Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-02-03
"a curious souvenir. Mr.. Brooks.
Edgar Brooke smiled and there was

iAC SCACuidu udu iOiSOItcu liz
| youthful interviewer. He seemed to
see the little shoes dancing on the
wall. His comfortable room faded out
of his sight. There was the sound of
scraping fddles and the flare of gas.
Twenty years had slipped away in
hardly as many seconds.
1t was behind the scenes of a coun-
| try theater. The close air of little
room almost stifed Edgar Brooke.
He dressed with the Pantaloon, two
acrobats and the Demon King of the
pantomime.
Their clothes were heaped on a
basket in one corner. The Pantaloon
was making up 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 tinseled
harlequin suit was loose for his wasted
body. Months Of illness hard luck
and poverty had taken the heart and
soul out of him.
He gave a sigh of thankfulness
when his noisy comrades were sum-
moned to the stage and he was alone.
Heard that Brooke has got the
sack?" said the Pantaloon.
Yes, poor DEVIL" answered the
Demon King
Then there was the quick patter OF
) feet on the stairs, the door was push
ed little open and Columbine. in
gauze and smile, peeped into
Brooke's dressing room. Although she
was only Is, they had been solemniy
Nengaged for two months.
| Eddy, darlingl" 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,
ITS all up, Kitty" he replied.
) 'T've got my notice, dear. Run down
stairs-you shouldn't come up. One
day they'll catch you"
"My own love-" said the Columbine,
jumping off the basket and kneeling
! down beside him, you don't know
yourself-none CT these fools know
you. You're worth more than the
whole lot"
| 20, Kitty, Kitty! can't bear it,"
Broken by weakness and despair, he
drew Kitty's slender arms around his
neck, and. resting his head on her
: shoulder, sobbed aloud.
You must cheer up. Eddy" she
whispered.
She persuaded him to stand up;
hunted for his small mask and stiff
wand, shook herself together. and
gave a touch to her own complexion
before the glass.
Edgar Brooke went down to the
stage with his hand on her shoulder.
The manager of the company was
standing with his back to the curtain.
"'Uwy up there" said he. Have
you got that side braced? Ny boy.
your shops webbing. Lights! 'Ang
it all! Lights! Knock i'm off. Ring
up, Now. my dear
Up went the curtain and on went
the Columbine, with flying bound
and a beaming smile. Edgar Brooke
leaned against the wall for second
with his clenched hand to his throb-
bling brow. Then he, TOO ran into the
glare of the STAGE.
He could see nothing but an endless
row of horizontal, blurred lights that
were dancing between him and the au-
dience: the house seemed to be full of
fog. Columbine tripped toward him,
: she took his hand and they twisted
and turned together.
The harlequinade was short and
r busting. and at the finish the hare-
quin had to take the usual flying leap
through a window.
Brooke and his sweetheart again
made their entrance hand in hand
Stand still, Eddy" she whispered,
and then danced around him with a
hundred little tricky steps and beck
oning 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 Clearly as an
arrow. and was caught by the men
} who were waiting to receive him. He
rose to his feet. still clinging to their
arms. staggered a minute and then fell
fainting to the ground
"Plueky little chap," said one Of the
men.
Not an ounce of flesh on his bones."
said the other
When Edgar Brooke came to himself
| Il