Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-08-25
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"OIASU III Inc AO bOuB LuAt WAS
the excuse for the children's chorus.
She was mite with big blue eyes
that saw more than was altogether
good for child Of eix, yet saw with
unseeing eyes the undercurrent Of evil
that marred life behind"
"Snookums," DENLY had called her
the opening night when her short legs
refused to carry her of the stage with
the others In the mad rush that was
the wind-up of the song. and after that
her real name Of Polly Crane appeared
only on the salary roll The Shook
ums" hit was a success.
Snookums worshiped DENLY, who in
his careless, good-natured way made
a pet Of the small child that contrib
uted so materially to his own hit The
little girl came to love those moments
when she sat on his lap with the spot
light full on them and he sang to her
the nursery rhymes that were so
much funn1er than the ones her moth
er sang, with so many lines that
Snookums did not understand Miss
Carver used to stand behind them on
the stage with her arm about Denby's
neck; for Miss Carver was the big
gest Of the little girls. though she was
Denby's wife.
Snookums was fond Of Miss Carver,
too; and as the song went on she used
to reach up and press against her
cheek the hand that rested lightly on
Denby's shoulder.
There came a night when talk that
had been growing increasingly frank
In the company came to Edith Car
ver's ears. 1t was prefaced by the
usual my dear, would not tell you
this, but l think you really ought to
know" but that brought cold comfort
to the poor little woman for whom the
honeymoon. which had consisted of
three weeks of rehearsal and two
months Of playing, had scarcely ended.
They had warned her that DENLY
could not be held true, but she had
shut her eyes and ears resolutely to
the bits Of gossip and tried to see the
audacious glances with which Lott1e
Lorrimer favored her husband. Now,
however, she was brought souarely
face to face with her trouble
II know about Miss Lnrrimer-ast
night" she whispered
Just little supper" he whispered
back Grossly. You bad headache
and was lonesome"
There was the club reminded
Edith. You told me you had gona
there
II was going, but Miss Lorrimer
came along and said she was hungry.
too; so l said. Come along. kid. and
she came"
moment her cue came. Grasping DEN
by's hand, they ran out upon the
stage laughing with the fictitious
laughter that on the stage hides many
broken heart The audience saw
nothing Of the tragedy. but wise little
Snookums was witness to the scene.
Denby's voice sounded as funny az
there was a worried look about the
mouth in spite of it's painted smile.
Perhaps because he felt the need of
working hard, DENLY did better than
usual in the kid song. When he came
off the stage at the close OF tho act
he swung the child up to his shoulder.
Still love me, snookums?" he
asked with laugh that he did not al
together feel.
The child shook her curly head
gravely.
Whats the matter?" he asked. with
an affection of surprise.
II don't like mems what don't hold
hands with their wives" she explained
gravely. Mamma and papa didn't
hold hands and then didn't have any
papa"
That was very sad," commented
DENLY with pretended gravity. But
1t doesn't always happen that you lose
papas when they don't hold hands,"
Yes, you dol" persisted Shook
ums. And you was holding hands
with other girls. saw you holding
hands with Miss Lorrimer. l don't
like Miss Lorrimer
DENLY looked across the stage to
where Edith was just emerging from
! her dressing room. Then he glanced
down the corridor where Lottie Lori
uST, uuCOu6ClOu6 VI LIB glance, was
| flirting with the stage clearers and
using her eyes as effectively upon
them as she had done with him.
| anyone to keep In practice on"
muttered DENLY in sudden realisation
| Of the situation. II guess you're right,
Snookums," he agreed. I've been
pretty much Of a fool, but l guess II
isn't too late to mend and-well-you
run along. I've got some mending to
do"
He swung her down from his shoul-
der and made his way across the stare
to where Edith was standing.
"Out Of the mouths Of babes com.
eth WISDOM" he quoted softly.
''Snookums has been showing me
what a miserable fellow have been,
Eide win you kiss and make up,
dear7" ''' '~' a..
Mercy! It win spoil my makeup"
she protested; but she lifted her car
| mined lips to his and soyfully ran of