St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-03-30

ms fetuFn. AT night, eftef their casua
meeting in the agents Office, Ted Lin
gered by the stage door of the the eater
where Lottie was, a. she told him
walking on"
Walking on! A guinea q week!'
thought Brabazon. .5fE 5z
He saw her come ont. and followed
unseen, as she hurried away. 1t was NJ
vulgar curiosity on his part. Wonder
vague pity-kindness of heart-drev
him after, the untiring little figure.
When she stopped at last in .
small, dull street, more than an hour.
walk from the theater, he watched he,
stoop to fit her key into the door, opeu
it and disappear. After a little Will.
he walked away, pondering and per
picked. Is ifs
When the melodrama This World oI
Woe" went on tour in the autumn Lot
tie was in the cast, playing small part
She never spent . single penuy ,ha,
could possibly be saved. She sought for
the cheapest lodgings and lived on the
hardest fare. But her child, the dear
companion Of so many lonely hours,
was a.ways merry. strong and well. r
so the months passed on, and This
world OF Woe" came to happy end.
ing.
Ted Brabazon found shimsef in I
provincial town at Christmas, with the
comedy of half q dozen scenes on his
capable shoulders. To his great sur
prlse-as he said-Lottie Hyde was q
twinkling star of the same pantomime.
On the second night, sitting in his
dressing-room, Brabazon began to puz-
zle, as he often did, over the reticence Of
the girl he had known SO long. The
transformation scene was rapidly APP
preaching. and his own part was nearly
over.
Suddenly there was tap at the door,
and the next minute couple of hands
were ciapped on his shoulders, and he
was face to face with Gordon Hyde.
"Ted!-dearoldc dchap!-Lottied doesn't
know I've come! How are you? How's
my wife and the boy? Shake yourself
up. old man."
With disconnected words like these,
laughing and shaking Brabazon's hand
all the time. Gordon ratified on, happy,
proud. prosperous, full of excitement
| and news.
well, I want to surprise Lottie!
Such year of it, Ted! Such . strug-
gle! Stranded in Craddock three
months after landed. Then we ran a
commonwealth for few weeks-I tell
you ] was on my beam ends!"
= - ! y -. > >
again. Brabazon wondered whether
Lottie was dancing on the stage at that
minute.
II don't think any other fellow could
have pulled through" Gordon went on.
with sudden gravity. lift hadn't been
for Lottie's good luck should have
starved. like dog, old boy!"
Ted Brabazon started. Lottie's good
luck had never touched point beyond
three pounds week.
''Of course l wrote and tod her all
about it. an6. she sent me word that she
was playing in London with a better
salary than ever expected. But that's
old news to you, isn't it, Ted?"
Brabazon began to understand the
reticence and the poverty that had puz-
zled him so long.
Somehow got to Kimberley" con-
tinued Gordon. Every body drifts to
Kimberley! Then Lottie sent another |
budget of good news. What splendid
production that World of Woe must |
have been! could hardly believe that
my wife was playing the chief part!
Well, turned my hand to anything that
came along. At last, on lucky day,
BNkerstaff's company struck Kimber-
ley. One of his men broke ddwn-there
was my chance. He gave me trial,
and I've been with him ever since; he
brought me over. What do you say,
Ted?"
HAS your wife. been sending You
money from the first?"
"Yes-ridiculous little doles!" ex-
claimed Gordon. 81 don't want to COM
plain. old boy; it's quite right that she
and the child should be saved from my
hard luck. But, still, to send a fellow
guinea at a time-once it was Is shil-
lings, upon my soul! She was earn
ing SO much-she wrote me such
CHEEKY letters-Ted, I can't understand
it,"
Slowly, in his own quiet way. Braba-
zon began to tell Gordon Hyde the
truth. He drew the picture of the lone.
" girl, with her child in her arms; he
shattered the lie that her love had
prompted her to tell; there had been
no London engagement, no success, no
stroke of luck. He described the
wretched rooms where she had lived,
and those long. weary walks through
the streets at night to save a few pence.
As the story Of her loyal silence and
dauntless courage went on Gordon put
np his hand suddenly to shield his eyes
from the light, and his head dropped
forward.
There was long silence; then Braba-
ION spoke again: Z,
II must go down; shall tell her."
"Yes!" Gordon clapped his friends i
hand as they looked at each other. z,
But leave me here for a minute, Ted: !
I'll follow!"
As Lottie rang through the wings to {
/
lark fan in the center of the transfer.
nation scene she felt hand catch at
,ers, and, looking hastily around, she {
aw that it was Ted Brabazon. He
topped and spoke few words. Lottie
ave a cry of joy, and clasped her hands .
ogether over her breast, as Ted sup Z
ported her for a minute on his arm. Z
"Hurry up. you girls!" said the stage
manager. places! Lights! Clcari
light you are!"
Lottie sprang into position. She for
ot her surroundings and swayed lit
le on her narrow platform. waiting.
rafting!
As the transformation scene dis :.
layed its wonders, the big, black fan
egan to move. Slowly it slipped down. :
ard, inch by inch. A soft, rosy circle
t light fell on the figure Of Lottie /.
[yde. Her arms were outstretched: all :
er pale. yellow hair fell over her shoul- .