The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-10-14

had hoped. OF course there may be no
cause for alarm-perhaps we are expect
Ing the change too quickly, but the doctor
writes that she Is still very frail Try not
to worry, dear. Mother"
Sylyette slept wretchedly that night.
Frightful dreams startled her out of slum-
Der every hour or so. Once she awoke
crying, Alice! Alicen and sat up in bed,
shlyering with terror.
She had to force her spirits next day to
appear as scintillant as was expected of
the radiant sylvette. A heavy hand
seemed clutching at her throat, but she
flung off the somber influence. She wrote
home at once and sent a letter brimful OF
tenderness to Alice. She began to feel
hopeful once more.
On the last night Of her engagement,
however, she grew restless and forebod-
Ing again. She was feverishly alert when
night came. 1T was almost time for her
, turn and Nancy was adding a finishing
touch to the jaunty costume when a tele-
gram was brought In by one OF the stage
hands.
For me?' questioned Sylvette. Again
that hand clutching her throat. She OPP
ened the telegram slowly, in a daZed way.
and stood reading the words over and
| over. Alice died this morning. Come at
once. Mother"
Sylvette stared dumbly.
What Is 1t, Miss Sylvette? Lord! look
at her lips"
Are you sure this is right?" sylvette
asked the boy
Yes. ma am returned the startled
youth in wonder.
She took the pencil and blank and wrote
mechanically:
Il start tonight. Sylvie."
A loud rap sounded on the door and an
alarmed voce--"Sylvette. Sylvette! your
cue"
She faced the stake manager with the
same dazed, startled eyes.
Must ! go on? My sister is dead" Her
voice sounded strange to her like that OF
another person. The applause of the au-
dience came back to her like the sound
of waterfall.
Good God, woman. ] can't let you off
now, It's too late" They're waiting for
you. The Thornley, sister disappointed US,
too-one of ems sick am sorry but"
SylVette was on the stage. smiling,
sparkling. Her hands were like ice There
was roaring in her ears, but the habit
or affected buoyancy asserted itself She
sang. she piroutted. Her eyes flashed with
even more than their accustomed bril-
liancy. Her audience thought her amaz-
ingly spontaneous tonight. Cay, winning.
rollicking. she captivated them as never
before. 1t was all a nightmare to her. The
rapturous applause, the sea of upturned
faces. Alice Is dead: Alice is dead" The
words kept beating on her brain till 1t
seemed the tension would snap.
When she reached the shelter Of her
dressing room she did not cry out nor
swoon. She heard as in dream voices
murmuring: Poor sylvette too bad
about little sister" Cant we help you?"
How brave you are"
Sylvette was finging her things on a
chair while Nancy packed the trunk.
Hurry Nancy" she cried. One thing she
would avoid. In the next act a uuartette
sang THE Lost Chord" She must get
away before then. She would not, could
not. endure 1t.
She fell to and assisted Nancy with des-
perate dispatch There! We're rea.y."
She was dimly conscious that the stage
manager spoke to her kindly and that
the others pressed her hand and offered
their sympathy.
She found herself gazing at the plump
envelope just brought round from the box
office.
ut will help pay the''-shc shuddered-
THE expenses
Suddenly q sweet, piercing tenor arose:
Seated one day at the organ,
"Oh. Nancy--come-I can't stand that!
Quck-my enthusiastically"
Her voice broke. She was gone.
1T will do her good to cry" said the
others pityingly.
Out In the box Marie and her aunt were
sitting.
The gay sylvette was gaycr than ever,
wasn't she?" remarked the girl,
Yes, and just as superficial What a
life! l wonder she never tires of it,"