now, working. Is that trueln
"Jackn-Pcggy gulped down big
iob-''how do you think we should live
f didn't workl Do you suppose we
lave an income or-or-that tit rains
money!"
mo, dear" he said, tenderly stroking
he smooth little head, and the light Of
deepest compassion in his eyes-which
he couldn't see. 81 know you 90 to
work, but I do not believe that you still
10 the sewing as your mother thinks.
Am l right?n
Peggy moved away from him, indig-
lant.
Il refuse to answer" she declared.
you have no right to question me. I
m old enough to do as 1 think best.
When am your wife you can command
nc, but until then-no.
''Won't you trust me, Peggy?"-very
II canuot-just yet"
Peggy cried bitterly when Jack had |
one. Of course, he had the right to
uestion her, but she resented his inter
erence. Then she was afraid of his
lger when he learned what she was
DING. But men were so inconsiderate,
lie thought. They would sooner hear
woman starving than working for
er livelihood. If Peggy had applied to
aciS ne might have helped her, but the
little lady would have cut
Ut her tongue rather than apply to the
oung man.
The idea of work next night sickened
er. She went to the theatre depressed
I'd i'll. Queen of the Gnomesi How
tterly silly the term queen sounded
lpled to herself. She felt she was the
ost inferior gnome in the gathering.
hen the thought of meeting the King
ce to face againl How horrible it was
las life always to be as dark and IN
easant as it seemed Just now2 Peggy
1nned her black goblin attire with the
rongest inclination she had ever felt to
ar it to pieces. She was thankful that
ie had not been called upon to be one of
e smiling radiant fairies. She could
1t have smiled upon this occasion.
The curtain rose upon the dark. sub
rranean cavern, where the gnomes had
cir home. Peggy WAS thinking of Jack
the time. If only she had told him
hat she was doing. She would have felt
ore at her ease, at any rate This
eight on the conscience was killing her.