The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-03-03
Then it was the mothers turn to

Then it was the mothers turn to
have convulsion.
! George was equal to the occasion.
He told her all she had to do was
stagger across the stage and die Oh
ative to make up the impromptu lines
for the lack of Lady Audrey's speech.
But Mrs. Hoadley was obdurate.
And all the time the baby was Yell
ing it's head off and some boys up in
the gallery were stomping on the
floor.
George realized with great reali
cation it was up to him to do some
thing and he did it He grabbed hold
of the Hoadley woman-bawling child
and all-opened the canvas door and
showed her through. Then he plank
ed his foot against it SO she couldn't
get back. The astounded and fab
| bergasted Mrs. Hoadley found her.
self for once in the publ. eye in q
! her feelings ought to have put that
eye out. And the audience was treat
| ed to the spectacle of a woman with
bawling infant assisted violently
| into the stage kitchen by a party
prominent in white overalls and the
door slapped shut in a manner that
rocked the scenery. Then the baby
| quit as promptly as it had begun and
| to the uttermost parts Of that house
penetrated apparently the opening
] line of the play:
"My Gawd! If Jim Hoadley knew
l was here, he'd rip this place into
| tatters"
Which considering that Jimmy
| Hoadley never did anything more
spectacular than post bills for liv
ing, struck Paris as rather overdrawn.
Hoarse whispers advised Mibb what
| the trouble was, and she rose to the
dilemma
"Have you no friends, my good
woman?' she asked earnestly.
"No! If had" retorted the Hoad
ley woman, "they'd take George Crit
fin out and lynch him."
It was several moments before or
! der was restored
"Come, rest awhile, my DEAR"
/ struggled Mibb bravely onward. Then
in an undertone: please don't
spoil the play at the start, Amy! Do
| your best for the sake of the rest
of u.s."
The appeal in Mibb's voice softened
! the Hoadley woman somewhat and
for wonder her baby kept quiet.
| She looked back and saw her retreat
cut off and for the sake Of the ugly
| predicament of the rest she decided
| to pull things somehow.
GAIL right" she agreed. Then a
loud and to the stark establishment
of the rest on the other side the
set: "He's deserted me! He's desert
! ed mep' she suddenly cried. And she
! staggered magnifcently across to the
sofa.
| 1t was the audiences turn to gasp.
The Hoadley woman's last audible re-
ference had been to George Griffin
| and Paris batted the public eye. Was
she referring perhaps to Jim Hoadley.
| The Hoadley woman's name was not
on the program. Was juicy bit of
| dramatic scandal being promulgated?
| 1t was an awful half-momenti
"Cripes!" said George weakly. II
need a drink"
But the Hoadley woman went on:
"He deserted me and left me penni-
less. I'm sick and dying. Have pity
on poor unfortunate sister and care
| for my child. Heaven will reward
| you land about its neck you will find
locket that that
eyes, yes!" cried Mibb. "That
what, my dear?"
ssThat Identifies it so that we can
kill it tomorrow" bawled George
from the wings.
But the Hoadley woman had fallen
back apparently dead!
"The poor, poor motherless little
thing!" went on Mibb picking up the
threads of her mangied lines. And
she went to take the infant from
the apparently deceased mothers
arms.
But would that brat consent to be
taken by Mibb any more than. by
Mrs. Stacy? Not on your grand
mothers tintype! Mibb acquired it
| by the laying on of hands but it was
ike picking up twenty-two-poun