Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-20
Madame Midas
BY FerSus Home
cHAPrEt xxIu-tContinued. }
BY FerSrs Home

CHAP fEk XXII.-(Contin
Kitty turned out to be perfect treas
gre, as her pretty face and charming
voice soon made her a favorite, and when
In burlesque she played Princess to Fan
ny WOpples' Prince there was sure to be
a crowded house and lots of applause
hltty's voice was clear and sweet as a
lark's, and her execution something Won
derful, so Mr.. Wopples christened her the
Australian Nightingale, and caused her to
be SO advertised in the papers. Moreover
her dainty appearance carried the audi
ence irresistibly away, and had Fanny
Wopples not been a really good girl she
would have been jealous Of the success
achieved by the newcomer.
Next year." said Mr.. Wopples, at a
supper which they had to celebrate the
success of their tour, well have thea
ter in Melbourne, and I'll make it the
favorite house Of the city, see II don
1t seemed, therefore, as though hItty
had found her vocation, and would de
velop into an operate star, but tate IN
tervened, and Miss Marchurst retired
from the stage, which she had adorned Sc
much. This was due to Madame Midas
who, driving down Collins street one day
saw Kitty at the corner walking Wltf
Fanny Wopples. She Immediately stop
ped her carriage and, alighting theretrom
went straight up to the girl, who, turning
and seeing her for the first time, gre"
deadly pale.
Kitty, my DEAR" said Madame, grave
ly, ~ have been looking for you vainly
for a year-but 1 have found you al
last"
Kitty's breast was full of conflicting
emotions she thought that Madame kne"
all about her having married Nandeloup
and that she would speak severely to her
Mrs. Villiers' next words, however, reas
sured her.
"You left Ballarat to go on the stage
did you nOt?" she said kindly, looking al
the girl; why did you not come to me
you knew l was always your friend.
Yes, Madame" said Kitty, putting ou
her hand and averting her head, Il would
have come to you, but l thought you
would stop me from going
MY dear child" replied Madame, y
thought you knew me better than that
what theater are you at!'
shes with u.s." said Miss Fanny, who
had been staring at this grave, handsome
ly dressed lady who had alighted from
such a swell carriage; I'VE are the Wop
pies Family"
"Ah!" said Mrs. Villiers, thinking, y
remember you were up at Ballarat las
year. Well, Kitty, will you and your
friend drive down to St. Kilda with me
, and I'll show you my new house,"
Kitty would have refused, for she wa
afraid Madame Midas would perhaps senC
her back to her father. but the appealing
looks of Fanny Wopples, who had never
ridden in a carriage in her life, and was
dying to do so, decided her to accept. -
they stepped into the carriage and Mrs
Villiers told the coschman to drive home
But how is it," asked Madame, who
believed her fully, that could not hnC
your"
Because / was up the country all the
time replied Kitty quickly, land ol
course did not act under my real name.
You would not like to go back to your
father, l suppose" suggested Madame.
No" she answered, determinedly; I'm
on the stage now, and l mean to stick
so it,"
But why not stay with me, my dearT
said Mrs. Villiers, looking at her; Il an
A lonely woman, as you know, and if yoU
come to me l will treat you as a daugh
ter.
'Oh! how good you are" cried the CIR
In a revulsion of feeling, falling on hel
friends neck; but indeed l cannot leave
the stage-Tm too fond of it."
Madame sighed and gave up the argu
ment for a time, then showed the TIVE
girls all over the house, and after thel
had dinner with her she sent them bacl
10 town IN her carriage, with strict injunc
lions to Kitty to come down next da!
and bring Mr.. Wopples with her.
Wopples saw Madame next day, and ;
long talk ensued which ended in Kit!
agreeing to stay six months with Mrs. Vii
liers, and then, if she still wished to con
tinue on the stage, she was to go to Mr.
Wopples. On the other hand, in consid
Grafton of Wopples losing the services o
Kitty, Madame promised that next yea
she would give him sufficient money t,
start a theater in Melbourne. So boil
parted mutually satisfied. Kitty mad
.presents to all the family, who were yer!
sorry to part with her, and then took VI
her abode with Mrs. Yilliers. as a kind o
adopted daughter, and was quite prepared
to play her part in the comedy of fash
ion,