The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-08

Not until the last note had been played
| by the orchestra did the curtain fall, and
the heavy bump of the roller, as il struck
the boards, sounded like a wooden grodn
| CT despair.
Then Raymond Wright-that was the
conductors name-rushed away from his
desk and disappeared, like one taking
tumble, through the gaping hole that op-
| ened from the orchestra to the mysterious
regions under the stage. And when the
somewhat mechanical applause died away
| me audience heard strange murmurings Of
| voice behind the scenes.
snyder the amateur stage-manager and
| director of the occasion, was undergoing
| the hardest trial of his life Pale. with
beads OF cold perspiration on his forehead.
| with ms back against canvas yew tree.
| he was receiving the combined onslaught
OF the entire troupe, led by Wright.
| You have ruined the whole opera.
Wright was repeating again and again
! with frantic emphasis
ITS no use going on with it now" said
the first tenor langu.dly.
Then both male and female choruses oho-
rused, "Oh! tut, tut, tut! What made him
do it?'
Il didn't do ii on purpose" poor Snyder
| protested feebly.
Belle Bishop the prima donna, stood
| watching the affair from the other side of
the stage. She had been the angriest of all
| at first, for of all she was most keenly IN
terested in success. With Snyder she had
spent two months in hard work drilling
unframed principals and recalcitrant cho-
rus-singers Next in importance had been
the work of Wright, music teacher. nusi-
clan and-devoted admirer of Miss Bishop
Now she wore an expression on her eIab-
orately made-up stage face that plainly
| showed a growing sympathy with the oh
| 1PCt of the I'll.
onstration had gone too far They ought
70 know that Snyder could have had no
reason to wish to spoil the success for
which he had worked so hard all these
weeks. Besides, Belle Bishop suspected the
real cause of the mishap.
Synder turned away from the enraged
crowd, vouchsafng no notice of virgins
fifteenth, you have ruined the whole
opera" Slowly the mob broke up into anx-
ious groups to discuss the question, wheth-
er The performance ought to go on or not
after this terrible scenic catastrophe.
Snyder threaded his way about on the
prompt side, then behind a set piece of IN
dulating park, and finally found, behind a
canvass outcrop of gray limestone, the pri-
ma donna herself. eu
" didn't think you would join in IT, he
said reproachfully. 1T was your fault"
How was il my fault?H said Belle with
finely simulated establishment
= was looking for--for what you prom
ised'
In the imperfect Light about that part
of the stage, and with so much make-uD.
il was really Impossible for Snyder to see
bush on Bellies face, but he thought he
saw It,
Il forgot" she said. How was it to
have been?"
If you smelled at the rose, it was
Yes and if you dropped it was No.
You held it all the time"
81 We'll. I'm sorry" said the prima
donna, But you know, Mr.. Snyder, this
opera has been very trying business"
1T has been very trying business for
me- said Snyder, woefully.
Belle looked up and laughed merrily.
Snyder could not understand the meaning
of that laugh. lie would have asked her.
but just at that moment Wright came
up and excitedly demanded, Are you go-
ing on?"
We'll, I guess We must go on or give
back The people their money! said Sny-
Ger very coolly.
Can't" came from a figure in velvet
fiesdlings behind the excited Wright. Ii
was the baritone and treasurer of the con-
Germ who spoke. Half the receipts are
spent on costumes already"
'Wen, if the thing is going to be a fail
ure, don't want to conduct That's ALL"
! said Wright. my professional reputation
: is at stake"
IF you don't conduct, MIR. Wright. -
Belle put in. "the thing must be failure.
You don't expect Mr.. Snyder to take yous
, place, do your
That turned It, The opera would go on.
Wright would even risk his professional
reputation at a nod from Belle Bishop.
Besides, he was plqued by that suggestion
of Snyder taking his place at the head
of his laborbously gathered and trained
semi-amateur orchestra.
But Snyder went about his business of
stage managing with only half will.
He was wondering what Belle meant by
laughing as she had. and why she had
forgotten, or pretended TO forget, her
promise. Luckily, there was only one more
act. and during chat all the stage manager
had very little TO do that he could not call
the boy to do for him. His second crisis
would only come when il should be time
TO let fall the curtain on the grand finale
So he sat or lounsed In the wings and
watched the prima donna
Now she was on for great duet with the
baritone-and treasurer. She had never
looked more lovely to Snyder than she did
when she faced the house, holding the bar
| itone's right hand in her left. The notes
seemed to pour like liquid love from her
throat as she turned her head aside in
mimic bashfulness from the entreaties of
| her stage lover.
wright was of the same opinion. as he
swung his baton in an ecstacy of delight
Wright was thinking how she would thank
him, when the performance was over. for
the noble part he had taken in the work
Aud then
Now il was the baritones turn, alone
Belle. during her wait. looked aside into
the wings, where the stage manager was
| standing Her eyes wandered and IN their
wanderngs they met Snyders. Quickly
she turned them away again, for fear OF
becoming distracted and missing her cue