The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-20
CHAPTER XY-CoNTINUED.
nIRn TAKES lip HER CUE.


BIRD TAKES UP HER CUE.
"Remember," said Freda to Daisy, as the
performance was about to begin. don't
act keen cool. mind your own business,
don't speak until you are sure you nave
your cue, and if you leave out anything'
don't 90 back for it.
Poor Daisy was white through her make
up: trembling and breathing in short gasps.
"Give her some whisky" said TRADE.
"And make ner sickl go away"
"Oh what shall 1 do" painted Daisy.
Don't gasp, for one thing; it only makes
you more scared. Breathe slow and strong"
and as Daisy began futlering the leaves of
her part, "let your part alone; you can't
learn any more now, and you only add to
your fdgets.'
''Freda, can't control myself"
"Self-control." said Freda. sis at best
and at first suppressing display Of emotion
Keeping quiet physically VIII make you
quiet mentally. Do it."
Daisy began to whisper while the muscles
OF her face twitched. At this Freda said:
Look here, Daisy. You're going to be
calm OF in Mysteries before FIVE minutes,
according to whether you take my advice or
20 on starting and gasping and walking up
and down"
By dint of hard-hearted talk like this
FGeda got the girl through to her first cue
rs END OF my rope" sounded Daisy, with
sudden sliffening Of every muscle, walked on
the stage hummng, as Freda had directed
only she hummed ''Oh where, oh Wbers
Instead Of the suggested melody. At the
Sound Of her own voice, and the comfort
ing observation that her feet were moving
all right. confidence, like dove OF peace,
settled upon her. The audience melted
from her thoughts. She was conscious OF
soft orange glow in front OF her; Ike
luminous curtain fTinged with the Wayerlng
ioOtl;ghLS Her own identity faded, ana
The scene went smoothly, even charmIngiy.
"N Very well, my dear very well, SAID HI
dare, giving her a slight squeeze before ne
dissolved the curtain picture, and your
dress is charming, too"
Don't feel too sure, Freda warned, as
she hastily pinned on the 'drApery vast
and adjusted the borrowed train.
For all that. Daisy waited impatiently for
the cue. This was her " big scene ~ IL this
size would show them.
Let her come in" said the NabOb.
Daisy flung the door open and came in fly
igE. There was a scene brace across the
door though ant over she tripped. In spite
of the stumble. she gathered herself, but the
pause had given tue door time to close on
self all courage for flying II " had de-
parted, and she battered weakly to her
&" father" slumped on her knees and Won
dered if her feet were free from her dress.
The Nabob's eyes were fixed eXpectantly
upon her A pail of horror fell across her
brain. OF course, OF course, she ought
to speak, The NabOb reared the line in
her ear. Sue gathered herself and spoke it,
but her confidence was gone When she
rose she found herself damned between her
fathers chair and her tangled train. Her
mouth was dry, and she could not wet it,
an awful hush seemed around her, through
which her own voice piped quiverngly. The
'hOuss" was alternately a black yawuing
vault and Unrestricted space. Now and
then the heads of the musicians and the
handle of the base VOL showed like demons
swimming IN 4 sea OF flame. The foot
lights gave her that idea, she supposed, and,
having stopped to suppose that her lines
left her. 4 panIc-StTuUk thought OF running
away came. To get away-where9 ANY,
where dark and quleti Then the words
started again. They did not sound like
sense, but she was glad TO voice whatever
came in her head. The Nabob evidently got
lis cue all right, for he made his exit
Poor Daisy felt herself deserted in a
Jungle of India with wild animals all around
Ter. Size fought desperately through the
stream Of words, ner arms swinging here
and there she went Down on her knees for
the prayer Fart, and thought she heard a
Din give way. Then the page she had
studied appeared before her. She thanked
her Maker, and read wildly from the phan-
tum manuscript. When the words blurred
she made up AT the end, mindful of
Freda's directions, she rose and backed into
the calcium. She heard more pins go, and
She was a good deal cut OF wind, but she
br2ced for a final effort
Il will marry the DukeI
OF course it should have been Count"
If-Tld hat qfn and l1a ri in,
descended corrected herself in a shrll
squeak, which fortunately the curtain music
drowned.
ION. Freda p she walled. II shall never
be an actress"
Never mind; it wasn't So So bad. Lucky I
used safety pins, wasn't it?"
But l cut out the whole plot saying
'Duke'!"
ION, well, that doesn't hurt the play.
Most Of them expected you TO say Count
and probably thought you did say Count.
The rest didn't hear you, anyhow"
Daisy's nerve was gone, though. Even
her coming wordless scene seemed too much
for her. An how delusive were the tales
Of the joys of acting and the triumphs of I'M
derstudies! Freda managed to get her on
aud OFF two or three times, the last time
saying: -
Your next ends it; remember the Nabob
brings you on"
Daisy stood faint and trembling, saying
TO herself that in little while it would be
over.
at comes in a minute" Freda whispered,
passing near the entrance.
DaiSys heart thumped heavily.
Just then startled muTmur from the
girls behind her caught her attention.
The girls ('ladies OF rank" on the pro-
gramme), who by entering with her, were
70 assist In the scene with a generous dis
play OF Chalked shoulders and such luXuri-
ImnTpEgiO THAR
could convey, were all, with Widened eyes,
looking down the long hall, which ter
minated at the stage door. Up this hall,
with rapid step, came Whitehead, dia-
mond-lighted figure, whose soft hair and
strained face showed clearer as she neared
the glare Of the wings.
Its Miss Elaine, gasped the girls.
They Tell back from her, and Daisy shrank
aside, as with rustic of silk and chink of
beaded fringe, her eyes bright and fixed,
she came. At the sound of this familiar
words from the stage her face brighten ed.
The cue was upon her. She lifted the
drapery and stood in the light of the stage.
A stir went through the house at sight of
the slender, nerVe-sustained figure, with
great earnest eyes and star-crOwned brow.
The people on the stage fell back. She mo-
TONED the Nabob aside, and with her head
erect and unfaltering step came to her ap-
pointed place. Her shining eyes were fixed
on Kildare. In that moment all faded from
her but his face. She lifted her arms to-
ward him.
II am come" she said, and then again,
more loudly. am comeP'
With this she swayed, her eyes showed
white, and she fell upon her face.
The curtain rang down. Freda lifted
Bird, and turned her face. A trail of blood
came from between the clenched teeth.
She is deadP' Freda moaned. Then she
stood and pointing at Kildare she cried /:
And that coward there has killed herp'
CHAPTER XVI.
YOU SEE HE LOVED ME.
You are crazy" smiled Kildare.