The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-04-28

dress rehearsal he had explained to
her; so I shall be at the theatre all
day"
The latter part of this statement was
not true; but he saw that there was
barely fodder one in the cupboard, and
his pocket was quite empty.
AS he ran down the stairs a little
shoe came gathering after him, and a
saucy, smiling face peeped over the
balusters.
That's for luck, dad she called
out
He noticed the little shoe had a hole
right through the sole, and he sighed
When he reached the theatre ne found
only few ellivering nObOdies assem-
bled on the stage. They all waited for
about two hours for the Stars VINO had
never intended to appear. ard then the
Itage manager dismissed them. Halli-
day met his manager ais he turned out
of the stage door with the intention of
suolling about the streets until even
ing.
"Hallor said that individual genial
ly. Hope all the plum pudding you had
yesterday won't affect your top notes.
[ think your song will fetch 'em up
stairs. There's money in it
Halliday uttered an exclamation, and,
STOPPING down, picked up a quarter.
There what did l tell your laughed
the manager, as he slapped him on the
bac kand went on his way.
Halliday Rugged the little coin in his
palm. 1t meant SO very much, and it
had entirely changed his plans for the
day. He hurried homeward with
lighter heart than he had carried for
m0Nths only stopping at a cosIter's bar
row on the way to invest some of mis-
treasure in rCisy-cheeked apples
He Sprang lightly up the stairs to his
home, calling "Babsie!" as he ran, so
anxious was he to see her astoniahment
and delight. But no answer came; no
pauter of little feet. The dreary room
was empty. He sat down chilled and
uneasy, and the apples rolled unheeded
to the door.
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 oallboy at the Regal theatre was
calling out Overture and beginners
as he made his way along The passages
when a man rushed past him and dis
appeared into one of the dressing
rooms. 1t was Nigel Halliday, white
perapiratiOn on his brow.
He'll never be on said the per-
formers in chorus. But he was at the
side dressed and made up, fully five
minutes before his entrance The other
performers were looking at him cur
iously, for his face was twitohing and
he spoke to no one. Nervousness or
drunkenness, they all agreed.
There was ripple of laughter as he
2 a
an electric shock upon him. He knew
what was expected of him. and he
worked desperately. He'll do said |
the anxious manager, sagely, as he |
watched his grotesque exit and lis
tened to the applause that followed it. |
As soon as Halliday Gas 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
Wait?''
oh, about one hour tonight" was
the reply.
Halliday rushed down the 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 struggling into his overcoat
Are you drunk tonight, or what?"
Don't stop mer' painted Halliday.
Hands off, L 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 of the traffic Needless
of the shouts of the drivers. The fog
had cleared away, and the night was
starry.
"Babsie! Babsier' he painted, as he
tore along. "Babsie! Babsier' 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 voiceless
prayer, and then he fastened back to
the theatre.
Just before his entrance in the pal
ace scene the doorkeeper made his
way through the crowd and said some
thing in low tone to the stage man
lger. He saw them glance toward him,
and in a moment he was beside them.
In heavens name, tell me. Ora
name! Is it news for me? Don't lie;
know it isl
when you come off, Halliday-after
your song. There's your music playing
low. Go on, old man.
Tell me first" Halliday replied,
loasely, and 1 give you my word I'll
90 orr
"A little girl-run over-taken to
Faith hospital Don't know who she
belongs to. Died unconscious" Ora
name replied, hastily.
Thank you" was all the wretched
nan said as he staggered past them
)nto the stage.
A child in the gallery laughed glee-
'ully at his grotesque entrance. 1t
sounded just like Babsie's laugh. Bah
;ie now, perhaps, lying a little man
sled corpse in the Faith hospital. Why
vas he there, he asked himself, if his
larling Law dead2 What did he, care