Evening star., 1931-06-21

-, SHOULDN'T be surprised" said Mrs
H Logan, "if we're going to be amused
There was glecm in Lillys eyes
It had in it more of the interest OF a
visitor who goes to a seacoast pavilion
tneater to pass an evening away. 1t
was CLEAN in which there were excitement,
determination and extreme anxiety And as
she turned to the lighted st2ge with Its piano
and numerous chairs she tightened her hands
upon two rolled-up songs which she hid be-
meath her coat.
eff it doesn't rain and the dancings good,
the funny man is funny, and the girl who
sings the love congs knows how to sing. 1t will
be pleasant here think. Don't you?"
TO which Lilly, who hadn't heard ner, salo'
ayes, mother, quite"
INV deer. YOU look like person who has
been chosen to put dynamite beneath an
enemys gate-the leader of a forlorn hope, or
something of the sort.
'Who knows? Perhaps I am
"Youre very odd, my dear" =.
Odd? Was it odd that this girls waking
hours were filed with desperate schemes
whereby she might place her only parent out
of penury? She did face enemy's gates.
She was the leader of forlorn hope. And
this was the hour and the place in which she
had made up her mind to show whether she
was fit for the task.
A SUDDEN laugh rang out high-pitched
~ voice said, "Ah!" A middle-aged man in
shabby clothes possessed himself of the piano
and played with confidence. Whereupon the
"Coronets" came on. Three girls In pretty
frocks three men in dnner-jackets, with col
ored lapels and cuffs OF the latter one was
clean and fat, another pert and thin; but 1t
was upon the roguish, clever, 1ndia-ruoper
face of the third man that all eyes were fixed
He was known to the crowd as Mark and In
his familiar impertinence there was something
contagiously gay.
But all Iilly's senses were focused on the
gate and when suddenly she saw two tall, stout
men buy their tickets and enter the blood
rushed into her cheeks and her hands went
tight on those songs. She had seen these men
ON the terrace of their hotel and ever since
that moment had been willing them 70
come The hrst part of the program
was a very merry affair. The songs were ex-
tremely catchy and the dancing excellent.
Mark outdid himself. Then came the finale
which was neatly carried out and followed by
loud applause.
Ladies and gentlemen" said the pianist in
q round fat voice. there will now be an In
terval Of five minutes for the purpose OF en-
abling our friend Mark to smoke q cigarette
He laughed before the audience laughed, and
az he turned to leave the stage Lilly sprang
to her feet. without word to her mother
she hurried up the steps to the platform ana
grasped the pianists arm.
"WM you be so kind as to play these songs
for me?"
The expression of amazement that came into
his face spread over the faces Of all the people
in front. But. :"
"Oh please" she said.
NIs this a-joke, what?"
~No," said Lilly with catch in her voice,
'1t's very far from a joke. beg that you viii
play"
rrha nianist s4,r1lpped his shoulders took the
music and seated himself again. The questions
and speculationS among the audience died
away as they saw "this extraordinary girl"
walk down to the footlights and stand there
facing them.
I LILY was as white as her name. She Said
- Ladies and gentlemen, for two weeks I
have been trying unSucceSsfully to sing to a
manager who Is among you tonight. have
got to earn my living and he give me work
If he thinks that my voice is good. Will you,
in this interval, be the judge of this?"
There was faint and astoniShed applause.
People who had risen sat down again. Two
tall men looked at each other and laughed.
The pianist commenced to play The song was
"Annie Laurie and out upon the still night
broke high voice. So simply and so sincerely
was that old song sung that for a moment at
the end of 1t there was not single sound, but
the applause came thunderously when Lilly
moved to the stairs. Whereupon with touch
of gallantry and unexpected grace, Mark
sprang forward, took her hand and led her
back to the stage.
go on" he said to the pianist. "The other
song, quick. Give the girl a chance"
The audience, amused and delighted at this
unusual scene, enjoyed another treat. Where
are you going, my pretty maid" was sung
with charm, coyness and sense of char
acter so delightful and so new that they
shouted their approval and stamped their feet
on the boards. Lilly bowed and bowed and