St. Paul daily globe., 1892-12-27
DALILLAH, CANINE QUEEN.

Heavens! L turned to the stage.
There was the bIg-nOSed man, there
was Bolo, and there. in the spangled
dress. or rather undreSs. OF an acrobat,
was Hebe. My Hebe! Her magnificent
hair was let down in mane-that is
the only word for it.
The place, the people, B0lo, the big
nosed man, and Hebe swan before my
eyes in my excitement. | hurried to
the bar and asked who Hebe was. In
answer the young man who presided
placed a bill III my hand. 1t announced
that Dalillah, the Canine Queen, as
sisted by SignOr Spiffin. would give her
unrivaled entertainment with the
worid-renowned troupe of trained dogs,
and Bolo. the phenomenon.
Fancy being in love and engaged to
sup with canine queen.
! looked again at Dalillah, alias Hebe.
She was very shapely person. Had
she not been so would have fled.
All! she kissed her hand-tO mel
know it was to me. l blushed to my
waist with pleasure. The way she did
it WAS inimitable. did not know then
that she kissed her fingers every even
ing at the close of her unrivaled enter
tainment.
The curtain fell.
A sort of half waiter, half pOtman, a
.nameiess nondescript, touched me on the
shoulder. She's eXpectin' you at the
stage door," is said in hoarse whisper.
and then it held out its hand. | put a
shilling in the hand.::it winked; leery,
Ioathsome wink
l hurried out. Down dreadful court
was a grimy hatch; over it burned a
Door," A few of the dangerous classes
loitered near. l confess did not like it.
In few moments, however. all was
right. Sienor Spiffinl, all smile and
noise, appeared, leading four dogs; then
came BoIO and his bell, and last Hebe.
little Hebe, all smiles and bushes.
She held out her hand. She was a
practical little thing. WED better have
a cab, with all these dogs,' she said.
"Bill, fetch a cab!' (She called it
keb.) Sgr. Spiffini clapped the four
chains into my unexpected hands and
disappeared. All four dogs pulled
different ways. 1t was bewlderlng,
very; but there was no time for explain
ations. A fOur-Wheeled cab drove
up to the entrance of the court. The
signor held the door politely open. Hebe
entered Bolo jumped i'll; |. unused TO
the charge of four strange dogs (the
renowned troupe") struggled in as
best | could. All four chains were
round my legs.and the troupe struggled
wildly.
Where to, guvnor?" asked the long
nosed signor.
L told him-there was no escape.
Then lie got in, too! The boys cheered
us. Bolo jumped on my lap and licked
my face all the way home despite my
struggles. They talked to me, but what
with the noise of the cab. the contor-
tions of the renown ed troup. and the
caresses of ''the ph enomenOn," l could
hear nothing.
We arrived at nv studio. l opened
the door with my latch key. l hurried
in; my seven guests followed. L had
lighted the studio elaborately; six bur
ners (argands) arranged like fO0tlights,
burned before the platform: on the big
iron standard were four other strong
lights.
3 ..My DEAR" said Hebe to the signor,
who had secured his troupe at once, ''let
me introduce you n Mr.. Harper. my
artist friend, our host; my husband,
Signor Spiffini."
Sin the profession, guvnor." said the
signor, with horrible familiarity; "but
to pals like you. Jack Spiffkins."
Her husband! Her husband to play
propriety-a pretty friend. A frowsy
aunt or mOldy mother would have
been preferable. But the man her
husband (now my paD the too
familiar Spiffkins! Horror!
am man who is not easily abashed. l
had been put to expense. Supper, a
my model was worth it all. Hebe! it is
of Hebe must think. not of Dalillah,
not of the Canine Queen, least of all of
Mrs. Spiffkins. We sat down. They
seemed to like their supper. did not.
81 dOn't mind if do. guvnor," was
all | could extract from the signor, as L
pressed on the wretch the various eX-
pensiye delicacies. | tried to find the
foot of the smiling HeDe under the
table. At length | thought | had sue
ceeded; she seemed to blush, and did
not Withdraw it. Alas! it was the SEN
sitive tail of Bolo, who emitted sud-
den scream of adguish.
whats the screen for. guvnor" said
the signor as he took Off half cham
payne glass full of green Chartreuse.
smackdd his lips. whats it fOr?"
"Weil, its Wnere Spiffkins
will disrobe, you know. to dress for
Hebe.''
The signor whistled. Hebe blushed-
blushed real good innocent. healthy
blush.
Luck to you. guvnor." remarked the
signor, pledgug me with too familiar
nod.
| placed my glass to my lips in
courtesy.
.Drink fair, guvnor. say, drink
fair"
He turned his glass bottom upward.
| had to do the same.
"And that's where Mrs. S.'ll stand
when she's dressed for Hebe?' said the
signor. maliciousIy dwelling OH the
word, ana indicating the stage with his
thumb.
| nodded.
.'Ere's to yer. guvner; drink fair"
The wretch pledged Inc again, and
compelled me to empty my glasS-my
champagne glass that he had ignOrantly
filled with green ChartreuSe. He ate,
she ate, Bolo ate. They all enjoyed it.
did not, however. The room began
to swim. He pledged me again aud
compelled me to drink. don't remem-
ber any more.
Next morning at 9 was aroused by
the charwoman who "doeS for'' me.
"Ain't YOU we'll, sir?' she said; '''ave
YOU had a accident?" l could not an
sWer at first. | could move only my
head. There was strangling sensation
at my neck. l shook my head i'll an
swer--my poor head, that seemed to be
opening and shutting.
There was tinklng sound. A bell,
Bol0's bel. l opened my eyes. Bolo
was gone, so were Hebe and the sIgnor,
so was the renowned troupe.
Horrible indignitieS had been heaped
ON me. lay imbedded in my moist
modelling clay-stuck fast IN it. Round
my neck was Bolo's collar, with the
bell. 1t was that which half straugled
me. On the table lay pink card:
Benefit of /:
4: DALLILAH, THE CANINE QUEEN, :