Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-11-18
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B Tie manager 81 the theaters shook hishead
doubt fully.
ii s. don't know how our people will take
to such . back number as that, my dear
woman, I said he, for they are devilish par
ticular now, but you may try it and See If
you get an honest encore the first night +
will engage you for two weeks on my own
hook, but the Bijou ism t charitable insti-
tuition, you know. and ! won't promise any
thing 5ss n 8. ss.s= F 81
f3 The dancers lips trmebled, and after
moment the handsome eyes were dimmed
with tears. But she fought back these signs
, of emotion as she had fought them back
every day for the last two years, and an
swered bravely, though with voice out of
which all hope had long since Departed
Thank you, Mr.. Rankin; that 10 all can
ask S5's''s.s* ~ ~ ~ '~' sts = :
, Then she walked slowly from the half
! lighted stage and to the dressing room, with
"a pain which nothing could relieve tugging
: tiercely at her heart. The manager looked
i thoughtfully after her, as he cut the end off
a cigar and turned up his coat collar again.
Poor girl said he, half aloud, "she's
/! has-been-no mistake. And to think that
;; three years ago she was the cream of the lot.
But that's the way; some of 'em has genius
and some talent. The ones with the genius
learn new tricks, when the public has got
enough of the old, the ones with only talent
can't do it, and SO they 60 down And that's
all she's got-talent. I'm sorry for her, but
] amt the Creator, to give her what wasn't
born in her." With which sage reflections
the manager lit his cigar and walked back
to his Office. 49,. -.
The girl with talent only smiled wan
smile as she got into her plain street dress
in the stuffy little dressing-room under the
stage, and the cracked, dusty mirror gave
back to her uninterested gaze the reflection
of that smile. In her heart of hearts for q
long time there had been the conviction that
perhaps her gift was not as strong as she
had first imagined With pride born OF
necessity she had fought the thought down
i! day after day; but it would not die, and now,
! in almost so muny words, the manager had
told her that her day was past" Yet she
was young. .-''...., :
Only three years ago Mile. Reville, the
petit dancer, had been hailed by critic and
audience alike as the daintiest and most
brilliant Of terpsichoreans seen for many
years; and to-day she was unknown-beg-
cling for work! Fortunes back had been
| carly turned upon the unhappy little wom-
an, and the troubles which had assailed her
had made their Impress upon her usually
pretty face. The eyes were tired looking
now, and the cheeks pale and almost thin.
The stage she had just left brought back
wildly her past in this city. for had she not
achieved her greatest triumph in this the
alter? Here the whole house had risen az
one great being and showered bouquets,
| fans, and even jewels about her golden head.
All, yes, that was night long to be remem-
; bered- especially by a hungry little dancer
who had so soon dropped to the level of
commonplace in her profession.
/ As she picked her way toward the stage
door, along the dark passages and in and
around ghostlike pieces. of scenery set or
ready to be, she remembered, too, the hon.
est; kind hearted stage hand who had wor-
SHIPPED the boards she danced upon, and at
whose affection she had smiled, DESPITE its
of scenes-big, quiet, even handsome at
| come of him; she hoped honestly enough
her. And even as she said these words to
herself he stood before her.
+ 'Mamie!",. he cried, involuntarily, and
then, remembering himself, heradded, in
confusion: Il beg your pardon, Miss Cor.
don, IL didn't mean to-" With his we'll
worn cap in hand he bowed his curly head
and stepped aside to let her pass. But on
the impulse of the moment she did not do
SO In, oct o'tc &~ h1k
something indefnable swept over her heart
her thin hand and he closed his big brawny
one over it. ..-.''|
"Joe!" she said. Dear old Joe! did not
know you were here am going to dance
to-night-on trial; and after have done my
turn we will talk over old times. do not
think they will want me, do you?" r. =
He saw the truth in her eyes az she spoke,
and a sudden rage at the world that dared
not want her, and always want her-as he
did-seized upon him. 1888
IF they: do turn you down." said he be-
tween his teeth. "they are crazy fools. I:
will - = T.SS - =.
Miss Gordon smiled a little sadly and
shook her head. IF they do, Joe, you will
do nothing about it. Good-by until tonight.
l am lonely nowadays, and want you to see
me dance tonight and applaud me, even if
the others do not. Will your p =. + -
4 5"WillI% he exclaimed, coming closer and
looking down into her eyes with tender
ness that his fellow-workers would have
been dumbstruck to see. O, my darl-' .
But she was gone before he had time to
finish the sentence. And when he pondered
upon what he had been about to say, in his
rashness and surprise, he was rather glad
that she had left before he compelled her to
refuse him again as she had once years ago.
The orchestra, in gale of melody, had
ended the dance with melodious crash, and
Mile. Reville stood, with her head, bent,
waiting for the decision of the audience A
breathelss moment passed, and then-two or.
three perfunctory claps from different.
partstof the house, the gallery principally,
and that was all. She had failed! The man
ager frowned and cursed himself for having
engaged card that would not draw
even one night, but Miss Gordon did not see
him q she hastened her dressing
Blinded ~ tears and crushed in spirit as she
had never been tbeffo before She did not hear
the manager sharply reprimand Joe for ap-