The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-30


Leaning forward little toward the
duchess be whispered: There isn't
one who isn't winner. never struck
such a box Of dry goods!"
The duchess smiled on Dan with
good humor. His naive pleasure was
delightful. 1t was like taking a child
to a pantomime. She was wearing his
flowers and displaying a jewel that he
had found and bought for her, and
which she had not hesitated to accept.
She watched his eager face and his
pleasure unaffected and keen. She
could not believe that this young man
was master Of ten million pounds
When Lefty Lane appeared Blair
heard q light rustic like rain through
the auditorium, a murmur, and the
house rose. There was well-bred
calling from the stalls, q call from the
pit and generous applause-"Letty
Lans-Letty Lane!" and as though
she were royalty. there was a flutter-
Ing OF handkerchiefs like flags. The
young fellow with the others stood in
the back OF the box. his hands in his
pockets. looking at the stage. There
wasn't girl in the chorus as pretty
as this prifaa donna! Lefty Lane
came on in "Mandalay" in the first act
In the dress of fashionable princess.
She was modish and worldly. For the
only time In the play she was modern
and conventional. and whatever breed.
Ing she might have been able to claim,
from whatever class she was born, as
che stood there In her beautiful gown
she was grace itself, and charm. She
was distinctly star, and showed her
appreciation Of her audiences admira-
ton.
At the end Of the tenor solo
Princess Oltary runs into the pavilion
and there changes her dress and ap
pears once more to dance before the
raiah and to prove herself the dancer
ne has known and loved In cafe in
Paris. Lefty Lanes dress In his dance
was the classic ballet dancers, white
as the leaves of lily. She seemed to
swim and float: actually to be breathed
and exhaled from out her film gown;
and the only ray Of color In her cos.
tune vas her own golden hair, sur
mounted by a small coral-colored cap.
embroidered In pearls. The actress
bowed to the right and left, ran to the
right. ran to loft; glanced toward the
Duchess Of Breakwater's box; ac-
knowledged the burst of applause; be-
gan to dance and finished her pas seul,
and with folded hands sang her song
Her beautiful voice came out clear
as crystal water from a crystal rock
and her words were Graded like
doves, like boats on the boundless
seas.
From India's coral strand. ;"
But there was no hymn tune to this
song OF Lefty Lanes In "Mandalay!"
To the boy in the box. however, the
words, the tune. the droning of the
nies on the window pane. the strong
odor OF the hymn books and panama
fans, came back, and the clear sun
light OF Montana seemed to steal into
the Gaiety as Lefty Lane sang.
The Duchess of Breakwater clapped
with frank enthusiasm. and said:
she Is a perfect wonder, isn't she?
Oh, she Is too bewitching!"
And she turned for sympathy to her
friend. who stood behind her, his face
illunined. He was amazed; his blue
eyes ablaze, his head bent forward.
he was staring, staring at the Gaiety
curtain, gone down ON the first act.
He laughed softly, and the duchess
heard him say:
Good! Well. should say she
was! She's a girl from our town!"
When the duchess tried to share her
enthusiasm with Dan he had disap.
peared. He left the box and with no
difficulty made his way as far as the
first wing.
Can you get me an entrance?" he
asked a man he had met once at Os.
dene, and who was evidently an
habitue.
Il dare say. Rippin' show, isn't it?"
Dan put his hands on ducal shoul-
ders and followed the nobleman
thro Ugh the labyrinth of flies.
Which of em do you want to see.
old man?"
Dan. without replying. went forward
to small cluster of lights In one OF
the wings. He went forward intuitive-
ly. and his companion caught his arm:
oh. say. for Gods sake. don't go on
like this"
Hut without response Dan continued
his direction. A call page STOOD be-
fore the door, and Dan, on a card over
the entrance read Miss Lane" The
smell OF calcium and paint and per-
fumo and tho auxiliary hung heavy on
the air. The other man saw Dab
Knock. knock again and then go In.
Unannounced Dan Blair opened the
door OF the dressing room OF the
actress. Miss Lanes dressing rooms