Evening star., 1918-06-09
a THE BITTERNESS OF SWEETS NHgH By RUPERT HUGHES
WVH
~

to the stage door. This was TOO Slorl-
GUS. She found Mr. Bruni and ne led
her up an iron stairway to tenement
of dressing rooms and introduced her
to his flock. The swallows sat about
in their feathers and their unmiti-
gated makeup. Some were mend
ing their plumage. one was reading
book, one was sewing at a chiids
clothing and one was industrlousiy
mastiating gum.
At Mr.. Bruni's request the gum
chewer, who was about to leave the
troupe, permitted Silver to try on her
costume. An extra pair OF tights was
found and Mr.. Bruni withdrew while
Silver made the change behind
chair.
With her arms bare and her shanks
In hose a world too wide, she was un-
imaginabiy thin. She was such a pau
per in flesh that Mr.. Bruni, recalled
to inspect her. felt sorry for her He
rebuked with a glare the ridicule in
the eyes of the other swallows. and
told Silver that she looked very nice.
He wondered what the gallery boEs
would say of his sixth swallow, and
he dreaded the comments of the house
managers; but he was stili more
afraid of rejecting this pitiful little
soul that had paid such reverence to
him and his achievement.
When she doffed her splendor silver
was permitted to sit in the wings and
watch the swallows do their supper
turn to an almost empty house. 1t
astounded her to see the mechanism
at work and to realize that the lightly
fitting swallows were raised and low
cred on wires and pulleys controlled
by stage hands In overalls. Such ro-
nance in front of the scene, such real
ism back Of it! But she was be-
witched at the miracle of it all. Yes
tiddy a cash goil; tomorra bold"
She slept that night in the deserted
nat and the next morning she was
awake. at the first streak of soiled day
break that pierced the dirty window.
She leaped from her slumber and
leaps from the edge of the bed and
from the table. and practiced aviation
till the neighbors thought her father
and mother must have escaped from
the law and resumed their debates.
Silver heated as much water as the
clothes boiler would hold and bathed
in 1t, and made the neatest toilet she
could. She borrowed an old telescope
bag from a wealthy neighbor and
packed what little wardrobe she pos
sessed.
She reached the theater before the
night watchman was awake. The
hours she must survive before Mr..
That little mouse, forgotten in her ex-
citement, began to gnaw at her stom-
ach, and she realized that she had had
no breakfast.
She went to the nearest Mr.. Childs'
lunchrooms and tried to look profess
sioDal. She wondered what lady ac-
tors let in restrunts." She ordered a
breakfast of such variety and sub
stance that the waiter grinned as he
punched hole after hole in her ticket,
and finally commented:
Say, kiddo, are you just eatin' your
last Thanksgiving dinner, or are you
doin' this on a bet?"
Silver answered him with quiet dig
..Ah, go on, you big stin, or Til
bounce one of these cups Off your
bean"
He knew those cups and he went.
But when Silver came to pay for the
feast she trembled, not with repletion,
but with terror at the inroad on her
full expensuv thing"
She hastened back to the theater and
wheedled the stage doorman into ad-
mitting her to the dressing-room so
that she might be ready when Mr..
Bruni came. She flung of her scant
and material rags and donned her
ethereal pinions; also her terrifying
pink tights. When Mr.. Bruni finally
arrived and knocked at the door she
felt gusts Of fright sweeping across
her skin. She was ashamed to go out
before him. But no one was present
save Mr.. Bruni and the youth who had
hoisted the swallow she was to super
sede. This youth Mr.. Bruni introduced
as his "asseestant, Ned Krook."
Mr.. Krug looked Silver over brazen-
ly and snickered. She fiared with
modesty at his gaze and with wrath
at his smile, but she said nothing. Mr.
Bruni laid off his hat and his fur coat
and his other coat and taught Silver
the dance steps. 1t needed all her
reverence for him to keep down her
amusement at his appearance as he
flung his barrel-like body this way
or that and kicked up his short, fat,
to his temper, for she had no tradi-
tion, instinct of training in the dance,
and he had no breath or agility.
After roughing out the steps Mr.
Bruni took up the flying program.
AS Ned Krug was buckling the har-
ness on Silver he murmured, You two
was cert'ny some scream; fat old
gander tryin' to learn squad to
dance a turkey trot. But you're all
right, grille; you and mes a sketch.
Well have swell times togedder, won't
We"
"Yes, we won't we" was Sliver's
only answer Krug liked her naughty
manner. He mumbled, Sure we will.
I'm batty about you, and you'll f1nd
me a regular feller."
He kept his hands about her waist
longer than seemed necessary and
Silver gave him a smack in the face.
1t was so loud that Mr.. Bruni, at the
opposite side of the stage, turned to
see if a pulley had broken. Silver
opened her mouth to demand:
Mr. Rrnni how much of this