The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-07

full dimpleS, and IN the excitement OIL
the dancing and the singing her eyes
laughed and flashed. and the dimples
6eepened and disappeared and reap
peared again. She was as happy ana
innocent looking as though 1t were
nine in the morning and she were
playing school at kindergarten.
From all over the house the women
were murmuring their delight, anil
the men were laughing and pulling
their mustaches and nudglng each
other to look at the littlest one.
The girls in the wings were rap
turous in their enthusiasm. and were
calling her absurdly extravaganza
titles Of endearment. and making so
much noise that Kripps stopped grin
ming at her from the entrance, and
looked back over his shoulder as he
looked when he threatened fines and
calls for early rehearsal. And when
she had finished finally. and the
prima donna and the children ran on
together, there was roar from the
house that went to Testers head like
wine. and seemed to leap clear across
the footlights and drag the children
back again.
THAT settles IT," cried Lester, in
suppressed roar OF triumph.
knew that child would catch them. y
There were four encores, and then
the children and Elise Broughten. the
pretty prima donna. came on jubllant
and happy, with the Littlest Girls
arms full Of flowers. which the man
agement had with kindly forethought
prepared for the prima donna, but
which that delightful young person
and the delighted leader Of the Or
chestra had passed over to the little
girl.
well" gasped Miss Broughten, as
she came up to Van Bibber laughing,
and with one hand on her side and
breathing very quickly, will you
kindly tell me who is the leading
woman now? Am the prima donna.
or am l not? 1 wasn't in it. was H.
You were not" said Van Bibber,
He turned from the pretty prima
donna and hunted up the wardrobe
woman, and told her he wanted to
meet the Littlest Girl. And the ward
robe woman, who was flutering
wildly about, and as delighted as
though they were all her own chill
dren, told him to come into the prop
erty-room. where the children were
and which had been changed into
dressing-room that they might be by
themselves. The six little girls were
in six different states Of dishabille,
but they were too little to mind that,
and Van Bibber was too polite to OBJ
serve it.
This Is the little girl, sir" said
the wardrobe woman. excitedly.
proud at being the means OF bringing
together tve- such prominent people.
Her name is Madeline. Speak to the
gentleman, Madeline; he wants TO
tell you what great big hit youse
made"
The little girl was seated on one
of the cushions Of double throne
so high from the ground that the
Young woman who was pulling off the
child's silk stockings and putting
woollen ones on in their place did so
without STOPPING. The young woman
looked at Van Bibber and nodded
somewhat doubtfully and ungra-
ciously, and Van Bibber turned to
the little girl in preference. The
Young woman's face was one OF
type that was too familiar to DO
pleasant.
He took the Littlest Girls small
hand in his and shook it sole1hnly,
and said. II am very glad to know
YOU. Can l sit up here beside you,
or do you rule alone?"
Yes. ma'am-yes, sir" answered
the little girl.
Van Bibber put his hand on the
arms OF the throne and vaulted up
beside the girl. and pulled out the
flower in his button-hole and gave it
TO her.
Now" prompted tho wardrobe
woman. what do you say to the
gentleman"
Thank you, sir" stammered the
little girl.
She is not much used to gentle
mans society" explained the woman
who was pulling on the stockings.
Il See" said Van Bibber. He did
not know exactly what to say next.
And yet he wanted to talk to the
child very much, so much more than
he generally wanted to talk to moss
young women. who showed no hesl-
tation in talking to him. With them
he had no difficulty whatsoever.
There was doll lying on the top OF
a chest near them, and he picked this
ND and surveyed it critically. rs
this your DOLE" he asked.
No" said Madeline, pointing to
one of the children. who was much
taller than herself: "it's at little
durl's. Ny doll he's dead
Dear me-" said Van Bibber. He
made mental note TO get live one
In the morning. and then he SAID:
That's very sad. But dead dolls DO
come to life"
The little girl looked up at him. and
surveyed him intently and critically,
and then smiled, with the dimples
showing, as much as TO say that she
understood him and approved OF him
entirely. Van Bibber answered this
sign language by taking Madeline's
hand in his and asking her how she
liked being a great actress, and how
soon she would begin to storm be-
cause that photographer hadn't sent
the proofs. The young woman under
stood this. and deigned to smile at 1t,
but Madeline yawned a very polite
and sleepy yavn. and closed her eyes.
Van Ribber moved up closer, and
she leaned over until her bare shout
der touched his arm, and while the
woman buttoned on her absurdIy
small shoes. she let her curly head
fall on his elbow and rest there.
Look at that. now" said the
wardrobe woman. catching sight or