Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-05-19
DICKEi'S AIONEMENT
The Romance That Was Played
After the Tragedy.
BY SARAH 3. KENNEDY.

pleased, but the fact remained that the
entertainment given by the "Smithville
TheSpians" was success. Miss Della
ney said the performance was lacking
In "artistic finish" but Smithville went
and paid its money without regret ard
laughed as 1t had not laughed in years.
True the intention Of the Thespians
was not to make people laugh, for in
their self adulation they had essayed a
tragedy. But from tragedy to comedy
was an easy step with Dickey Holt In
the cast. Something was always sure
to happen to Dickey.
That which befell him this particular
night seemed trivial in it's nature, but
was farreaching in it's consequences
He quite forgot that afternoon to pur-
chase pair of long hose to wear with
the knee breeches of the colonial cos
tune in which be was to enact the
heavy villain and at the last moment
bribed the maid from the girls dress
ing room TO surreptitiously borrow
pair for him. These he donned so hur-
riedly that he failed to notice the own
er's name worked in bright silk just
below the knee. But there were opera
glasses in the house, and soon the au-
dience knew what he did not The ap-
plause accorded him was as uneXpect-
ed as it was gratifying. and he looked
compaSsionately at John Moore, the
leading man." who thought to reap
all the honors. But in the most thrill
ing scene of the second act. where his
villainy was denounced. there came an
awful moment.
"You are d pennless impOstorv'
stormed John. giving the lines as they
were. why. the very shoes in which
you stand are not your own"
And then before Dickey could make
his grandiloquently scornful reply a
small boy in the front row rose and
cried eXcitedly:
"And neither is the stockings his, for
they've got my sister Bellies name on
'em!"
After that permanent return to
pompous tragedy was impossible. Even
John Moores imposing voice and Jes-
sic Lanes we'll simulated tears failed
to keep the spectators in awe. Dick
ey's stockings were the 'stars Of the
goodlie companie," and every time he
appeared he was greeted with shouts
and applause. Though the delighted
audience went out into the night re-
GREETING no penny spent for tickets,
behind the scenes Dickey had the
whole troupe about his ears. But the
only criticism that hurt him was Jessie
Lanes. With Jessie he had long be-
lieved himself in love, and it hurt him
when she said:
"You quite spoiled most of my part.
and you made my poor little sister
Belle more miserable than | can tell
you"
The next night he called upon her to
maze his peace and found John Moore
in the parlor ahead Of him.
"Oh. l have quite forgiven you,"
laughed Jessie, but Belle has vowed
vengeance against you, and if you are
wise you will go out yonder on the
porch and pacify her. You used to be
quite hero in her eyes"
So Dickey left John with Jessie and
went miserably out to where Belle,
aged sixteen, swung in hammock
and pouted. He had known and petted
her in days gone by, and he thought
soon to smooth her ruf1ied plumage
Instead he found her obdurate and full
Of reproaches. However, he must pac-
ify Jessies sister. So Dickey spent
the evening by the hammock. The
next time he came it was the same.
John sat with Jessie, and he was ban
ished to the porch and Belle. That
young lady had framed an elaborate
program Of PREPARATION for the humilia-
ton to which she had been subjected.
He must bring her bonbons and fow-
ers and sing to her in the summer
moonlight to his mandolin Dickey
undertook these things in a spirit of
penitence and martyrdom. Night after
night he sat on the porch and strove to
be amiable while mentally he was
Tuning against John. He sometimes
wondered why nice girls like Jessie
had to have small sisters.
During the second week of his en-
forced reparation he made a discovery.
Belle had heightened her dresses and
twisted her braids into a knot on top
of her small head, and with these per-
sonal changes there had come also a
touch of coquetry to her manner that
made her the most delightful compan-
ion. He found he was fretting less
over Johns advantage, but now and
then the old jealous thoughts would
come
"Are you not almost placated?" he
asked laughingly one night.
Belle answered with spirit: do you
think six boxes Of chocolate and three
bouquets would atone for all that
laughter in the dress circle and those
catcalls from the gallery. No. indeed!'
Dickey acknowledged that she was
right and went on playing the agree
able. and as he was as much philoso-
pher as martyr he set himself to get
all the pleasure possible out of his new
role 1t was really surprising how
quickly time passed in Bellies pres
pDca As She SWING i'm the hammock