The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1895-12-25

one, for the news had spread tiat there
was to bo speedy change of bill, and
hope was once more i'll every member s
breast. Mr.. Freelance invited Miss Liv-
ingstone ont 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 duo
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
call posted in the stage entrance, the
company assembled to hear the new
play read by the gifted Mr.. Freeiance,
and such was that gentleman's elocu-
tionary power that when he laid the
manuscript aside expressions that ranged
from mere satisfaction to rapturous en-
thusiasm were heard on every hand,
and there was scarcely all 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, Mi. Borders and one
or two other rebellious spirits aside, and,
as he expressed it il asubsequent inter-
view with N;r. Hustle, "stiffened their
backbonos" with the assurance that ev-
erything was all right and that the
piece was to be dore On Christmas evo
in 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 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 a
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 an
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 years Of age, and was just
beginning to comprehend tho 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 'em:"
And now she was here beside her old
friend, with her small, pathetic face
upturned, and :nquiring earnestly il
there were role for her III 1.-The Giants
Causeway.
"See here, Kitty" exclaimed Mr..
Freelance, touched by the child;s grief,
"I'll tell you what I'll do for you, and
what's more, I wouldn't do it for any
one else in the company. Are you lis
tening:"
"Yes," said Kitty, turning her head
around
"Well, I'll write in part specially
for you, and that's something that an
author like Sardou or myself rarely
does for any one except a Bernhardt CT
a Duso. Now, run along and be here to-
morrow at / for rehearsal. "
The child darted away, wiping the
last tear from her cheek as she ran, and
Barney said approyingly, "That's the
best deed you'll ever do in your life,
Mr. Freelance, and, mark my words, the
child'll bring good luck to the house. y
How Billy succeeded in persuading
the economical Hardup that the piece
would prove a failure unless a child
were introduced into it and how he
contrived to write the part in for her
that very night are matters that had
best be left to conjecture, but the very
next day Kitty received the typewriter
copy of her lines, and rehearsals of "The
Giants Causeway" were carried for
ward under Mr.. Freelance's direction
with the energy and spirit that mark all
of that gentleman S undertakings.
The opening night, Dec "a, found
the house well filled with an audience
which made favorable impression on
the venerable Mr.. Borders as he looked
out through the pecphole in tie curtain,
while behind the fcotlights feverish ex-
citement and anticipation prevailed.
As for Kitty, she had become so
wrought Up over her role-the longest
one she had ever been intrusted with
that she seemed in danger Of losing her
balance and forgetting every one of the
lines that she had, by diligent study,
crammed into her small head. She was
standing in the first entrance, with her
hand clasred in that of Mr.. Freclance,
when her cue came, and as she walked
out on the stage, the ideal Of childish
lovcliness, a murmur Of delight ran
through every part Of the crowded house.
They re going to foreclosc the mort
gage on the old mill tomorrow night,
and if that child lives I am beggar, y
said the polished, cigarette smoking
villain, and then youngster in the
parquet set up pitiful howl of despair,
which was followed by general ripple
of 1lerriment that might have proved
fatal to the piece had not Kitty gone on
with her lines with the GOODNESS and
gravity Of the born and experienced
| artist which she was disDlaying there