The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-09-06

row of horizontal. blurred lights that
were dancing between him and the
audience: the house seemed to be full
Of fog. Columbine trlpped toward
him, she took his hand. and they twist
ed and turned together.
The harlequinade was short and
busting. and at the finish the Harle.
quln had to take the usual flying leap
through a window.
Brooke and his sweetheart again
made their entrance hand In hand.
"Stand still, Eddy" she whispered.
and then danced around him with a
hundred little tricky steps and beckon-
ing gestures.
The cue came. Harlequin struck the
ground with his wand and leaped. 1t
was a last effort Luck and training
guided him to the right spot. He shot
through the window as clearly as an
arrow and was caught by the men
who were waiting to receive him. He
rose to his feet, still clinging to their
arms, staggered a minute and then
fell falnting to the ground.
"Plucky little chap" said one of the
men.
Not an ounce of flesh on his bonesw
said the other
When Edgar Brooke came to himself,
he was lying on bench hastily drag
ged on to the stage. He saw that the
gas jets In the flies were turned off.
The curtain was raised, for the noisy
hod iptA ha
His bench was near to the footlights,
but they. too, were lowered and 1t was
an anxious. whispering group of peo-
pie on every side that gradually crept
into his consciousness.
There was the manager STOPPING over
him. with a hand on his breast and a
big finger pressed to his pulse. Be-
side him was the clown. Most of the
girls were still in their costumes, with
their hair falling untidily on their
shoulders. The whole scene was shad-
owy and strange to the pale, exhaust
ed Harlequin as he sank back again on
the arm of the Demon King
He closed his eyes, but suddenly the
ringing voice of his Columbine seemed
to leap out of the babel of tongues
AT first he could not follow what she
said. He only saw how erect was the
little figure, at once pathetic and elo-
Quent of love and the fierce earnest.
ness of youth.
Slowly her words took shape, discon-
nected and broken as the sentences
were.
"In a couple Of months this old panto
will be over" she said. I'VE shall all
go east and west-the Lord knows
where? But look here-we've been
good friends. haven't we-jolly. good
friends? You fellows have been kind
to me, all of you. But there's one Of
you that | love-there! love him!
Why? Because he's fought against
trouble and poverty and Illness, be-
cause his heart has never failed him
till tonight. I'll tell you something
else"
There was such intensity In her voice
and face that she held them silent and
absorbed for few minutes more.
It's just this: Edgar Brooke has no
soul on earth to turn to! | tell you he's
danced In a booth: he's sung In the
streets: he's worked; he's starved ;
he's looked at life under the canvas;
he's thought of death under the skies
That's the stuff for an actor to be made
Of
Edgar Brooke put out his hand to
stop her. but she went on. with fash
ing eyes.
We'll what do you say? Shall 1t
be a round robin for the sake of our
own hard times? Come! We all know
where the shoe pinches."
She bent down and pulled off one OF
her own shoes and held it out to the
manager first of all. He might have
resisted the disconnected little speech
but not the pretty face turned up SO
anpealingly to his-a couple of coins
clinked into the shoe.
Edgar felt his cheeks burn. for the
theater was his little world. and the
quick response Of his comrades touched
and amazed him.
His wistful eyes followed Columblne
as she trlpped from one to another,
now with a jest or smile. now with n
tear.
When she brought the little shoe to
the side of the bench at last he could
only stretch out his hands. to the crowd
that pressed round. He tried to thank
them. looked up to the Columbine with
few broken words and turned his
face away.
The ring of encouraging voices, the
flicker of uncertain lights. the touch
of the girls fingers twined round his
hand faded into misty shadow Of
sound and sight, and were gone as
swiftly as they came.
"a curious memento. Mr.. Brooke"
said the youthful interviewer again,
recalling the popular comedian to the
faded ballet shoes.
Eyes. yes" said Edgar Brooke light
ly. But 1t would scarcely interest
you. BY the way. did | tell you 'hat
my wife WAS dancer-before we mar.
ried-a long time ago%-Malnly About
People.
when Surgeons Are of No Use.
"Jhe driver of the stage, which was