Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-08-07


Dave was the thick pianist, whom
Rose had found in the highest degree
obnoxious. His announcement was en-
titled to consideration, even though it
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
girD. Besides appearing in two num-
bers as a background to one of the
principals, they had one all to them
selves, fact which constituted them
sort of super-chorus.
But the intimation that Rose was to
be promoted to this select inner cir
Gle, didn't, as it first came to her,
give her any pleasure. Somehow, as
Larson told her about it, 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.
81 haven't heard anything about be-
ing put In the sextette," she said quick
ly, land l, don't believe I will be-"
"Well, don't know why not" There
was a new warmth in the mediums
voice. Rose had won a victory here,
and she knew it. 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 sextette, it will be
because he's afraid of her drag"
Rose forebore to inquire into the
nature of the Benedict girls drag.
Whatever it may have been, John
Galbraith was evidently not afraid of
it, 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 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 prone
ton had been inevitable.
It was in this spirit, with blazing
cheeks and eyes, that she attacked
the next mornings rehearsal. At it's
end Galbraith said to her: you're do
ing very well indeed, Dane. If could
have caught you ten years ago could
have made dancer Of you"
1t was a very real, unqualified COM
pliment, and as such Rose understood
| it. 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
ognition of the fact that they didn't
understand, as well as Of the fact that
she did, flashed across from John
Galhraitfh' 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 flukiest Of small
chances.
The first of these chances concerned
itself with Edna Larson and her bad
voice. 1t was a bad voice only when
she talked. When she sang it had a
gorgeous, thrilling ring, and volume
! enough for four. Besides, she had an
infalhble ear and sang squarely in
tune. But when she spoke it sounded
like someone who didn't know how,
trying to play the slide trombone. She
was simply deaf, it seemed, to the
subtleties of infection.
Daily, she reduced Galbraith to help
less wrath. Evidently he didn't mean
to be brute about it. He began ev-
reading of a line with q gentleness
that would have done credit to a kim
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 dressing room one
night, after one of these rehearsals,
| Rose got different view. AS she sat
down on a bench to unlace her shoes,
she looked straight into Edna Lar
sons face-a face sunken with a
despair that turned Rose cold. The
fearless, tragic eyes were staring,
without recognition, straight into
| Roses own.
Rose delayed her dressing till the
other girls were gone, then sat down
beside Edna.
You're all right" she said, feeling
very inadequate. I'm going to help
you"
''It's always like this" the girl said.
! ITS no use. He'll put me back in the
chorus again."
Not if 1 can help It," Rose said.
But the first thing to do is TO come
! along and get something to eat"
/ During the next hour Rose learned,
for the first time, what the weight of
an immense melancholy inertia can be.
The girl was like one paralyzed-
paralyzed by repeated failures and
! disasters, of which she told Rose
freely. When Galbraith had put her
into the sextette, . hope. just about
dead. had been reawakened. She'd
/ learned to dance well enough to es-
cape censure, and she'd seen for her
self how indispensable her singing
voice was to the sextette. And then
il had appeared she'd have to talk
| And her talking wasn't right.
Look herei" said Rose, when the
story was told. (This was across the
table in a dingy little lunch room.)
You're going TO say your lines before
I fornorrOUsS rehaarSa Sn fhef Galhrairh