Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-11-29
saint Maru's Beacon


King Of the pantomine.
Their clothes we're hesped on q
basket in one corner. The Panta-
loon was "making mp" and the
Demon King was drinking whisky
and soda and reading scraps from
the Sporting Times to amuse the
two acrobats,
Edgar Brooke. hungry-eyed, lean
and haggard, sat with his aching
head between his hands. His tin
seled harlequin suit was loose for
his wasted body. Months Of i'll
ness, hard luck and poverty had
taken the heart and soul out oi
him.
He gave q sigh Of thankfulness
when his noisy comrades were sum.
moned to the stage and be was
alone.
"Heard that Brooke has got the
sack 20 said the Pantaloon.
Eyes, poor devil !" answered the
Demon King.
Then there was the quick patter
OF feet on the stairs. the door was
pushed little open, and q Colum.
bine, In gauze and smile, peeped
into Brooke's dressing room. AL
though she was only 16, they had
been solemnly engaged for two
months.
Eddy, darling!" she exclaimed,
running into the room and perching
herself on the Pantaloon's basket.
The young man looked up, too
Wretched TO hide the marks of tears
on his face or to try to control his
unsteady lips.
''It's all mp, Kitty" he replied.
cove got my notice, dear. Run
downstairs-you shouldn't come
up. One day they'll catch you."
"My own love-" said the Colum-
bine, jumping off the basket and
kneeling down beside him, "you
don't know yourself-none of these
fools know you. You're worth
more than the whole lot 70
ooh, Kitty. Kitty / can't bear
itw
You must cheer up, Eddy I"
she whispered.
She persuaded him to stand mp,
hunted for his small mask and
wand, shook herself together and
gave q touch to her own complexion
before the glass.
Edgar Brooke went down to the
stage with his hand on her should
er.
The manager OF the company
was standing with his back to the
curtain.
"Urry mp there % said he.
'Have you got that side braced ?
NV boy, your shops wabbling.
Lights 'Ang it all Now, my
DEAR
Up went the curtain and on went
the Columbine with a flying bound
and q beaming smile. Edgar Brooke
leaned against the wall for @ second
With his clinched hand to his throb-
bling brow. Then be, too, ran in.
to the glare of the stage.
He could see nothing but an end
less row Of horizontal, blurred lights
that were dancing between him and
the audience; the house seemed to
be full of fog. Columbine tripped
toward him, she took his hand and
then twisted ard turned together.
The harlequinade was shor. and
busting, and at the finish the Har-
lequin had to take the usual flying
leap through q wladow.
Brooke and his sweetheart again
made their entrance hand in hand.
"Stand still, Eddy r. she whis-
pered, and then danced around him
with a hundred little tricky steps
and reckoning gestures.
The cue came. Harlequin struck
the ground with his wand and leap
ed. 1t was bis last effort. Luck
and training guided him to the
right spot. He shot through the
window as cleanly as an arrow, sud
was caught by the men who were
waiting to receive him. lie rose
to his feet, still clinging to their
arms, staggered . minute and then
fell fainting tn the ground.
"Plucky little chap 70 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
dragged on the stage. He saw that