Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-31
HER DEBUT.

UnTS6 ana twenty, WIS bDO SOL buu uolr VI
the great coal mine proprietor, Matthew
C14for.
"Well, Oliver, what do you want to t
out of meY Out with it. Come to the
E-ict g crcc yc-T 1ircc" Voc . god
Sinner"
"Oh, hang it, Quavers, you know
Don't beat about the bush, my boy.
Diplomacy is wasted on chap like me-
You want something, of course. Ihope you
haven't been writing a sentimental song
and are wanting me to set it?"
''Oh, it is not so bad as that" replied
the young fellow, with a blush, Though
it is q sentimental matter. 1t is about
some one 1 take an interest in. I want to
speak to you about Lalage Broughton."
ooh, little Lally Broughton. What has
she donep Been making an ass Of your
self and want your letters back, ehN
lit isn't exactly that, replied young
Oliver.
"Quavers, " cried the young man ex-
citedly, II want you to introduce me to
her. I-I-hang it, man, 1 worship the
very ground she walks on, and I've sent
bouquets and floral banjos, and have sat
in the same seat all through the long run
of that new comic opera of yours, and ev-
cry night I've tossed O floral tribute of
some sort at her feet And every night,
Quavers, she has bowed and smiled at me
until last week, and then l was ass
enough to 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"
"You dear boy, you've evidently got it
very badly, and I'll oblige 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, chr"
The young fellow took Mr.. Quavers'
outstretched hand.
''I'm sorry for you" said the composer
kindly. You'll have to wait fortnight,
and then the run of The Little Siren
will be over, and She next day I'm going
for little tour, and I'll introduce you to
Lally Broughton in the morning. Is that
good enough"
'Ouayers you're brickl" cried the
young man excitedly. "If'-
"Oh, know-'if the devotion of life
time, etc. I'll take q whisky and soda
instead, and then I'll spin you little
yarn"
1t is just three years ago (began the
oomposer) that made little Lally Brough-
toms acquaintance under very peculiar
circumstances My first comic opera had
been accepted; the final rehearsal was on.
We began at $50 a. m, and we were
not done not really done-till 10 that
night, and we went right through every
thing, and precious anxious time it was,
can tell you.
And everybody was down upon me, and
the stage manager was down upon every
body, and the ballet master had lost his
head. The chorus master was like raying
lunatic.
And the prima donnG's understudy had
just sent in a medical certi1cate-not that
cared very much about that, for Miss
Dulcet, our sheet anchor, was in splendid
voice.
Just then very curious incident hap
pened. A little pale, blue eyed chorus girl
suddenly fell down all in a heap at my
feet. Wacklcs and picked her up and
popped her into a property chair The
girl had tainted.
''What's the matter, my dear?" said
Wackles, kindly enough, when she came
to herself
"Oh, Mr.. WacklesI" said the glrl-for
she is but a girl didn't mean to,
really didn't. Please don't say anything
about it.
"It amt a time for fainting Miss
Broughton," said Wackles, beating on his
chest in his low comedy manner. Look
at me. 1 don't faint. When 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, sir?' she said, gazing hungrily at
one of those long French loaves of bread
which Mr. Wackles was carrying over his
shoulder, as though it had been battleax.
"Of course it's real, " said Wackles.
"Oh, please" said the girl, would you
give me slice of it, sirp haven't got a
penny in my pocket, and 1 haven't tasted
anything since s this morning. These
nine weeks rehearsal, sir, don't bring any
salary, and mother and are very poor.
At that moment was sent for from the
managers room. Sparklebury was there.
So was Mr.. Mephibosheth, who represent
ed the syndicate that was running our
piece.
miss Dulcet has thrown up her part and
has left the theater, Quavers," cried tho
manager
''We are just bust" said Sparklebury.
1 rushed out. ran across the stage.
''Wackles," said hurriedly to the low
comedian, I'VE are doneI Duloet has
chuoked US, and there is no understudy."
PLEASE, sir, " cried little Lally Brough-
ton, clutching my arm, "Oh, please Mr..
Quavers, do give me chance, sir. I'm
letter perfect in the music and words, and
1 know all the business, and 1 feel
know can pull you through"
Lally Broughton did the trick, sir. We
rehearsed the last act. She went through
the other three with the principals the
next morning, and in tho 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 fort
night, added Mr.. Quavers, with smile.
I think 1 should like you to be my best
man, because, 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 Ga
Istte.
The Buffet Car Bill of Fare.
There is one strike that long suffering
travelling public could well make against