The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-12-26
''aiR. FREELANCE IS BACK"

pieces and the bottom would drop out
Of the whole play. I thought I'd speak
to you about it because Ha1dup has
caught now angel and said some
thing to me about Kitty Bracebridge''-
IF that wolf puts her foot in this
theater''- began Miss Livingstone, but
Mr.. Freelance interrupted her by plac-
ing his hand over her mouth and say
ing: "Wait for me after the curtain
goes down, Pearl, and I'll talk to you
about it. Shadrach's waiting in the
Office, and I've got to give him Jolly
SO as to get the costumes out Of him, but
I'll BIZ back here after the last act. -
In spite of tho storm outside and the
dispiriting atmosphere within the per-
formance given that night by the Jollity
stock company was q notably brilliant
one, for tho news had spread that there
was to be a speedy change Of bill, and
hope was once more in every member 8
breast Mr.. Freelance invited Miss Liv-
ingstone out to supper just as she was
on the point Of declaring that she would
not go on again unless she received ev-
cry cent of the back salary that was due
her, and before they left the restaurant
she had meekly agreed to study the great
emotional role which had been intended
for Miss Bracebridge and to say nothing
more about back salary.
The next morning, in accordance with
o call posted in the stage entrance, the
company assembled to hear the new
play read by the gifted Mr.. Freelance,
and such was that gentleman's elocu
tionary power that when he laid tho
manuscript aside expressions that ranged
from mere satisfaction to rapturous en-
thusiasm wero heard on every hand,
and there was scarcely an actor or
actress present that did not feel conf
dent of personal success in the new
production.
The reading over, Mr.. Freelance took
Miss Livingstone. Mr. Borders and one
or two other rcbellious spirits aside and,
as he expressed it in a subsequent inter-
view with Mr.. Hustle, "stiffened their
backbones" with the assurance that ev-
erything was all right and that the
piece was to be done on Christmas eve
Ia order that they might have q really
merry Christmas On the prospects Of its
success. After that, he assured them.
| their back salaries would pour in upon
them in a perfect avalanche.
AS Mr.. Freelance was leaving the
| theater he felt some one tugging at his
coat, and on looking down saw little
Kitty Sullivan standing beside him and
| saying. in earnest tones, and with q
sad, wistful face, BILLY, isn't there
| any part for me in the new piece?"
The child called him by his first name
because she had always heard him
spoken to in that way by other members
Of the company, and Billy rather en-
couraged her in the idea because it
sounded funny to him to hear himself
| addressed in such familiar terms by IN
infant of her size.
Kitty was veritable child Of the
avant scene, and had been an actress
from her very earliest infancy. She was
now about I years of age, and was just
beginning to comprehend the difference
between the real things Of life, such as
houses, trees and streets, and the paint
ed limitations Of stageland And yet it
was only two years and half ago that
she beheld the ocean for the first time,
and it is related of her that on that
occasion she stood with Billy's hand
tightly clasped in hers, watching the
waves as they broke upon the beach. and
finally turned to her companion and said
in her serious way. Billy. how do they
work emp
And now she was here beside her old
friend, with her small pathetic face
upturned, and tnQuiring earnestly Il