The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-05

lower part of hiS face. You know how
hard I worked for that woman" he
continued pathetically; how l kept
her name before the public and fought
for her interests with that scoundrei
of a Stapleson, who was always try
ing to knife her. Didn't / nave two
fights in the lobby with critics who
had insulted her? Didn't 1 write a
personal letter to the publisher OF the
Advocate telling him not to allow his
musical reporter to write my wife's
name in his dirty old rag? Didn't j
pay her every attention that a gentle
man and a loving husband can pay.
even to the extent of getting her mon
ey for her from the box Office 80 that
she wouldn't catch cold in that infer
nal draughty lobby? Where would
she have been IL II hadn't been for
me?"
AS he thought of the inestimaole SER
vices that he had rendered 10 his wife,
and of her ingratitude and perfldy In
losing her voice soon after her return
to Europe, the tears came into the ma
jor's eyes and he shifted audibly.
I remember that Miss Bessie Billing
ton sang several ballads that evening.
one of which was a CHEEKY ditty about
a bobby that was sleeping in the
grove" and i remember also that each
song was preceded by lightning
utes. and enabled Miss Ellington to
struggle out of one dress and into an
other. think chess boards
should be introduced into thea
tiers in which British music hall
artists effect lightning changes.
From that night until last
winter / saw nothing of the major.
Then he suddenly appeared before me
while / sat In the midst of the great
crowd OF New Workers of the sJrt that
take an interest in every new dancer
or acrobat, and who had assembled on
this occasion I'm honor of the American
debut OF Sonora Tabasco. famous for
her exploits on the trapeze and nigh
wire.
All eyes were bent upon the stage.
when, after a triumphant burst of or
ohestral music. a portly. red-faced i'm
pressive-looking man walked out lead
ing by the hand a graceful. slender
woman in pink tights, who smiled up
on us and bowed and kissed her hand
in acknowledgment OF our welcoming
shout of applause. The portly man. in
whom I recognized at once my old ac-
uuaintance. the major. wore evening
dress in collision with a very low-cut
turned down collar and a white cravat
which was not tied. but buttoned over
his diamond collar button. His patent
leather boots and well-oiled hair glis-
tened in the electric light could al
most smell the perfume with which he
was anointed.
Having assisted the young woman in
pink tights to a place on pedestal.
from which she swung easily and
gracefully to the trapeze, the major
drew a large white silk handkerchief
from the hollow of his vest. passed IL
gracefully across his lips. and then fell
into an easy and dignified attitude,
UhfIa he east a rchtnU glance about
the audience. Once In a while he look
ed up at the pink figure poised in the
air above him, and / noticed that when
a storm of applause greeted some diff
cult and dangerous feat he stepped
forward and bowed. When the great
Tabasco descended from the trapeze
| to the pedestal for a moments rest,
the major gravely handed her a silk
handkerchief with which TO wipe from
her brow the sweat by which he gain
| ed his bread. and when she had finish
| ed her act and stood. painting and
smiling. on the stage. he took her by
the hand and they both bowed them
| selves from our sight
| "Ahi" said this adept I'm the profess
sion of theatrical husbandry. as he
/ recognized me In the lobby. II have
| found true domestic happiness at last.
/ / suppose you know we're getting
three hundred and fifty a week and
have a forty weeks guarantee"
Here the generous soul drew S25 at
| the box office-not for worlds would
he permit his wife to brave the in
clemency Of the lobby in her exhausted
| condition-and a few minutes later
saw him seated at a round table with
a serio-comic queen who had done her
turn earlier in the evening. And the
beverage that stood in their glasses
was of a costly amber hue: and spark
led cheerfully in the gaslight.
| James l.. Ford.