The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-07-02
Selett Sturp.
THE LITTLE FAT FIDDLER.

second violin in the Charivari Theater. By
day he carved delicate fantasies in minia-
ture from wood or bone These he sold
at satisfactory prices, for his thick fingers
held the cunning of the genuine artist.
He possessed pair Of twinkling blue eyes,
a sturdy and gracsless figure. and an im-
perishable enthusiasm for all things and
people of the stage The passion Of his
life was the profession. - Ambition had.
for him, no other meaning.
But it iss not for me, the actor life,
he would sigh, in his careful German Eng
liSh. which. in moments of excitement, was
prone To revert to ill-Anglicized German
II have tried il all. Tragedy they
laugh. Comedy-and they look, Oh 81
sad Even the acrobatie> for have been
a performer of my Turn Verein. The
tumble-t tricks | could do yes But | am
clumsy. No engagement anywhere. So
| play in the orchestra. 1t iSs neyt-best
On his principle of next best, Dolph
lived in a theatrical boarding house, though
his means and his friends called him to one
Of the lesser German clubs To this house.
at the opening Of the holiday season. came
certain members Of Benny Hughes Gus
and the Goblin company. Then aud
there Dolph ceased to ditfuse the romance
Of his nature abroad through the dramatic
armament and concentrated it upon one
Of the lesser lights, MAZDA
Mazda was the Flying Fay Of Benny
Hughes troupe Her Grs, hsght via in
visible wire from the center of the Char
van balcony to the stage, in fluff Of gauze,
from which she waved a starred sccp,er.
brough; Dolph heart into his mouth
That impressiouable organ never 50 far re.
turned to It's proper location but tha, each
fresh sigh, Of MAZDA called It up again A.
for the impcyious fairy, she might never
have identified the second yialin Of the
orchestra With the plump little ground foor
loiL,er of the boarding house, who hal once
or twice greeted her in the ball ways with
a respectfully admiring bow, but for an
after theaier incident in the Christmas
week run. In some way she had missed the
warirobc woman. who uas mother 20
the unattached girls Of the company, and
bad come uat alonc after the performances.
4 little after her came Dolph. a the
corncr she met three youns men. two of
whom promptly removed .ilk hats aud made
profound obeisanoc
To ay iha, Mazda wAs alarmed would
b. 20 De her an injustice. IN many ~.
spoc,s she vas old 'ar her nine;rcn year.
notably in the STAGE woman ooaaden;
ability TO take care of herself Wtsely she
rrfrained from speech. which wo4lI have
been to invite sprighdy re,ogt, and ~ her
eyes Aud footsteps 6rruly forward
Don hurry. Sop and - s,ciahle.
invited oDe 81 The men stepping ua.teas.iiy
in fr5Hs af her
Mazda lifted her face and lo,aked hius IN
the eye
why, its the Hs,le fairy qaoen This
Is lack exclaimed the ss,saad nan. d,
lie thickly. Gone aud have some honey
dew ani ambrosia in Rector well and
fav0rably known clhu bawer, Ti;auja
He larchei Hospitality forward, and
luryhei back again a. lov ~ plump
shoulder iatcrTa-sd between the girl ard
himself
Ex.caor me, gentleman said nolph,
IN tones 0f mild romonstrac, lua
make 4 small mistake Sac :, a ysa.i
giri The little musician had frank
way 0f going direct Ia the hear; of natter,
that was = ,rae discunoeriing At times
What the devil is it To sou if ,he -
demanded the bumped one You aren I
asked to this supper party. pu'ehy.
No. Well. I doa ie,l bad. said
the other good -nature,ily. He began 70
e,igv forward a little May | take You
home, Miss
The man in front looked uniecidsl
But has oonpanion. after moment hes
igancy, joltei heavily into the little Ger
man, - that he vas fonori over against
the siH With a sudden feeling of sar-
prise and content she felt his ooat sleeve
,autcu with the swell Of a mighty muscle
You 20 on, Miss, he aid hastily
d Around the corner Iss police officer,
maybe
Are you going To fight all three Of
Ihemg she gasped in admlriug alarm
No Miss. iasseu fight Her
admiration turned suddenly to DISCUS, 4
holt them here till you get away
But now the third man struck in. lie
seemed soberrr than bis friends. ''Oh,
here; lets quit this nonsense, he
protested impatien,ly Cant you fel-
.oEs see you We got Ihe wrung girly' He
pulled away Dolph assailant You Il
pardon him, Miss-er Titania, he apol-
ogized TO the girl The fact i, We ve
al been celebrating a little Christmas
eve, YOU know And as We Il all be sorry
for this tomorrow. We Il take time by the
torelock and assure you Of our repentance
now.
As for you, YOU Dutch turniP, put
IN the belligerent; If it WASH for the
lady | d make mess Of you.
But the turuip was already hustline
Mazda around the corner No sooner had
they turned than her pent-up wrath burst
put upon poor, defenseless Dolph
And you call yourself mani she
began, her eyes blazing
Yes Miss; off course, replied the
matter of,fact Dolph.
oh, if | were only-why didn't You
knock them DOWN? .he cried stamping
her foot at him.
"Why-why-wky, Miss, stammered
Dolph quite paralyzed by this attack.
If you want me, | might knock down
me But three-I don't know could |
10 it. Besides, | dassen fight.
Coward she said.
Dolph looked at her and suddenly she
'ound herself little bit sorry
NO. it iss not that, what you think,
he said slowly. 1T iss not that am
lfraid 1t iss that | must do what iss
,rdered. -
Ordered? Who ordered you not to
ight2 Your doctor?'
mo, Miss l don't keep a doctor.
My orchestra leader
Her laughter rang out clear and high.
Am | man or am | mouse? She
.rilled the line from the old vaudeville song
yaily. Dolph smiled responsively.
sJOnca I uet in a fi0ht - he said II