The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-09-30

ment and delight. But no answer
came; no patter Of little feet. The
dreary room was empty. He sat down
chilled and uneasy, and the apples roll
ed unheeded to the floor.
But one hour-two hours-three
hours passed, and still no Babsie. The
fog was growing. denser and denser.
The anxious father paced up and down
the little room. At every football on
the stairs he rushed out and called her
name.
The callboy at the Regal theater was
calling out overture and beginners"
as he made his way along the passages
when a man rushed past him and dis
appeared into one of the dressing
rooms. It was Nigel Halliday, white
and trembling, and with huge beads of
perspiration on his brow.
Hell never be on" said the per-
formers in chorus. But he was at the
side, dressed and made up, fully five
minutes before his first entrance. The
other performers were looking at him
curiously, for his face was twitching
and he spoke to no one. nervousness
or drunkenness they all agreed.
There was a ripple of laughter as he
made his first entrance. 1t acted like
an electric shock upon him. He knew
what was expected of him, and he
worked desperately. He'll do!''' said
the anxious manager, sagely, as he
watched his grotesque exit and listened
to the applause that followed it.
AS soon as Halliday was off the
stage after the fourth scene he caught
the assistant manager by the arm.
I'm not on until the palace scene,"
he said eagerly. How long is my
waltz"
"Oh, about an hour tonight" was
the reply.
Halliday rushed down the passage to
his dressing-room, removing his kingly
robes as he ran.
What the deuce are you doing?
cried one of the men, as he watched
him struggle into his overcoat. "Are
you drunk tonight, or what?"
Don't stop mel" painted Halliday.
"Hands off, I say! It's my long wait.
I'll be back in time My child is lost
missing since morning. I'm crazy with
anxiety; she's my only one"
Through the streets he ran, thread
ing in and out the traffic, needless of
the drivers. The fog had cleared away,
and the night was starry.
"Babsie! Babsie!" he painted, as he
tore along. "Babsie! Babsie!" as he
vaulted up the dark staircase to his
home. All was silent in the desolate
room. He stood there one moment
and threw up his hands. in voiceless
prayer, and then he fastened back to
the theater.
Just before his entrance in the pal
ace scene the doorkeeper made his way
through the crowd and said something
in low tone to the stage manager.
He saw them glance toward him and
in moment he was beside them.
'In heavens name tell me, Grahame!
Is it news for me? Don't lie; l know it
isl"
when you come off, Halliday-after
your song. There's your music play
ing now. Go on, old man
"Tell me frst,' Halliday replied
hoarsely, "and I give you my word I'll
go on!
"a little girl-run over-taken to
Faith hospital. Don't know who she
belongs to- Died unconscious" Gra-
hame replied hastily.
Thank you," was all the wretched
man said as he staggered past them
onto the stage.
A child in the gallery laughed glee-
fully at his grotesque entrance. 1t
sounded just like Babsie's laugh. Bah
sic now, perhaps, lying little man
gled corpse in the Faith hospital.
Why was he there? he asked himself,
if his darling lay dead. What did he
care for money now?
But Babsie had been so fond of his
drinking song" She had looked for
ward to hearing him sing it. He
would sing it for her sake.
Then his voice began to falter-he
swayed slightly. Hes breaking down."
was the terrified whisper. won't
some one step in to fill the gap?"
And some one did. Right from the
very back of the gallery it came-a
child's voice that caught up the refrain
just as the wretched singer was about
to rush from the stage, and the aston
ished artistes, looking up to the
"gods," beheld the singer, little girl
>perched upon the shoulders of stall
wart coster. 1t was Babsie-Babsie
alive and WELL
By the time the little girl had got
through the chorus and the gallery
had shown their appreciation by ap-
plause and whistling, Halliday had re-
gained his self-possession, and he sang
the remainder of his ditty with such
joyous vigor that he carried his au-
dience along, and the infection of gay
ETY. from all the smiling faces on the
stage made itself felt all over the
house.
"That kid in the gallery is an old
music-hall dodge" said one petite to
another.
Eyes, but this was jolly we'll worked.p
I thought the chap had really broken
down." replied his friend.
Rehind the scenes the "lxid in Tho