The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-07-26


to. "But you see," she said (she
hadn't had a human soul to talk to
for more than week, and she had to
make friend Of somebody, "you see
I've just got to keep this job. And
If every little helps, as they say, per-
haps that wolld."
The girl looked at her oddly, almost
suspiclously, as II for moment she
doubted whether Rose had spoken In
good faith. "You've got as good q
chance of losing your job" she said,
"as Galbraith has Of losing his. Dave
tells me Galbraith's going to put you
with us In the sextette."
Dave was the thick pianist, whom
Rose had found In the highest degree
obnoxious. His announcement was en-
titled to consideration, even though 1t
couldn't be banked upon. There were
three mediums and three big girls In
the sextette (Edna Larson was one Of
the mediums, and so needn't fear re-
placement by Rose, who was big
girl). Besides appearing In two num-
bers as background to one Of the
principals, they had one oil to them
selves, a fact which constituted them
sort Of super-chorus.
But the intimatlon that Rose was to
be promoted to this select inner cir
Gle, didn't, as 1t first came to- her,
give her any pleasure. Somehow, as
Larson told her about 1t, she could
fairly see the knowing, greasy grin
that would have been Dawes comment
on this prophecy. And, in the same
flash, she Interpreted the Larson girls
look, half incredulous, half satirical.
II haven't heard anything about be-
Ing put In the sextette," she said quick
ly, "and l don't believe will be-"
swell, don't know why not" There
was new warmth iI the mediums
voice. Rose had won victory here,
and she knew II. you've got the
looks and the shape; you can dance
better than any Of the big girls, or us
mediums, either. And If he doesn't
put that big Benedict lemon into the
back line where she belongs, and give
you her place In the seAtette, 1t will be
because he's afraid of her drag"
Rose forebore to inquire into the
nature of the Benedict girls drag.
Whatever 1t may have been, John
Galbraith was evidently not afraid of
1t, because as he dismissed that very
rehearsal, calling the rest Of the
chorus for twelve the following morn
ing, and the sextette for eleven, he
told Rose to report at the earlier hour.
The chorus was probably unanimous,
In its view Of this promotion. When
Grant came back and ate her humble
pie In vain, and later, when Benedict
was relegated to q place in the back
line, the natural explanation was that
Galbraith was crazy about the new
girl The only way she had Of refut-
ing the assumption would be by max
ing good so intensely that they'd
be compelled to see that her promo
tion had been inevitable.
It was In this spirit, with blazing
cheeks and eyes, that she attacked
the next mornings rehearsal. At Its
end Galbraith said to her: "You're do
ing very we'll indeed, Dane. II l could
have caught you ten years ago l could
have made q dancer Of you"
1t was very real, unqualified COM
pllment, and as such Rose understood
1t. Because, by a dancer, he meant
something very different from pranc-
Ing chorus girl. The others giggled
and exchanged glances with Dave at
the piano. They didn't understand.
To them, the compliment seemed to
have been delivered with the left
hand. And somehow, an amused rec
ognltion Of the fact that they didn't
understand, as well as Of the fact that
she did, flashed across from John
Galbraith's eyes to hers.
The impetus and direction Of Roses
career derived from two incidents
which might Just as well not have
happened-two Of the fluklest Of small
chances.
The first Of these chances concerned
itself with Edna Larson and her bud
voice. 1t was q bad voice only when
she talked. When she sang 1t had
gorgeous, thrilling ring, and volume
enough for four. Besides, she had an
infallible ear and sang squarely In
tune. But when she spoke 1t sounded
like someone who didn't know how,
trying to play the slide trombone. She
was simply deaf, 1t seemed, to the
subtleties Of infection.
Daily, she reduced Galbraith to help
less wrath. Evidently he didn't mean
to be q brute about It. He began ev-
cry one of his tussles to improve her
reading Of line with gentleness
that would have done credit to kin
dergartener. But after three attempts,
each more ominously gentle than the
last, his temper would suddenly fly all
to pieces.
The girl, queerly, didn't seem to
care. But In the dressiD room one
night, after one Of these rehearsals,
Rose got different view. AS she sat
down on bench to unlace her shoes,
she looked straight into Edna Lar
sons face-a face sunken with q
despair that turned Rose cold. The
fearless. tragic eyes were staring,