The Press., 1904-03-31
DIckEY's
- ATONEMFNT
BY SARAH B. KENNEDY
Copyright, 1908, by Z. C. Mcclure

Miss Delaney, who bad been to Wash
ington and seen several theatrical
"stars," might tilt her nose as she
pleased, but the fact remained that the
entertainment given by the ''Smithville
Thespians was success. Miss De-
laney said the performance was lacking
in artistic finish," but Smithville went
and paid it's money without regret and
laughed as 1t had not laughed in years.
True, the intention of the Thespians
was not to make people laugh, for in
their self adula lion they had essayed
tragedy. But from tragedy to COM
edy was an easy step with Dickey Holt
in the cast. Something was always
sure to happen to Dickey.
That which befell him this particular
night seemed trivial in it's nature, but
was far reaching in it's consequences.
He quite forgot that afternoon to pur-
chase pair of long hose to wear with
the knee breaches of the colonial cos
tune in which he was to enact the
heavy villain and at the last moment
bribed the maid from the girls dress
ing room to surreptitiously borrow
pair for him. These he donned so hur-
riedly that he failed to notice the own
er's name worked in bright silk just
below the knee. But there were opera
glasses in the house, and soon the audi
ence knew what he did not. The APP
plause accorded him was as unexpected
as it was gratifying, and he looked
compassionately at John Moore, the
leading man." who thought to reap all
the honors. But in the most thrilling
scene of the second act, where his vii
lainy was denounced, there came an
awful moment.
you are penniless impostor!'
stormed John, giving the lines as they
were. "Why, the very shoes in which
you stand are not your ownv'
And then before Dickey could make
his grandiloquently scornful reply a
small boy in the front row rose and
cried excitedly:
"And neither is the stockings his, for
they've got my sister Bellies name on
'emY'
After that a permanent return to
pompous tragedy was impossible. Even
John Moores imposing voice and Jessie
Lanes well simulated tears failed to
keep the spectators in awe. Dickey's
stockings were the stars of the goodlie
companie," and every time he appeared
he was greeted with shouts and ap-
plause. Though the delighted audience
went out into the night regretting no
penny spent for tickets. behind the
scenes Dickey had the whole troupe
about his ears. But the only criticism
4ho+ H.;
Jessie he had long believed himself in
love, and it hurt him when she said:
You quite spoiled most of my part,
and you made my poor little sister
Belle more miserable than l can tell
you"
The next night he called upon her to
make his peace and found John Moore
in the parlor ahead of him.
'Oh, l have quite forgiven you,"
laughed Jessie, but Belle has vowed
vengeance against you, and If you are
wise you will go out yonder on the
porch and pacify her. You used to be
quite here in her eyes,"
So Dickey left John with Jessie and
went miserably out to where Belle,
aged sixteen, swung in d hammock and
pouted. He had known and petted her
in days gone by, and he thought soon
to smooth her ruff1ed plumage. Instead
he found her obdurate and full Of re-
proaches. However, he must pacify
Jessie's sister. So Dickey spent the
evening by the hammock. The next
time he came it was the same. John
sat with Jessie, and he was banashed
49, ALI I,n%
lady had framed an elaborate pro-
gramme Of reparation for the humilia-
ton to which she had been subjected.
He must bring her bonbons and flowers
and sing to her in the summer moon
light to his mandolin. Dickey under
took these things in a spirit of pen1-
tence and martyrdom. Night after
night he sat on the porch and strove to
be amiable while mentally he was
Tuning against John. He sometimes
wondered why nice girls like Jessie had
to have small sisters.
During the second week of his en-
forced reparation he made discovery.
Belle had heightened her dresses and
twisted her braids into a knot on top
of her small head, and with these per-
sonal changes there had come also
touch of coquetry to her manner that
made her the most delightful compan-
ion. He found he was fretting less
over Johns advantages, but now and
then the old jealous thoughts would
come.
care you not almost placatedT he
asked laughingly one night.
Belle answered with spirit: do you
think six boxes Of chocolate and three
bouquets would atone for all that
laughter in the dress circle and those
catcalls from the gallery. No, indeedw
Dickey acknowledged that she was
right and went On playing the agree
able, and as he was as much philos-
opher as martyr he set himself to get
all the pleasure possible out of his new
role. 1t was really surprising how
quickly time passed in Bellies presence.
AS she swung in the hammock with
her heightened skirts froufrouing about
her she made him tell her all about
his hopes in his profession and
never doubted but that he would
achieve his ambitions. Sometimes she
talked of Jessie and wished, with a
languishing glance into Dickey's eyes,
that she were like her sister, "it would
be SO lovely to have man like Dickey
in love with her" He looking close to
find the coveted likeness, discovered
she was very much more beautiful than
Jessie and wondered that he had never
known it before.
After six weeks of this sort of thing
Belle sighed prettily and said she sup
posed he had spent quite enough time
and money on her to salve her hurt and
that he had better resume his atten-
lions to Jessie. OF course she would
miss him, she added with dropping lids,
but she trusted she was no usurer to
claim more than her debt. Dickey
went away with an odd sense of some
thing lost tugging at his heart. The