Democratic messenger., 1895-12-21
we put a woman IN 1t who didn { know
how To read lines she would go all 10

TEEA7EHI
| mi! FEEELANCE Is BACK"
| pieces and the bottom would drop ont
of tho whole play. thought I'd speak
to you about it because Ha1dup has
caught a new angel and said some.
thing to me about Kitty Bracebridge"-
"lf that wolf puts her foot in this
theatcr''- began Miss Livingstone, bat
| Mr.. Freelance interrupted her by plac.
ing his hand over her mouth and say.
! ing: ''Wait for me after the curtain
| goes down. Peall. and I'll talk TO you
| about II. Shadrach's waiting in the
office, and I've got to give him Jolly
so rs 10 get the costumes out Of him, but
! Ill he back here after the last act -
In spite Of the storm outside and the
! dispiriting atmosphere within the per-
formance given that night by the Jollity
stock company was notably brilliant
one, for the news had spread that there
was to be n speedy change of bill, and
hope was once more in 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 90 ON again unless she received ev-
cry cent Of the back salary that was due
her, and before they left the restaurant
she had mcekly agreed TO study the great
emotional role which had been intended
for Miss Bracebridge and to say nothing
more abuut back salary
The next morning, i'll accordance with
call posted i'll the stage entrance, the
company assembled to hc.r the new
play read by the gifted Mr.. Freelance,
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 We're heard on every hand,
and there was scarcely an actor or
actress present that did not feel conf
dent of Il 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,
rs ke expressed it in a subsequent inter
view with Mr.. Hustle, "stiffened their
backbone" with the assurance that ev-
eryihing was all right and that the
piece was To i've done on Christmas eve
i'll order that they might have really
merry Christmas on the prospects of its
success After that. he assured them,
their back salaries would pour in upon
.hem in n uerfect avalanche
As Mr.. Froelance was leaving the
thcatcr 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
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 i'll 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 q veritablc child of the
avant scene, and had been an actress
from her very earliest infancy She was
now Gbout wears of age, and was just
beginning T. 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 heheld the ocean for the first time,
and il is related Of her that on that
occasion she stood with Billy's hand
tightly clasped in hers, watching the
waves rs they broke upon the beach, and
finally turned TO her companion and said
i'll her seriuns way, BILLY. how do they
work em:''
Aud now She was here beside her old
friend. with her small, pathetic face
nntuned. and induiring earnestly if
there Were u Iole Tor her Ill The Chants
CauSeway.
See here, Kitty exclaimed Mr..
Freelancc. touched by the child's grief,
"I'll tell yen what I'll do for you. and
whats more, wouldn't do il for any
one clse in the company. Are you lis
tenins:'
YES" said Kitty, turning her head
around
Il
for you, and that's something that an
author like Sar,iou or myself rarely
does for any one except Bernhardt or
Duse. Now, run along and be here to-
morrow AT | l for rehearsal "
The child darted away, wiping the
last tear from her cheek rs she ran, and
Barney said approvingly. That's the
best deed You'll ever do in your life,
Mr.. Frcclancc, and. mark my words, the
child II bring good luck TO the house" "
How Billy succeeded in persuading
the economical Hardup that the piece
would prove failure unless a child
We're introduced into il and how he
ccntrived 10 write the part in for her
that very night are matters that had
best he left To conjecture, but the very
next day Kitty received the typewriter
copy of her lines. and rehearSals of 1.-THE
Giants CauSeway" were carried for
ward under Mr.. Freelance's direction
with the energy and spirit that mark all
of that gentleman 5 undertakings.
The opening night. Dec. 81, found
the house well filled with an audience
which made favorable impression on
the venerable Mr.. Borders rs he looked
Ont through the peephole in the curtain,
while behind the footlightS fcyerish ex-
citcmcnt and anticipation prevailed
As for Kitty. she had become SO
wrought MP over her role-the longest
one she had ever been intrusted with
that she seemed i'll 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 claspcd i'll that of Mr.. Freelance,
when her cue came, and rs she walked
ont on the stage. the ideal Of childish
lovelineSs, a murmur Of delight ran
through every part Of the crowded house.
They re going TO foreclose the mort
gage ON the old mill tomorrow night,
and if that child lives am beggar, :"
said the polished, cigarette smoking
villain. and then youngster i'll the
rarquet set up apitiful howl Of despair.
which was followed by general ripple
of merrimcnt that might have proved
fatal To the piece had not Kitty gone ON