Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-10-12
A WRONG RIGHTED.

landing until at last he boots at the chorus
| girls, who, huddled together in 10 foot
| room. come out of their pen and follow
| him, as though he were bell sheep, down
| the winding stairs.
| The prima donna gives daub Of paint
to her cheek and brush of the hare foot
before throwing herself on the couch.
| There is no need for her to hurry-who
ever heard of prima donna being disoov-
cred when the curtain goes upf
Then the comedian with wig and paint
| ed face passes slowly along the landing
and with eyes riveted on the stone steps
| goes down the winding stairs. AS he
turns the last corner hand Is laid on his
| shoulder, and he looks up into the pretty
| face of girl in gauze.
lis your child better tonight" she asks
as she draws pink wrapper more closely
about her shapely form. "1s there any
thing can dof''
II am afraid there Is nothing" the
| comedian answers, his voice low and sad.
My little girl has stood the fatigue of
travel bravely, but now she is very, very
| sick and am afraid l shall have to leave
her here. ="
surely not alone?" the dancer asks,
| putting out her hand, which he uneon-
| sciously takes in his "Surely you will
not leave her aloney''
IF l remain, y he answers, and his voice
trembles ms he speaks, Il can only comfort
her by my presence. l cannot pay for
doctor then, nor can she have the little
luxuries she Graves
The dancer draws her hand from his
and draws from the bodice of her dress q
silken purse.
Take this, ~ she says rs she holds 1t
out to him. 1T is not much, but it will
help"
He turns away and leans his head
against the iron railing.
Goals of fre!' he mutters- Goals
which shall always burnt
The dancer comes down a few steps to
where he stands.
Il want to go home with you tonight,
she whispers. Il want to nurse your lit
tie girl
He turns and takes her hands in his.
You must not, Blanche. You must
not ask it, Think what the others would
say"
II care not what they say" she cries,
throwing her arms around his neck. Il
once had the right to go with you. I had
the right until another took my place"
Then the callboy comes running up the
steps, shouting, Your cue!' So they
hurry to the stage below, he in time to
enter with a ringing laugh, which is TAX
en- up by the audience when he tumbles
down the palace steps, only TO bound like
ball to the footlights, where with mock
bow to the duke he sings:
Woman is faithless. and man is true.
How do know Oh, I've proved it 40.
And the chorus shouts back:
How does he know Why, he's proved it so!
Yes, he's proved-he's proved-he's proved it
sol
And with whirl and dance he goes
round and round, singing, Woman is
faithless while he knows that he has not
proved her So
Then, heralded ny cymbals and beat of
drum, the little dancer comes tripping on
and by her winning ways and pretty face
soon wins the applause of the audience,
and she smiles back at them until they
think that life to her must he happy
dream While the comedian, who stands
poised on a table, forgets TO grimacc at the
people as he watches her until she makes
her exit.
Then he turns with a leap and is tie
fool once more.
When at last the curtain is rung down,
he hurries to his dressing room, and, dis
CirIlnR the ugly viz, WASHES the Rftsiet
paint from his face and stands, no longer
II fool but a father whose only thought is
for his child
As soon as his trunk is packed he goes
down stairs TO find the dancer waiting at
the stage door.
''May l go home with you?" she asks
beseechingly.
Il would rather, for your sake, you
would not - he answers
But his voice bellies his words, SO she
puts her arm in his, and together they
pass down the street, only pausing for n
moment beneath dim lamp that he may
wrap his muller around her neck.
You know what this means, Blanche?"
Yes, Ralph"
Then they pass on again.
They reach the cheap hotel near the rail
road station, ascend the narrow stairs and
pass along "a gloomy hall until they reach
a door at the farther end. The comedian
turns the knob and enters, leaving the
dancer standing in the doorway while he
lights lamp When the Pickering fame
throws its feeble light around the dreary
room, he hurries to the bed, where a child
lies sleeping.
As he stoops to kiss the burning tenn
Piles the child opens her eyes, and, putting
her arms about his neck, whispers:
II was dreaming of mamma, dad"
Then as her eyes rest ON the figure in the
doorway smile of happiness steals across
the wan face. is it mammal she asks.
SIS 1t mamma who has come back to mes"
mo, my dear She is some one who
loved dad when he was u better man, and
she has come to nurse you and help make
you well again.
He turns away as the dancer stoops to
kiss the childs feverish cheek and brush
the golden hair from the burning forehead.
But he cannot help perceive the start she
gives at seeing the child's resemblance to
its dead mother.
AS the dancer takes off her heavy cloak
the comedian goes to the bed and, wrap
ping the child in blanket, seats himself
in a rocking chair and tries to lull the lit
1 !. 4 u. .s;,.