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


desperate nature of the case and urging
her to come If il We're by any means pos
sibe. had just returned. 1t was out of the
question for the lady to leave her bed, the
doctor had absolutely forbidden it.
A small. commserating group of stage
hands had surrounded the manager and
offered from time to time various sympa-
thetic and impossible suggestions.
cut out her part, Abe" urged the car
penrer.
cut it ont. Cut 1t OUT he exclaimed
irascihly as he pranced up and down.
ducking drop" that suddenly descended
from the flies. "You talk d nonsense.
How can ! cut out the soubrette? You
might as well cut out the lights and
music"
1t was al this crisis that Annie Keenan,.
arrayed 10 represent q gorgeous and
totally impo ssble butterfly. with bare
arms. legs incased in pink strip tights.
her face covered with paint and rouge her
gray-blue eyes set in frame of un-
natural. almost uncanny blackness. ard
with two flaps of gauZe protruding from
each shoulder 10 represent her flying ap-
paratus. stepped forward to the knot of
men and addressing the perspiring stage
manager. said in a hesitating way:
"Mr. Meyer. think can do the part. :
He paused abruptly as he was about to
whirl around for another reckless dash
across the stage and stared at this unex-
pected apparition of human butterfly in
very evident aS'oniShment not unmingled
with Indignation.
What you" he said while the crowd
circlad about them curously.
Vow look here" he exclaimed brusque-
~ recovering his wrath, Il don't want no
buttin in. won't stand for no joshin'
I'm in no mood for it." And he started
to make his way through the throng But
Annie knew her chance had come and was
determined to stick to her guns.
We'll. Mr.. Meyer" she replied as calmly
as her rapidly beating pulse would permit.
I've studied the lines and ! know EN-.
know the dances too-and the bust
ness
He stopped and looked at her again in
credulousiy. though he was vsibly i'm
pressed by the bright light of truth that
shone manifest in her eyes
''You know the lines and the Dances he
replied. Whered you learn EN-?
! What'd YOU learn EN- for?'
Annie felt herself reddening even under
the generous varnish of paint that overlap
her own pretty complexion
''Oh. Just done it for fun she said in
some embarrassment
I was now nearing 8 O'Clock The
asbestos curtain had been raised. Every
inch of room off the stage, In the wings
up in the wooden galleries. on the stair
cases leading to the dressing rooms. In
the large open space behind the back drop
was crowded with a heterogeneous mass
of men and women. eXtravagant1y and
fancifullv costumed and made up. look
ing when seen close by. like grotesq,le
creatures from another Dlanet-all ready
for the opening chorus. The manager In
his torture of perplexity stepped to the
peep-hole in the canvas curtain that still
separated the audience from the stage
and gazed out into the front The house
was filling rapidly The musicians were
already in their places He turned again
and looked at the butterfly carefully.
Sure YOU can do 1t without breaking
down. Got your nerve with your
1t was not. perhaps. the best way OF i'm
fame already within her grasp. was not
the one to Let II slip without a struggle.
Sure she replied.
DO YOU know the cles?" asked Meyer
haunted by persisting doubts. The situa-
ton was quite beyond him. He could not
comprehend how this miracle OF a chorus
! girl could come to his relief at the elev-
threatened to wreck the performance
Sure" repeated Annie.
How about the Costumes?" he asked
CHANGING at her figure. Guess you'll do
though. Well. hurry. get into your
clothes. And say! he shouted as Annie
started eff ioyouslv for tn, wings III
YOU get stuck In the dances just take a
few steps Stevens will null YOU
through Stevens. the chief comedian
was doubled with Annie In the two
dances In which she was to take part. and