The San Francisco call., 1903-09-27


entertainment given by the "Smithville
Thespians" was q success. Miss De
laney said the performance was lacking
n artistic finish: but Snithville went
and paid its money without regret and
laughed as II had not laughed IN years.
True. the intention Of the ThesDians was
not 70 make people laugh, for IN their
self-aduIation they had essayed q trag-
edy. But from tragedy 10 comedy was
Al easy step with Dickey Holt in the
cast. Something was always sure TO hap
pen 70 Diclzey.
That which befeu him this particular
uiFht seemed trivial IN its nature, but
wsa far reaching IN its consequences He
suita forgot that afternoon 70 purchase
a pair OF long hose 20 wear with the
knee hreeches OF the colonial costume In
which he was 20 enact the heavy villain
and a. the last moment brtbed the maid
from the girls dressing-room 70 surrep-
S4taouSly borrow q pair for him These
he donned SO hurriedly that he failed to
notice the owners name worked in bright
Glk Just below the knee. But there were
opera glesses IN the house. and soon the
audience knew what he ala not The
Applause accorded him was as unexpected
as IL was gratifying. and he looked com
pasEionately eft John Moore, the leading
man" who thought 70 reap all the hon
ors. But IN the most thrilling scene OF
che second act. where his villainy was
Announced, there came an awful moment.
You are a penniless impostor." storm
I'd John, giving the lines as they were.
p'why, the very shoes in which you stand
are not your own!'
And then before Dickey could make his
rranduoouently scornful reply, a small
how tu the front row rose and cried ex-
rste6ly:
"And nesthsr II the stockings his for
they've rot my sister Bellies name on
'emf"
Altar that q permanent return to POM
pous tragedy waI impossible, even John
Moore's imposing voice and Jessie Lanes
~Veu stimulated tears failed to keep the
EpectatorB IN awe Dickey's stockings
were the s'stars OF the Eoodlie companie, y
and every tine he appeared he was
erected with shouts and applause. Though
the delighted audience went out into the
night negretting no penny spent for tick
cts. behind the scenes Dickey had the
whole troupe about his ears. But the
only criticism that hurt him was Jessie
Lanes. With Jessie he had long believed
himself In love, and II hurt when shs
said:
You quite spoiled most Of my part
and you made my poor little sister Belle
more miserable than ] can tell you"
The next night he called upon her Il
make his peace, and found John Moore IN
the parIor ahead Of him
'Oh. I have quite forgiven you.
laughed Jessie, but Belle has avowec
vengeance against you, and II you ar'
wise you VIII go out yonder on the porch
and pacify her. You used to be quite 6
hero IN her eyes"
So Dickey left John with Jessie. and
went miserably out 10 where Belle, aged
16, swung in a hammock and pouted
lie had known and petted her in day
gone by and he thought soon to smooth
her rufhed plumage. Instead he founc
her obdurate and full Of reproaches
However. he must pacify Jessie's sister
So Dickey spent the evening by the ham
mock. The next time he came II YVES thu
same, John sat With Jessie and he wa
banished to the porch and Belle. Tha
young lady had framed an elaborate pro
gramnle OF reparation for the humiliation
20 which she had been subjected. H