Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-08-30

Brooke and his sweetheart again
made their entrance hand In hand.
''Stand stiIl. Eddyg' 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 last effort. Luck and training
guided him to the right spot. He shot
through the window as cleanly as an
arrow and was caught by tho men
who were waiting to receive him. He
rose to his feet still elinging to their
arms. staggered minute and then
fell fainting to the ground.
"Plucky little ehapY said one Of the
men, ..,-
Not an ounce of flesh on his bones!"
said the other.
When Edgar Brooke came to himself,
he was lying on a 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
audience had poured into the streets.
His bench was near to the footlights,
but they. toa. were lowered. and It was
an anxious. whispering group OF neo-
pie on every side that gradually crept
into his consciousness,
There vas the manager STOPPING over
him, with hand on his breast and q
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 tangues.
At first be 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-
neeted and broken as the sentences
were.
"In couple of months this old panto
will be overr she said. eve shall all
go east and west-the Lord knows
where2 But look we've been
good friends, haven't We jolly, good
friendsf You fellows have been kind
to mo. all OF you. But there's one Of
you that ! loye-therel | love him!
Why7 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" s''-'
There was such intensity In her voice
and face that she held them silent and
absorbed for a few minutes more.
''It's just this: Edgar Brooke has no
soul on earth to turn toll tell rou hes
danced In booth; hess sung III the
atreeta; 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 stun for an actor to be made
off,
Edgar Brooke put out his hand to
stop her, but she went on, with fash
ing eyes.
well. what do you say9 Shall /
be round robin for the sake of OF
eWn hard tlaes7 Gosnet Wo al kpo-
where the shoe pinches,"
SHE bent dawn aud pulled of 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
appealingly to tiis-a couple Of coins
efipked into the shoe.
Edgar felt his cheeks burn. for the
theater was hls little world. and the
quick response of his comrades touched
and amazed him.
His wistful eyes followed Columbine
as she tripped from one to another,
DOW With a jest or smile. now with
tear,
When she brought the little shoe to
the side of the bench at last, ha 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.
4'he ring Of encouraging voices, the
flicker Of uncertals 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.. BROKER II
said the youthful interviewer again,
recalling the popular comedian to the
faded ballet shoes
"Yes, yes" said Edgar Brooke light
". But 1t would scarcely interest
you. BY the way, did tell you that
tny wife was dancer-before we mar
ried-a long time agor-Maiply About
People.