Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-12-20
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Miss Wilkinson and the Y. c.
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CHAPTER III.-tContinued.)

temps. Othello had forgotten to blacken
his hands, so hastily put on black gloves,
and he smothered Desdemona so ener-
retieaIly that she objected audibly, and
he split one glove down the back; where
upon one of the audience remarked,
@Never saw a piebald niger before!"
Bluebeard's beard came off, and the Mas
Ger of Ravenswood, panic stricken,
stalked off the platform before the cur
tain was lowered But alPs well that
ends we'll; every individual performer be-
ing convinced that he or she was the sue
cess of the erering
The piece, Faithful and True went
fairly well, in spite of n comic opening
The first scene began with the entrance
Of footman, announcing visitors: the
poor youth was attacked by stage fright,
opening and shutting his mouth like an
expiring Goldfish, until a hand appeared
from the flies and dragged him off by his
coat tails. The play was the weIl-worn
story of pretty girl, an impecunious
young man, and obduTate parents. The
hero, in despair, becomes an imperial
woman, saves the life of a South African
millionaire, and is presented by him with
shares in a gold mine, making him rich
beyond the dreams of avarice. He comes
home, is welcomed with exuberant ioy
by the mercenary parents, and the cur
tain falls on moving tableau.
Gerald Anstruther, in khaki uniform.
made such a goodlooking hero that all
the young ladies in the audience lost
their hearts on the spot, and were filled
with envy of Mamie, who, arrayed in
one Partisan toilette after another. and
sparkling with jewels, was a Sight to
make an old man young" as the Vicar
said to Lady Musgrave. In the first
scene, when she swept on to the stage,
in creation" of soft silver gauze, max
ing her look as if clad in moonbeams, and
wearing necklace of single stone dia-
monds, encircling her throat with a ring
of fire, there was sigh of admiration.
Dick exclaimed, Don't she look rip
ping, Ralph?"
mouth firmer than before, while he
thought
Those fatal diainondsi Why isn't she
poOr?"
Why had he been such a fool? Of
course she must have imagined he
wanted her money, for she didn't seem to
she was. He had lost his head at the
idea of leaving her without speaking, and
10 lost his life's chance
Dear little soul, she is SO sweet and
kind to everyone. She wanted to make
friends; but 1 can see that she doesn't
like me, and could never love me now
almost cripple-for my arm will never
be really right, and my health is
wrecked. It's contrary world. There
would have been some sense in that V.
g, if / could have brought it 10 her"
And with heavy sigh, Ralph set him.
self to watch pretty Mamie being made
love to by another mana man younger
and better looking than himself. "He
was right who said, Fools and knaves
both get their punishment, but the fools
get it first and heaviest"
Mamie acted her part with a spirit
that carried her audience away, and the
mingled tenderness and archness of her
love-making, giving way to pathetic grief |
at the parting from her sweetheart,
caused Sir John TO blow his nose loudly, |
and young Anstruther to feel as though
in golden dream from which he would
have been well content never to awake.
But Mamie saw neither him nor the
audience. She was back in Baden Baden,
among the nightingales and syringas, |
with a strong, brown hand holding hers, |
and a pair of blue eyes looking at her
with love and longing. 81 shall love you
till die" he had said. But how could
any man continue to care for girl who !
had behaved to him so badly, and whom |
he saw every day acting like shallow, |
heartless coquette. Yes, it was true she |
firted, but she must do something to |
dull the ache at her heart, and to keep
herself from thinking of those cold, stern |
eyes.
In the last scene her hands were |
clasped in Gerald's, and the stage father |
was giving them his blessing. But as she |
raised her head in answer to the vocifer- |
Gus applause across the room she saw
Ralph's face; and there, in the sad eyes |
gazing back at her was the same look |
of love and hungry longing she so well |
remembered. 1t was no mistake. She |
was sure then he had not forgotten-he |
did love her. The revulsion of feeling |
was so great that she turned pale and |
gddv, and chung to Gerald's arm as the |
curtain fell.
How the rest of the evening, with its |
congratulations, laughter and chatter, |
passed, she never remembered. She |
neither knew what she said, nor what |
was said to her. Only in her heart rang |
ever the glad refrain
He loves me, he loves mel"
The next morning most of the perform
ers were rather tired, but Mamie APP |
peared as fresh as rose, and urged |
everyone to go skating at once, as fresh |
air was much the best tonic after late |
hours.
Sir John told the young folk to make
the most of their time, as he thought
thaw was coming. And make the most |
OF it they did the next few days, being
or the ice morning, noon and in the even
ing by torchlight. But in vain Mamie |
locked for Lord Ennesdale's tall figure
among the skaters.
The merry party at last dispersed,
each going his or her separate way, Fen
wick and young Anstruther both rather
downcast, for Mamie had given them to
Gnderstand-gently, but firmly-that she
Lad no use for their hands and hearts.
she was very kind TO the poor boys, and
= L Sc Ah,A