The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-28
Sn0okuns

ohe Was the nttleSt glrl-the one on
the end OF the line to whom DENLY
worked in the kid song that was
.ne excuse Tor the children's chorus.
one was mite with big blue eyes
mat saw more than was altogether
good for child of six, yet saw with
unseeing eyes the undercurrent Of evil
mat marred life behind"
Snookums," DENLY had called her
the opening night when her short legs
refused to carry her off 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 "Snook.
ums' hit was a success.
SnooKums worshiped DENLY, who in
MS careless. good-natured way made
pet or 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 funnier 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 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 Lottie
Lorrimer favored her husband. Now.
however. she was brought squarely
face to face with her trouble.
II know about Miss Lorrimer-last
night" she whispered.
Just little supper" he whispered
back GROSSLY. You had a headache
and was lonesome"
There was the club" reminded
Edith. You told me you had gone
there"
Il was going, but Miss Lorrimer
came along and said she was hungry,
too; SO said. Come along, kid. and
she came
Edith started retort, but at the
moment her cue came. Grasping Den
by's hand, they ran out upon the
stage laughing with the fictitious
broken heart. The audience saw
nothing of the tragedy, but wise little
Snookums was a witness to the scene
Denby's voice sounded as funny as
ever. but it seemed to Snookums that
there was a worried look about the
mouth in spite of its 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 the 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.
What's the matter?" he asked, with
an affection of surprise.
81 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,"
Eyes, you dol" persisted Shook.
ums. And you was holding hands
with other girls. ] saw you holding
hands with Miss Lorrimer. don't
like Miss Lorrmer.
DENLY looked across the stage to
where Edith was just emerging from
her dressing room. Then he glanced
down the corridor where Lottie Lori
mer. unconscious of his 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"
DENLY in sudden realization |
Of the situation. 81 guess you're right. |
he agreed. I've been |
pretty much Of fool, but | guess II |
ISN'T too late to mend and-well- |
run along. I've got some mending to
Do
He swung her down from his shoul
Ter and made his way across the stage
o where Edith was standing.
"Out of the mouths of babes com
eth wisdom" he quoted softly
'Snookums has been showing me
what miserable fellow ! have been,
1die win you kiss and make up.
lear?"
"Mercy, II will spoil my makeup"
he protested; but she lifted her car.
mined lips TO his and joyfully ran of
O the dressing room to remake the
upid's bow.
DENLY went back to his position on
he other side of the wings to wait
he rising of the curtain. AS the girls
rooped on to take their positions for
he opening of the second act, Lottie
aused beside the comedian.
Going out tonight" she asked
with my wife" explained DENLY:
nd Snookums, hearing the speech,
licked up her - skirts and danced