St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-04-22
ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR. .
ibly short time. A critical eye might

critical eyes just then. The fate G
that performance, and her own a
well, depended upon her and she kne,
il. She knew furthermore that th
task of getting this act on was mer
play to what the next would be, unIes
the manager arrived.
II Never before had this third ac
II seemed SO long. She had great dea
i to do, and it generally passed quickly
for she enjoyed her work.
4 Tonight she could scarcely act fo
casting. her eyes toward the back 8
the theater. Once she forgot her line!
entirely and her song ended with !;
little croak that was the nearest ap
proach to an involuntary sob.
The soprano, still smarting under
recollection of Miss Casey's "inter
| ferenoe." guyed her to the entertain
ment of the entire cast and the from
rows In the parquet. Miss Casey, how,
ever, Needed nothing but the back row
OF chairs, behind which the manager
| when he did make his appearance
that happy moment were fated to come
would lounge Importantly.
But never sign there was of him
and by the time the soubrette got to
her scene with the @omedian it might
have been high tragedy instead of Tow
comedy as far as Miss Casey was con
cerned. For all his guying and in
| difference, the comedian had not
reached 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 to tell her so the mo-
ment the descending curtain pole
raised a little puff of dust on the stage
1t was because ne could not get within
hailing distance. Miss Casey seemed
movable axis about which her col
leagues revolved. Now she was at one
side of the stage and the next mo
ment at the other insisting that the
manager would certainly come id the
face of tumult that insisted he would
not.
IL Miss Casey's was lone voice, it
was not small one. Before entering
the profession it had been her ia
theirs 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 big matinee would
help to set things straight, even If the
manager did not show up-whieh he
would-"And when he does every one
Of you will have broken your contract
it You don't go on. It is all well enough
not to go 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
tions in plenty, when she saw figure
spruce and alert addressing the stage
manager. The type. was a familiar
one to Miss Casey-it was a reporter.
heard the hub-bub. His news Instinct
would supply the rest. This to the
soubrette mattered little. Her chief
emotion was one of thankfulness. II
her strongest effort had failed,
weapon was now provided that sur
passed it.
"A reporter" " she gasped.
seTo interview me, said the soprano,
with a self-important swell Of the
shoulders.
"To Interview you!' Miss Casey
echoed, steadily cycling her. THAT
man knows every ything or will know
it presently. Do you remember the last
time you let yourself be interviewed
when the company broke up here r.
The soprano shuddered. She did re-
member and she also remembered the
little silhouettes that accompanied
the text.
Miss Casey did not need to be mind
reader to know what was passing in
the lady's brain.
Go dress forthe act-hurry, hurry!
I'll save YOU Miss Casey pushed her
brislxly as she passed and repeated her
flank movement on a portion OF the
chorus. Others on the stage had not.
caught her words, but who saw some
scatter towards the dressing
also saw her hurry to meet the stran-
ger emerging from the wings.
81 knew your train was late she
exclaimed in tone that penetrated to
every outlying group II knew he'd get
here. The fourth act is just going on.
She did not wait to look. Others
turned for glance on the way to the
dressing-rooms, but Miss Casey's back
was between them and the strangers
face. The news spread. By the time
the soprano and contralto had got
half way through their hasty toilets
they heard the manager was come.
The fourth act was revelation to
the audience, as much of it as had
remained. Miss Casey made even the
| comedian forgive her by the way she
played up to him. Only once did
she falter Ih was at the sight of 4
| familiar figure in fur-decked over
coat Iounging with an air OF impor-
i tanee behind the last row of chairs.
Didn't you know the manager was
here ?' said the soprano, following
the direction Of her eyes. Everybody
i else did. .
/ But Miss Casey said nothing, she
only went on with her acting.
The manager was behind the scenes
before the curtain was down. Par
salaries were paid: two fairly good
i houses held promise for to-dnorrow
and the soprano kissed Miss Casey
i goodnight.
/ Shall ii be yinaigrette or q pair n
new shoes for d Christ mas gift n h
i asked Victor. pressing her arm ais thel
both passed through the stage dool
i together.
Both. said Miss Casey, promptly