Tombstone epitaph., 1917-11-18
CHAPTER XIX.
Success-And a Recognition.


There is Kaleidoscope character
about the events of the ten days or
so preceding the opening performance
Of most musical comedies which would
make sober chronicle of them seem
Enthusiastically incredible. This law of
nature made no exception In the case
Of THE Girl Upstairs" There were
rehearsals which ran so smoothly and
swiftly that they'd have done for per-
formances: there were others so alb
ominably bad that the bare idea Of
presenting the mess resulting from
six weeks toll. before the people who
had paid money to see it, was night
mare.
OF all the persons directly. or even
remotely. affected by this nerve-shat-
tering confusion. Rose was perhaps
the least perturbed. The only thing
that really mattered to her was the
successful execution Of those twelve
costumes. The phantasmacoria at
North End hall was regrettahle,
but necessary. interruption Of her
more important activities.
She Weakened automatically at half
past seven and was downtown by
half-past eight. to do whatever shop
ping the work of the previous day re-
vealed the need Of.
Al nine-thirtv-an unheard-of hour
In the theater-the Waterman at the
Globe let her in at the stage door. and
Rose had half an hour. before the ar
rival Of the wardrobe mistress and
her assistant. for looking over the
work done since she had left for re-
hearsal the day before.
She liked this quiet, cavernous old
barn Of place down under the Globe
stnge; liked it when she had II TO her
self before the two sewing women
came and later. when. with a couple
Of sheets spread out on the floor. she
cut and basted according to her cam
brio patterns. keeping ahead OF the
eying needles of the other two. After
her own little room. the mere spa
ciouspess Of it seemed almost noble
In keeping with the good luck which
had attended everything that hap
pened in connection with this frs
venture Of hers, she was able to tel
Galbraith that both sets Of cos
tunes were finished and ready TO try
on on the very day he announced thai
the next rehearsal would be held al
ten tomorrow at the Globe.
She persuaded the girls to wait I'M
III all six were dressed in the after
noon frocks and until she herself hat
had o chance to give each of them
final inspection and to make few
Inst touches and establishments. TheI
they all trooped out on the stage an'
stood In a row. turned about. walked
here and there. in obedience TO Gal
hraith's instructions shouted from tn
back of the theater.
1t was dark out there and discon
certingly silent. The glow OF wv
cigars Indicated the presence OF Gold
smith and Block in the middle OF Lit
tie knot Of other spectators.
The only response Rose got-th
only index to the effect her labor
had produced was the tone of Gal
hroitl,'s voice. "AIl right" he shouted
Go and put on the otHeFS.
There was another silence afte
they had filed out on the stage again
clad this time In the evening gowns
hollow, heart-constricting silence
almost literally sickening. But it last
ed only q moment. Then:
"wiII you come down here, Mis-
Dane?" called Galbraith-
There was q slight. momentary. bu
perfectly paIpable shock accompany
ing these words-a shock felt by e'
erybody within the sound OF his voice
BECAUSE the director had not sait
"T,ane, come down ,lere;" he had said
"Win you come down here, Mis-
Daney And the thing amounted.
rigid is tie etiquette Of musical con
edy. TO an accola1e. The people o
the stage and in the wings didn
know what she hed done. nor In wha
character she was abaIt to appeal
but they did know she was. from no'
on. something besides chorus girl.
Rose obedirptly crossed the runwa
and walked ~ the aisle to wnere Ca
braith stood, with Goldsmith an
Block. waiting for her. She was fee
ing a little numb and empty.
GaIbraith. as she came. helc ,ut
hand to her. Il congratulate yo'
Miss Dane" he said. They're admit
sbla With al the money IN the vori'