Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-01-15
'm's YOUR TURN NEXT" HE SAID.

"Ts YOUR TURN NEXT" HE SAID.
expecting the inevitable nod and the
curt: Nothing doing TO-DAY. Sorry
that had rewarded her pi'grimages.
Her heart beat faster as the agent
swung briskly around in his chair
II thought you would be in. so did
not WRITE" he greeted. 81 have a
chance for you. 1t is not very much
but it will lead to better things ii yon
make good. The Bow Lake Boat club
wants some one to give few recita
lions at an entertainment" He caught
up pad of paper and passed it to her
after he had made Il few marks. She
glanced at the white surface and saw
$50" Carmontelle never spoke fig
ures. He always wrote them.
II shall he glad of anything" said
Elda gratefully. 1T is very good OF
you. When is it to be-"
Thursday night You go out on the
2:10 train. Bryum. enter Miss Testra
for the Bow Lake. Come in Thursday
morning for the ticket" he added as
the clerk made the entry. "You pay
your own fare. 1t will be $780,
He turned back to his desk with a
nod of dismissal, and Elda went down
the steps as though the worn boards
were the softest Clouds The dreary
wait was over, and her chance had
come just as the little fund which rep
resented all that was left of her ia
theirs estate was dwindling to moth
ingness. With her fare and the agents
commission deducted there was not
very much left. but still it was a be-
ginning. and the beginning was what
she needed.
She spent the three day interval in
selecting her repertory. Before her
fathers death following his bankrupt
cy she had been considered clever as
an elocutionist and imitator Now that
she sought to earn her living by her
single talent she planned with the ut.
most care.
1t was long hot ride to Bow Lake
She could not afford seat in the chair
car, and the little package of sand
witches was but poor substitute for
warm dinner in the dining car.
Her reception ut Bow Lake was still
more discouraging. A carriage had
been sent for her, but at the clubhouse
she sat alone for An hour before the
steward showed her where to dress.
and there was another dismal wait be-
fore she was summoned to the stage
The tiny space back of the curtain
was crowded with men and women in
evening dress. Some Of them she re-
membered having met few years be.
fore when she had come north on A
visit, but they only stared at her blank
". They were not looking for &C.
quaintances in paid entertainers, and
no one spoke to her until the stage
manager came rushing up.
otis your turn next" he said. I'VE
only want a couple of little bits. you
know. We have so much of our own
talent
He was off again, and Elda took her
place in the entrance to await the com.
pletion of the song. Then the stage
manager gave her slight shove, and
SAC "NIhNu Jul uDOA tuC lilly SldSC
She had appeared in public scores Of
times and had never felt the slight
est degree of nervousness, but now her
whole frame shook. and 1t seemed for
q moment as though she would fail.
Then the sea of faces became blur,
and she was no longer afraid Of them.
After her second selection the thun-
der of applause told of the success she
had scored and. faint and trembling.
but very happy. she sank down into a
seat in a dark corner.
No one seemed to notice her, and she
missed the little attentions that had
always been paid to her. She knew
that she had no right to expect them
now; she was a professional enter
tainer, but none the less it hurt
They were passing refreshments to
the others. and the sight Of the food