The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1906-09-11


man"
He's here. Come on. I'm going to
take you to a good show"
They walked along. chatting in
lively manner, and presently found
themselves in front of a brilliantly
lighted playhouse.
Here we are" said Arnold, will
you walk into my stage parlor?' said
the city spider to the country fly.
Sure l will" replied Tom. But
want you to understand that if any
thing happens to me my name and
probable whereabouts are both in the
hands of the police"
oh, the police all belong TO our
lodge" laughed Arnold. Come on"
Tom noticed that Arnold had the
free entree of the house and that he
seemed to be known to the attaches
of the place.
1T looks like another capacity
crowd" the latter replied.
Good. This way, Tom"
He took the latter up a gorgeous
stairway and presently they entered
a balcony box 1t was the box nearest
the stage on the right hand side of
the house and it gave Tom a chance to
survey the beautiful auditorium az
his leisure. For moment he felt al
together too conspicuous to be COM
Portable, but after a little while this
feeling wore away. There was moth
ing about him TO attract attention
Why should these finely dressed peo-
pie be interested in him?
Arnold made him take the seat in
the front of the box and he himself
sat just behind him.
Pretty scrumptious house, eh,
Tom?"
Exquisite, Arnold. It's like a white
and gold fairyland."
Then the orchestra came in through
the little doors under the stage, and
the leader emerged last of all and took
his high seat in the middle, an impos-
ing personality i'm his evening dress
and with his wildly tumbled hair.
Tom loved music and this music
sounded very good He was so abb
sorbed in it that he failed TO hear the
whispered sallies that Arnold made
from time TO time. And when the
curtain arose on the brilliant new mu-
steal extravaganza, The Opal and
the Onion"
1t was delightfully."- absurd concoc-
ton. The settings were exquisite, the
music tuneful, the singing delightful
and the dances wonderful blendings
of agility and color There were some
very clever people in the cast, and
some of them great favorites with the
big audience. One in particular, a
childish lisp and an infectious laugh,
was quite overwhelmed with applause.
When the curtain dropped on the
rollicking chorus of the first act Tom
drew long breath.
That's fine, Arnold" he said. I'm
under obligations TO you"
Wait until you see the second act.
It's much better than the first"
I'm willing TO wait any reasonable
length of time" Tom laughingly an
swered This sort of thing just suits
me"
The second act opened up in a live
ly manner and the fun waxed faster
and warmer. Presently the pretty girl
with the lisp came to the foouights
and fianked by a score of chorus girls,
began a song
AS she started in on the first line
Tom felt Arnold draw his chair up
close behind him.
I'm sorry 1 Tilted Tommy,
He took it so TO cart:
! guess that ] was too hasty-
He told me / was tart.
/ fear that nc may ave dronded
Hisself-he acted queer;
Oh. why did ! act so 'eartless-
Come back, my Tommy dear"
These were the absurd words the
pretty girl sang and the chorus took
mp the last four lines and repeated
them and danced about I'm the liveliest
sort Of manner And then the pretty
girl suddenly looked up at the box in
which Tom and Arnold sat and hy-
sterically shrieked.
Why, there's Tom now" And she
pointed an accusing finger directly at
the astonishcd youth from Grin5ton
why. Tommy. how could you!
thought you'd drowned yourself"
For "a moment Tom was too SUR
prised TO STIR Then when he fully
comprehendcd the fact that She meant
him. hc made sudden movement with
the intention of drawing back his
chair but Arnold had closed up ON him
and held him firmly in tho corner
Gimme one of your old bright smiles.
Tommy" The girl cried to him with
her arms extended iu a pleading fash
ion. and ail the chorus girls looked
up at him rcproaChfully.
he felt his face burn like fire. his
ears were blazing Goals lie heard
the great audience laughing down be-
low. be heard a low chucNe from tho
wicked youth behind him and bc wish-
cd himself iu the w!lds OF Tafiary
Then the pretty girl sang another
verse and the chorus repeated the
chorus and danced again and the pref
ty girl once more personally besought
him TO rolent and "bc his old self
again. and the audience reared and
Toms face burned and Arnold softly
chuckled
They called the pretty girl back eight
times and Tom went through the orr
deal at every encore But presently
bo hrarod uu and took the dose like