Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-04-29

critical eyes just then. The fate OF
that performance, and her own as
we'll depended upon her and she knew
II. She knew Furthermore that the
task OF getting this act on was mere
play TO what the next would be, unless
Ire manager arrived.
Never before had this ihrd act |
,reined so long. She had &C., deal |
20 do and It generally pas. e quickly. |
for she enjoyed her work
Tonight she could scarcely act for
casting her eyes iownrd tie back Of |
the iheater. Once she forgot her lines
entirely and her song ended with a
little cruak that was the nearest APP
proach 20 an involuntary sob.
The soprano. still smUriing under a
recollection Of Miss Caseys inter
ference" guyed her to The entertain
ment OF the entire east and the front
rows In the parquet. Miss Casey. how
over. needed nothing but the back row
OF chairs. behind which the manager,
when he did make his appcafance-if
that happy moment were iaied TO come
would lounge Importantly.
But never a sign there was OF him.
and by the time the soubrette got to
her scene with the comedian IL might
have been high tragedy instead Of low
comedy as far as Miss Casey was con
cerned. For all bis guying and In
difference. the comedian had not
reached q point when he could calmly
see people get up and walk ostenta-
tiously out in the midst Of his best
chance in the opera.
II he failed 10 tell her so the mo-
meut the descending curtain pole
raised a little puff Of dust on the stage
IL was because he could not get within
halling distance Miss Casey seemed
movable axis about which her col
/ leagues reyolved Now she was az one
side Of the stage and the next mo-
ment az the other insisting that the
manager would certainly come in the
face OF tumult that insisted he would
not.
II Miss Cusey's was a lone voice, 10
was not n small one. Before entering
the profession II had been her ia
TIERS pride indeed. that her voice
could be heard on still nights a mile
away. Being on the stage had strength
ened IT,
She argued that all the trains were
not in; that the next day was Christ
mas. and that a big matinee would
help TO set things struight, even II the
manager did not show up-which he
would-"Aud when he does every one
Of you will have broken your contract
- you don't 60 on. tits all well enough
No. TO 60 on at all. but when the
things once started It's different. An
the laws the law" Thus far had Miss
Casey got, but not without INTERRUPT.
lions in plenty. when she saw n figure
spruce aud alert addressing the stage
| manager. The type was a familiar
one to Miss Casey-it was n reporter
She had seen this particular one be-
fore that evening. He sat well down
, towards the front. OF course he had
heard the hub-bub. Hisnews instinct
would supply the rest. This to the
soubrette mattered little. Her chic
. emotion was one Of thanlfulness. j
/ her strongest effort had failed, q
weapon was now provided that sur
p passed II.
"a reporter" she gnsped.
ITO interview me-" said the sopnhno
, with a self-importnnt swell Of the
shoulders.
r ITO interview you'll" Miss Casey
= echoed, steadily cycling her. "Thn'
man knows everything or viii know
, It presently. oyou remember the las
4 time you let yourself be Intervene,
when the company broke up here2"
: The soprano shuddered. She did re
, member and she also remembered the
4 little silhouettes that accompanle,
the text.
Miss Casey did not need to be min,
h reader TO know what was passing IL
! the lady's brain.
go dress for the act-hurry, hurry
T. I'll save you" Miss Casey pushed he
~ brislsly as she passed and repeated he
Il flank movement on portion OF tn
. chorus. Others on the stage had no
.. caught her words, but who saw som
q scatter towards the dressng-room
y also saw her hurry 10 meet the strar
N ger emerging from the wings.
% 81 knew your train was late" sh
exclaimed in a tone that penetrated {
y. every outlying group. u knew he'd &c
:: here. The fourth act Is just going on.
o She did not wait TO look. Other
IF turned for a glance on the way TO th
,e dressing-rooms. but Miss Casey's bac
k was between them and the stranger
face. The news spread. BY the tim
o. the soprano and contralto had &C
half way Though their hasty toile'
I they heard the manager was come.
a The fourth act was revelation I
AZ the audience, as much of II as ha
OF remained. Miss Casey made even II
~ comedian forgive her by the way 81
played up TO him. Only once di
X she falter. IL was at the sight of
nj familiar figure in a fur-decked owe
coat lounging with an air of impo
Is lance behind the last row OF chairs.
%. Didn't you know the manager WI
a here?" said the soprano, followir
~ the direction Of her eyes. "Everyboc
20 else did"
d But Miss Casey said nothing. 81