The morning call., 1894-07-30
SALLY'S DEBUT.

They were having their coffee, after
rather elaborate dnner-QuaverS and
Oliver.
Quavers, the composer, was the fashion.
His host, st. John Oliver, known to his
friends as "Coaly," only three and twenty,
was the son and heir of the great coal
mine proprietor. Matthew Oliver.
"Wen, Oliver, what do you want to get
out of me? Out with it. Come to the
point at once. Your dinner was a good
dinner"
"Oh, hang il, Quavers, you know"
Don't beat about the bush, my boy,
diplOmacy is wasted on a chap like me.
You want something. of course. l hope
you haven't been writing sentimental
song and are wanting me TO set IT,"
20. it is not so bad as that" replied the
young fellow, with blush, though it is a
sentimental matter. 1t is about some one
l take an interest in. l want to speak to
you about Lalage Broughton."
80, little Lally Broughton; what has
-she been doing? Been making an ass of
yourself aud want your letters lack. ell? ,"
''It isn't exactly that" replied young
Oliver.
"Quavers!" cried the young man excit-
edly, Il want you to introduce me to her,
1-I-hang it. man! / worship the very
ground she walks on, and I've sent Dou-
Quets and floral banJOs, and I've sat IN the
same seat all through the long run of that
new comic opera of yours, and every night
I've tossed a floral tribute OF some sort or
other at her feet; and every night, Qua
Vers, she has bowed and smiled at me-
until last week. and then | was ass
enough 10 put a ring and note among the
flowers, and the next day got 'em back
in a registered letter, and now she just
pushes my flowers aside with her foot"
~ ou dear boy; you've evidently got It
very BADLY, and I'll O5ige you. though it
isn't The sort OF thing I'd do for every
body, but because you're not bad sort of
chap and you mean honestly. You do
mean honestly. eh ?"
The young fellow took Mr.. QuaYer's
outStretcheQ hand.
Pm sorry for you" said the composer
kindly. You'll have to wait fortnight,
and the run of The Little Siren will be
over, and the next day Pm going for
little tour, and I'll introduce you to IIally
Broughron in the morning. Is that good
. -enOugb?"
J" "Quavers. you're brickp cried the
young man excitedly; If"
"Oh, know; if the devotion OF a
lifetime, etc. I'll take a whisky and
soda instead. and then I'll spin you little
yarn"
1t is Just three years ago tbegan the COM
3 poser that l made little Lally BrOughton's
acquaintance under very peculiar cir
r. cumstances. My first comic opera had
been accepted, the final rehearsal was on.
We began al $3.50 a. NJ, and we were not
:d0Be-n0t really dOne-tll 10 that night,
and we went right through everything,
and precious anxious time it was, ] can
tell you.
And every one was down upon me, and
the stage manager was down upon every
body, and the ballet-master had lost his
head, and the chorus-master was like a
Taving lunatic.
And the prima donna's understudy had
just sent in a medical certifcate-not that
cared very much about that, for Miss
Dulcet, our sheet-anchOT, WAS in splendid |
voice.
just then very curious accident hap
pened. A little, pale, blue-eyed chorus
girl suddenly fell down all in a heap at
2 my feet. Wackies and l picked her up and
popped her into property chair; the girl
had tainted.
whats the matter, my dear?" said
Wackles kindly enough, when she came to
herself.
40, Mr. WackiesP' said the girl--for she
is but girl didn't mean to. l really
didn't; please dun't say anything about it,"
ut amt a time for fainting, Miss
BrOughton," said Wackles, beating on his
chest in his best low-comedy manner: look
at mel cont faint. When a professional
lady wants to faint she should faint out Of
business hours"
please don't, Mr.. Wackles," said the
girl, with a little sob. "And, Oh, Mr..
Wackles," she added-and there was an
awful look about her eyes-'is that real
Loaf, slr?" she said, gazing hungrily at one
OfthOse long French lOaves of bread which
MI Wackles was carrying over his sh0ul-
der as though it had been battle-ax.
"Of course, it's real" cried Wackles.
"Oh, please" said the girl, would you
give me slice of it. sir? haven't got
penny in my pocket, and l haven't tasted
anything since s this morning These nine
weeks Tehearsals, sir, don't bring any
salary, and mother and l are very poor"
AT that moment | was sent for into the
managers room. SparklebuTy vas there, |
so was Mr.. Mephlbosheth. 5ho repre- |
sented the syndicate that was running our |
piece.
I'VE are just bust" said Sparklebury.
rushed out. l ran across the Stage.
'Wackles," l said, hurriedly, to the low |
comedian, I'VE are donel DuIcet has |
chucked US, and there is no understudy." |
please, sir," cried little Lady BrOugh- |
ton, clntchlng my arm. "Oh, please, Mr.. |
QuaVers, do give me a chance, sir. I'm |
letter perfect III the music and words, and |
[ know all the business, and l feel-I |
know [ can pull you through
Lally Broughton did the trick, sir. We |
rehearsed the last act, she went throuph |
the other three with the principals the
next morning, and in the evening we |
sprang our new prima donna upon the |
world of fashion.
That girl has made my fortune, Oliver:
I'm to be married to her this day fortnight
added Mr. Quavers with smile). | think
l should like you TO be my best man, be-
cause. you see, we are both in love with
her.
"Quavers," replied Oliver. after pause,
IL shall be delighted. You're lucky
fellOW."-C. j. Wills in st. James Gazette.