The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-02-01

ufeaTy room was empty. he SAT OOWn
chilled and uneasy, and the apples roll
ed UNDECIDED 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 n of the dressing
rooms. 1t was Nigel Halliday, white
and trembling, and with huge beads of
perspiration on his brow.
He'll never be ont" 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 dol" 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 tbs 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 o%vercoat. 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 traf1c, 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 voicelese
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 a low tone to the stage manager
He saw them glance toward him anC
in a moment he was beside them.
''In heavens name tell me, Grahame
Is it news for me? Don't lie; I know il
isl"
when you come off, Halliday-aftel
your song. There's FOUR music play
ing now. Go on, old man.
TELL me first" Halliday replied
hoarsely, land I give you my word II
go on!"
"a little girl-run over-taken t.
Faith hospital. Don't know who sh'
belongs to. Died unconscious" Ora
hame replied hastily.
Thank you,' vas all the wretchet
man said as he staggered past then
onto the stage.
A child in the gallery laughed glee
fully at his grotesque entrance. l
sounded tust like Babsie's laugh. Bah
sic now, perhaps, lying a little man
gled corpse in the Faith hospital
Why was he there? he asked himself
If his darling lay dead. What liz h
care for money now?
But Babsie had been so fond of hi
drinking song" She had looked for
ward to hearing him sing it. H
would sing it for her sake.
Then his voice began to fa1ter-h
swayed slightly. Hes breaking down,
was the terrified whisper. Won
some one step in 10 fill the gap?"
And some one did. Right from tn
very back of the gallery it came
child's voice that caught up the refrai
just as the wretched singer was abou
to rush from the stage, and the aston
ished artistes, looking up to tn
goods" beheld the singer, a little gil
perched upon the shoulders of a sta
wart coster. It was Babsie-Babsi
alive and well.
By the time the little girl had 81
through the chorus and the. CALLER
had shown their appreciation by al
plause and whistling, Halliday had r.
gained his self-possession, and he san