The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-02-04
'BEHIND FOOTLIGHTS'
BY KATHLEEN M. MOORE.

HOW WOuIu you linz " SesiA ny D%'
How would you like to cuddle me!
How would you like to call me baby!
And hold me on your knee! \
I'd like someone to call me baby,
For I'm as lonesome as can be"
Little did the vast audience that
crowded the theater night after night
to see and hear the winsome little
star sing and dance SO merrily pe-
fore the footlights realize that the
pretty smile and airy manner only
served to cover up the sad heart Of the
girl.
The musical comedy was booked
for six weeks engagement, and
at every performance Betty st. Clair
won the heartsaof more and more ad-
mirers. Many young men-yes, and
old ones, too, took her little songs
seriously, and sent her letters asking
her to be their "baby."
Sometimes Betty consented to go to
dine with them, but never more than
once with the same one, for that was
as far as her interest went.
Betty's real name was Lorraine
Wellington. She had been so happy
In her little cottage with her hus-
band of six months She was so
proud of him, and so jealous! 1t
was this green-eyed monster that had
caused the first quarrel. Betty had be-
lieved gossip rather than listen to
reason and her husband. Thinking
she was only an obstacle in the way
of his happiness, she decided to steal
away one night.
Betty knew that the stage would
be the last place her folks would
look for her.
The curtain would rise, shortly, for
the final performance of the long en-
gagement.
At the given time Betty skipped
out on the stage.
The song seemed eternally long, but
when at last it was over she danced
off the stage, only to stagger blindly
to her room. She was unable to re-
spond to an encore, despite the fact
the audience called again and again.
In her room Betty vowed she would
not go before that house again. 1t
was between the first and second acts
and the little star lay on her couch
her maid bathing her fevered head.
There came rap, and note was
slipped ufder her door.
When the maid handed it to her mis-
tress she only pushed it aside impa-
tiently.
''Throw it in my waste basket.
Marie" she said But as she thought
better of it. she decided to give the
note her attention, and she asked for
it. When she had read it through she
smiled and said:
"It just reads, May see you? am
in the lower right hand box. Nod if
yes An Admirer. This is so different
from the letters I am accustomed to
receiving. Marie, am going TO answer
this one. Give this card to Billy and
direct 1t to my admirer."
It seemed no time till there came a
rap on the door and Marie admitted
tall young man in evening dress.
81 am the admirer,,' he bowed to
Betty She put out her hand to well
come him, but as her eyes met his
cry of glad surprise escaped her lips.
"Dickl" she gasped.
He drew back and stared at her as
one in a trance.
'Lorainel My wife ~ and before she
realized it she was being crushed in
two eager arms. Betty nestled con-
tentedly in her husbands arms as one
who had found a long-sought haven.
She was too glad TO speak.
1--WE sought far and wide for you
and at last gave up the search as all
in vain, and he broke the silence,
but she interrupted with:
"Never mind. Dick, you can tell me
all later. I'm too happy now for
words,' and she looked up into his
face with such bewitehing smile
that none could deny the fact.
Madame Madame If is your cue
SOON" Marie cried excitedly.
Apparently Betty had forgotten her
Illness, for she sent Dick back to his
seat in the audience with a hasty kiss,
then arranged herself for her final ap-
pearance. Her acting was even better
than at other performances, and when
she sang the song that had made her
so popular the onIoolSers We're eapti-
waited by her winsomeness.
They wondered why she catered to
the right-hand box more than any
other place. Tne thoughts Of him
there spurred he on to do her best
and she was forced to appear time and
time again to the applause. When
the curtain at last Gang en- the final
act it was a differene little girl who
prepared for home
suppose, DiclSie, my boy, wasn't
your wife, but just some little girl
who had always been on the stage,
would you have liked TO call ME baby
just the same?" Betty mWmured as
she nestled close in the mig machine
that was speeding them home.
.