Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-31

getting "hands" by the hundreds. She
had made a hit. accidental. it is true
and 1t began to hurt a little-but 1t was
bigger hit than even Flossie Dupree had
made. The applause and the laughter
and the boisterous shouts from the gal
lery were like a stimulant. and set the
blood Once more stirring in her veins. She
felt a sharp twitch of JOY she beheld
the house in a tumult before her.
Speak up" again excitedly whispered
Stevens: and he prompted: We'll, here
are. my hearty.
Tire lines came back to her like a fash.
We'll. here We are. me hearty. she
repeated.
They were the first words that Annie
had ever uttered to an audience in pub
lie performance. But they were success
full Staid old gentlemen down in the or
chestra chairs fairly wept for JOY. women
searched the program in vain for the
name of this extraordinarily gifted young
woman hitherto unknown, and the gal
lery. always appreciative of cleverly exc
cuted acrobatic stunts, hoWled It's APP
prevail.
You're all to the mustard again WINS
pered Stevens before going on with MS
lines pending the Subsldence OF the tenn
pest in the audience
Meantime Meyer stood at the edge OF
the wings distracted by a spasm Of doubt.
We're they to use his favorite expression.
..joshing'' her? Had she ''queered the
show? Had he made a big fool of him
self to send on this wholly untried chorus
girl to take an important part: should
he cut out the numbering down the
curtain? .
,<ut his doubts were presently dispelled.
For when the storm of really hearty and
spontaneous laughter had passed of. An
ME, encouraged further by the inspiring
sotto voce of her partner. quickly recoV-
cred her assurance. and with the restora-
tion of her confidence the tremor went out
Of her voice the natural gayety and
vivacity Of her manner returned, and the
lines and the business went on as
smoothly AZ IL Miss Flossie Dupree herself
had been present.
But it was when the dance came that
not only the audience but Meyer himself.
and the still curious and puzzled chorus.
ami the stage hands. and even the phleg-
matte German gentlemen VINO composed
the orchestra were aStOnshed. Never had
there been such dancing on that stage
before Stevens had been tipped to
take the responsibility OF the number on
his own shoulders. but he soon found that
he could relieve himself Of any anxiety on
this score Indeed. where as hitherto he
had attracted at least half the attention
and applause of the audience by a cert in
Numbering. awkward comIcal agility. he
was now merely an appendage-a foil.
Once the familiar strains of the dance
struck nm Annie was at home. With all
the old abandon and childish delight OF
her hurdy-gurdy days intoxicated by the
lights bv the applause, by the smiling APP
prevail of the audience. she entered into
the Swing of the music. bounding about
with the untiring elasticity OF rubber
hall executing the most difficult steps
with that appearance O. perfect case
which comes only with natural ability
slnplemented by practice-swingtng her
curiy head from side to side. romping
through the measures In complete and
contagious enjoyment. ana "nen at last
she danced herself off the stage. ex-
hausted but supremely happy. there was
a storm of applause. Of vigorous. fnsistent
annlause that warns the cookies of the
managers hearts. Of applause to which
She and Steevens-who had suffered total
eclipse-were obliged to respond by a
double encore.
Of Annie.s task had been accomplished
The ice had been broken: the rest of her
work passed off without hitch. She had
scored a hit even. as Stevens had said
a nalpabie hit-the biggest personal sue
cess in the entire run of the Land OF
Nonsense
II was at the end of the performance
that Never rushed up and seized her by
both hands. The stage manager was mo-:
usually given to demonstrative hetraya
of appreciation, but on this occasion tie
sudden change from apparent rout TO
overwhelming victory perhaps put him off
Say he exclaimed. by way Of con-
graduation. that piece OF business was