Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-02-04
u ATONEMENT
Copyright, 1905. bn T. c. Mcclure
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY SARAH B. KENNEDY

stars, might tilt her ilose 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 Smlthville went
and paid Its money without regret and
laughed as it had not laughed in years.
True, the intention of the Thespians
was not to make people laugh, for In
their self adulation they had essayed
a 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 befel him this particular
night seemed trivial IN its nature, but
was far reaching in its consequences.
He quite forgot that afternoon to pur-
chase a pair of long hose to wear with
the knee breeches 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 a
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 ap-
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
~. 81
scene of the second act where his vii
lainy was denounced, there came an
awful moment
You are penniless imnostor!'
stormed John, giving the lines as they
We're. why, the very shoes in which
you stand are not your own
And then before Dickey could make
his grandiloquently scornful reply
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
'em."
After that a permanent return to
pompous tragedy was impossible. Even
John Moore's imposing voice and Jessie
Lanes well simulated tears failed to
keep the spectators in awe. Dickey's
stockings We're the stars of the goodlie
companie," and every time he appeared
he was greeted with shouts and APP
plause Though the delighted audience
went out into the night regretting no
penny spent for tickets, behind the
scenes Dickc,' had the whole troupe
about his ears. But the only criticism
that hurt him was Jessie Lanes. With
Jessie he had long believed la lself 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 | 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, | 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 hero in her eyes
% Dlthtl ltIl dblu Will JtSHIc anu
went miserably out to where Belle.
aged sixteen, swung in Il hammock and
pouted. He had known and petted her
in days gone by, and he thought soon
to smooth her ruflied 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 baniShed
to the porch and Belle. That young
lady had framed al elaborate pro-
gramme of reparation for the humila-
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 spirit of peni-
tence and martyrdom. Night after
night he sat on The porch and strove to
be amiable while mentally he was
Tuning against John. lie sometimes
wondered why nice girls like Jessie had
TO have small sisters.
During the second week of his en-
forced reparation lie made discovery.
Belle had heightened her dresses and
twisted her Draids into a knot on top
of her small head, and with these per-
sonal changes there had come also a
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.
Are you not almost placated?' be
asked laughingly one night.
Belle answered with spirit: DO you
think six boxes of chocolate and three
bouquets would atone for all that
laushter in the dress cigol@ and those
catcalls from the gallery Ne, indeed"
Dickey acknowledged that she was
right ana went on playing the agree
able, and as he was as much philos-
opher rs martyr he set himself to get
all the pleasure possible out Of his new
role. II was really surprising how
quickly time passed In Bellies presence.
As she swung in tho hammock with
her heightened skirts fgoufrouing about
her She made him tell her all about
his hopes in his profession and
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