The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-18

Hope his widder's well fixed and Their
amt no children
You will soon see" said Miss Morris
amused 5y the way Benny rapidly poure'
out these condolences.
Benjy's eyes shone like stars while Mis-.
! Morris bought her ticket Then while the!
were ascending the stairs she suddenly
/ broke away and. running UP into the bal
cony. seated herself on the extreme lef
4 Of the stage
| where has that child gomez? thought
! Miss Morris as she looked a-nU nd fol
Benny. her little talk with the usher over
He was for leading the way to the boz
| in which he placed her. there being some
| mistake about the seats she had paid for,
! but the teacher had no idea Of leaving heI
protegee unprotected In a crowded theatre
she spied the child presently, and went
near and called her. But Benjy's eyes
were now almost shooting out Of her head
for the play had begun. and she was SO
absorbed as to be deaf to everything else.
However. at last little boy sitting Lear
her made her hear. and she reluctantly
joined Miss Morris.
why are we sittin' IN the pulpit?" she
whispered when seated. Where's the
minister"
Miss Morris explained that theatres did
not support clergymen. and Benjy's next
remark related 10 the footlghts.
NY sakes. What a lot Of lampsl They
must have swiped EN- from the toders'
rooms sure enough!"
Miss Morris explained that the troupe
did not lodge at the theatre. but played
there.
Renjy now threw her arms around r lit
tlt boy in the next bcX. and gave him a
loud To ha nF HE fasbinnqb ~
mother. who drew the child away as IL
from a smallpox patient, regarded BeI jy
with ill-repressed anger. and inspected
coidly. with frowu. Miss Morris. who had
to put up her handkerchief to conceal a
smile.
MY sakes, amt she stuck up, What's
she mad for? But the baby's beautiful. |
les had to kiss him." commented Benny,
after which she again fixed a strained.
intense gaze upon the stage. where the
comedian was doing a clog dance.
Il done seen him befo' at the circus.
He's ies' the same, only different" COM
mented Benny.
a scene followed in which breezy S.
ciety villain played few measures On the
piano. before informing the servant whom
he had never seen beiQ e, in a. loud voice,
that he intended TO mu. der his emp oyer.
They eats here, il they don't sleep
here" exclaimed Benny. Look at that i'm
pident waiter clawin' the ivory. They
don't low that in some restaurants.
Cricky. but he'll catch it if the boss comes
in
The society villains faultless evening at
tire had misled Benny; and as he
swaggared about the stage in heroic atti
tudes, Benny remarked.
My. amt he cocky! But the boss'll cut
his comb! l reckon he amt been paid Cn
for year; don't you?''
The society villains wife now appeared
In a very low dress. and after one OF tie
sudden tempestuous quafrels about moth
ing. peculiar to the stage. began to weep
copiously.
Don't you reckon she's crying cause
she couldn't find all her clothes? My sakes!
why don't he cover her up with the table
cover or something? Why don't he jerk
down that curtain and put 1t on her? He's
no great shakes for husband He oughtut
to let her stay like that minute. 1t
amt decent, The folks In Lickskillet
would send for the perlice. My! l wish
had them silver things on her arm. She's
pretty But what makes her face so red?"
Again in low tones. Miss Morris tried to
give Benny some idea of what was going
on, and could not but rejoice to see the
childs healthy, natural instincts.
The wild rushes and frantic fantasies and
senseless situations. the old. old gags. in
PRODUCTION Of local hits, announcements OF
dress patterns and gold pieces to be given
away, proceeded. When the "a ain fell
Benny dropped back In her seat. slapped
in her mouth a big piece of chewing gum
previously concealed on her person, and
exclaimed:
There amt much sense In 1t. but 1t
keeps you awake: now. don't It? That
waiter fused awful with his wife; he
thought she was nuts on some other man.
but she wasn't at all. Wasn't she lovely in
that white silk. with her back hair all
down? / reckon they're maxim 1t up now.
amt they?"
Making up they were. to be sure, hut not
in Benjy's sense, for he soon reappeared
with wonderful pillow arrangement and
a red wig. as a fat farmer. and she. as a
cruel old woman in charge OF stolen heirs
to a colossal fortune.
Benny did not recognize either of them.
but was full OF enthusiasm and excitement
in the scene that followed. The old woman
looked like Meg Merrilies. and beat the
children scandalously. of course. When
Miss Morris explained the plot to her in
charge, Benty's frame became
tense with yirtuous indignation-he mag
nficent eyes famed more and more In
wrath as the ill-treatment OF the heirs
proceeded and increased. Finally. when
the old woman was knocking the limo
cents little heads together like a wicked |
old fury. Benny could stand 1t no longer. |
Up she rose in the box. in full sight of
everybody. and cried out in loud. shrilI |
tones that were heard all over the house; !