Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-07-03
His Sisters
Keeper =.
Elizabeth Dyke Lewis


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was improving, and she had youth and
good figure to give her hopes OF ad-
vancement. She entered into her part
with an enthusiasm which overlooked
the drafty wings and even the chilly
barrenness Of her own dressing room.
She hated her lodgings in the French
quarter in West Twenty-fifth street
and always longed to get back to the
theater.
She was sitting in her dressing room
on Wednesday afternoon, ready for
the matinee, which was to begin In
ten minutes, when the callboy came to
the door.
"Why, surely my watch isn't wrong"
she exclaimed for she was not needed
until half past 2. No; only the man
ager wanted to speak to her. The man
ager often wanted to speak to her. She
came cheerfully forward to see what
he wanted. He was standing in his
shirt sleeves giving the gas man
dressing about some lights which had
ruined the stars costume the night be-
FORE but he left his speech in the
middle and came to meet her, laying
his hand familiarly on her shoulder.
He was a big man and rather ugly,
btt even the chorus girls confessed
that he had way with him. The
little singer felt It, too, for she let her
self be drawn into the office, and the
door shut behind her. Then she gave
d flip to her short skirts and perched
on the table.
The manager cleared his throat and
went to the point.
"You see, Miss Kennedy" he began,
"I've been wanting to give you a lift
for some time. / can't bounce Miss
| Gray, of course. She's been on good
while and is used to 1t. But after this
run l do want you to have something
better Now, here's thing called Lib
erty Belle that's bound to make hit
some time, and If you like you can
take the score home and try Fair Hell
ems part on your piano. 1t was simply
made for you" He turned the leaves
rapidly, showing her the size of the
part and few of the situations and
hummng II couple of the songs, while
his plump foretnger followed the
score. "Now," he said, checking off
the points on his finger, "heres the
scheme In brief You're Fair Helen,
Stevens is the Dukes son, and I'm your
manager, and we go Off on the road
PittSburg, you know, and Cincinnati,
and perhaps Chicago If it's all right.
And now, before you say anything,
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point of the whole thing, to me at
least, is that Pm your manager-see?
And now, Miss Kennedy, I'm going to
make myself believe that you'll think
1t over the right way. And l guess it's
about time for us both to be on the out
side of that door, isn't ttT'
He opened the door and let her out
ahead of him, and she ran into the
wings and talked to the chorus girls
till her cue came. She joined absently
in their laughter ut her own jokes, and
all the time she was thinking over the
managers proposal.
1t sounded very attractive. She knew
that she would stand better chance
Of real promotion If she held her posi-
| llOil III IL SOON SlOCh. lcl tue luesi VI
star part and presumably higher sal
ary was alluring in the extreme.
She abandoned her reflections as the
time came for her to lead the chorus
out and to dance while they echoed re-
sponses to her song.
but that never dor her song con-
cluded as she brought both feet to-
| ,,tt taly o,,1 Into
"Ah! That we never dol" echoed the
chorus, and then she had to come far
ther down and do the last verse over
again. She could see over the footlights
and even distinguish faces in the first
three or four rows of the orchestra.
The front row was nearly filled by a
party of schoolgirls with their chap
was strangely out of place In that mat
inee assemblage. She looked beyond
him to the old ladies behind and then
to the lines of heads in the galleries,
but presently she found her glance
coming back to him. For few mo-
ments she was tantaliZed, and theE she
suddenly remembered where she had
met him. 1t was In quite another life.
He could hardly afford to recognize
her even If he remembered her, she
thought bitterly, and just then his face
lighted up, and he stared at her and
bowed and smiled in the most friendly
way, though he seemed little uncer-
tain of her returning the salutation.
She found way to do so, however,
and when she gave the last whirl to
her skirts and ran off she knew that he
would take her final bow as meant for
him.
She Joined the others for chat in
the wings till the end of the act, and
when she went to her dressing room
she found two fine bouquets Of Jacks
, waiting for her. She looked for the
cards. Her first bunch was from q
, man to whom she had sent box. He
was doubtless herewith his wife and
. children. She must remember to look
when she went on again. But the sec
ond! She opened her eyes. He had