The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-28
Doing One Night Stands.

chorus girls, who huddled together in
ten-foot room, come out of their pen ant
follow him. as though he were a be-
sheep. down the winding stairs.
The prima donna gives daub OF pain
20 her cheek. and q brush Of the hare!
foot, before throwing herself on the couch
There is no need for her 10 hurry; who
ever heard Of prima donna being
discovered when the curtain goes up?
Then the comedian, with wig and paint
| ed face, passes slowly along che landing
and with eyes riveted on the stone steps
goes down the winding stairs AS he
| turns the last corner a hand is laid on his
| shoulder, and he looks up into the pretty
| face of a girl in gauze.
rs you child better tonight?" she asks
! as she draws pink wrapper more closely
! about her shapeIy form. rs there any.
! thing L can do?'
Il am afraid there is nothing the come
| dian answers, his voice low and sad. my
! little girl has stood the fatigue of travel
brayely, but now she Is very, very sick,
and l am afraid I snail have to leave her
| here"
Surely not alone?" the dancer asks,
putting out her hand, which he uucon-
scously takes in his. Surely you will
not leave her alone?"
IF I remain" he answers, and his
voice trenbles as he speaks, 81 can only
NpilAAVll LiCl ~ NY pICScliCcs L CdIilDl 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
sLken purse.
Take this" she says, as she holds It
out to him. at is not much, but i via
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 few steps to
where he stands.
''I want to go home with you tonight"
she whispers. Il want to nurse your little
girl"
He turns and takes her hand in his.
'You must not, Blanche. You must not
ask it, Think what the others would
say"
Il care not what they say!" she cries,
throwing her arms around his neck. Il
once had the right to go with you. ] had
the right until another took my place.
Then the cali boy 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
taken up by the audience when he tum-
bles down the palace steps, only to bound
like a bail to the footlighhs, where, with
a mock bow to the duke, he sings:
Woman is faithless, and man is true.
How do 1 know? o, I've proved it So"
And the chorus shouts back:
How does he know? Why, hes proved
it sol
Yes, he's proved-hes proved-he's proved
it sol"
And with a whirl and dance ne goes
round and round, singing, Woman is
faithless," while he knows that he has
not proved her so.
Then heralded by 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 audi |
ence; and she smiles back at them until |
they think that life 10 her must be a |
happy dream. While the comedian, who |
stands poised on a table, forgets to girl |
mace at the people as he watches her |
until she makes her exit.
Then he turns with leap and is the |
fool once more.
When at last the curtain is rung down |
he hurries to his dressing-room. and, dis
carding the ugly wig, washes the grease |
paint from his face and stands, no longer |
a fool, but father whose only thought |
is for his child.
AS soon as his trunk Is packed he goes
downstairs to find the dancer waiting al
the stage door
May 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 a
moment beneath dim lamp that he may
wrap his muller around her neck.
You know what this means, Blanche?'
Eyes, Ralph"
Then they pass on again.
They reach the cheap hotel near the
abroad station, ascend the narrow stairs,
ind along gloomy hall until they reach
door at the farther end. The comedian
urns the knob and enters. leaving the
lancer standing in the doorway while he
lights a lamp; when the Pickering fame
hrows it feeble light around the dreary
Dom he hurries to the bed, where a child
les sleeping
AS he Stops 20 kiss the burning tenn
lies the child opens her eyes, and. putting
Ter arms about his neck, whispers:
Il was dreaming of mamma, dad"
Then as her eyes rest on the figure in
he doorway a smile of happiness steals
cross the wan face. els it mammal
he asks. "Is it mamma who has come
ack to me?''
mo, my dear She is someone who
wed dad when he was a better man. and
he has come to nurse you and help make
ou well again"
He turns away as the dancer stoops to |
ISIS the child's feverish cheek and brush I
he golden hair from the burning fore i
cad. But he cannot help perceive the '
tart she gives at seeing the chld's re-
ENHANCE to it's dead mother
As the dancer takes off her heavy cloak +
lie comedian goes to the bed, and wrap ;
ing the child in a blanket, seats herself .
a rocking chair and tries to lull the lit
q one to sleep by singing a lullaby.
The dancer busies herself about the I
,om, smoothing the pillows and hanging /
p the child's clothing, stopping now and 3
len 10 smile on him. And when every I
ling is put away. she pushes a stool to 5
IS feet and seats herself by his side, pre-
lred to share his vigil.
Hour after hour they sit there. not a | p
'und breaking the stiffness of night but y
le low lullaby. Then the song dies away. =
cry rings through the room as the =
'median springs TO his feet and with '
embllng hand tears the blanket from the =
osed-the hands are cold-the child Is
lad. IS
Next morning. in the churchyar1, they Il
Try her When the duh thud from The d
d IS echoed back as IL strikes .he coffin il
the father turns away and huTries to n
q station TO catch the western rain. He z
ust laugh tonight and make others "
ugh, for he Is an actor playing one
ght stands But he Is no longer alone.
he wrong he has done the woman be-
ie him is forgiven. and she has promised =
be what she would have been years &
fore but for the treacheTy OF another &
5 WEEK pi
Ten Famous Wrecks
CFrom the Westminster Gazette) Y
The Princess Alice. $50 lives lost. Sep o