Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-26

eyes. played Little Eva in Uncle
Toms Cabin There was fellow
seen me on the street one day by our
house that is NUNS house. Won
know. I lived with her ever since
could remember. Well. he took "A
fancy TO me. and he found mum. and
he offered her $40 week to let me
20 with company he had. You can
bet mum jumped at the chance SO
the man got me. and we went all over
the country Everybody was good TO
me, the men and the women. But I'm
sorry now over started in the stage
business. at least SO young"
"Why?"
"Well. | cant exactly complain. but
then. you see, it made me old while
was still little. You might almost say
] never was child at all. Just baby
for few years and then u woman
DO you understand what mcan%
'Only too we'll fear Go on"
"Well. did the Evn business off and
on for four sea sons one of the actors
taught me TO sing and dance. and when
he left the company h" offered mum
more money for me, so | went with
him n couple of seasons We used 10
do a sketch together. He played the
part of blind Trishman. and was his
little girl. and he used to find his way
home by hearing me sing. and a lot
more like that. Then got to be- -
years old, and branched out for nv
self"
"Rranched out for yourself? What
do you mean
We'll. You see. | found ont about
things and I caught on that mum was
getting s15 n week for mo when the
man I was with got $40 cause. Won
see, was sort Of genius Honor
bright | was. Don't you believe IT,"
Indeed. | do" said Mr. Mitchell
heartily.
you'd better say SOL" She continued.
with grave shake of her head. which
once more made her appear extremely
Youthful IF you didn't. might shock
tn" people in the car by cutting a
pigeon wing for you. Well | was what
they call an instantaneous success. |
went about il in bic way. | tell You.
| Just marched into one Of the M town
agents. and got into talk with him
and told him my scheme. | offered
him ~ per cent to look out for mo. and
he made the hargain with mo. He got
ont those beautiful Autographs Of mo
You've seen thcm;"
Yes. Was it he who called you
The Lily of the ValleyT"
NO That was my own idea You
SOC. usaL 10 be- Little Lillian when
played E,,, but now was going 10 be
n star I wanted my full name. Lillian
Vale sounded kind Of tame, and first
off thought I'd Just put an accent on
the p and call it Nallce Then il
struck me all Of sudden like. and
wrote it down. Miss Lillian Vale The
Lily Of the Valley. That way. YOU
see. got in the Lily and the Nallce
only in a prettior way"
This was when you were f.. you
say"
"Ycs. My. Don't that secm ages
ago: But it amt. I'm only past 16
now. Well. rs | said | made "A hit
from the jump, and pretty soon | was
getting my $50 week in the Bowery
and more when | went on the road.
That wasn't bad. was it?"
Not at all But now toll me when
you first met your husband.
"Oh. You want TO know most about
that? Well. now that I'm started |
may as well give vou the whole thing
] met him the second season was n
star. | was singing in the Bowcry.
one Of those places where they let the
audience drink in the theatcr. There
was box that opened on the stage.
and ono night young man in that
box threw me some flowers. | picked
them up. and without thinking | threw
him a kiss. That hegau it,
Alas how many of LIES tragedies
begin with a kiss.
lie came behind" she continued,
land spoke to me. The ue,' night he
came again. and he brought me candy.
aud | let him walk home with me.
After that we got 10 be great friends.
and then then | got to love him. DO
you know. loved him so it made my
head ache to think about it, because
always thought | wasn't good enough
for him. That was when lee wasn't
with me. But then he'd come again
and hc nice TO me and bring me flow
prS and candy, and he'd Kiss me. AMI
then I'd be happy again"
"Poor child muttered Mr.. Mitchell.
"What did you say" ask Lillian
"NothinG. nothing" hastily replied
Mr.. Mitchell
"Oh, | thought YOU spoke" Then
she went on: You see hc was very
r,EN, il