The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-05-10
CHAPTER FORTY.FOUR

Lily Lou stood, shivering slight
". while they sewed her into tho
pale blue and brown peasant dress
in which she was to sing Micaela.
It had been made for . larger
woman. It was the wrong color.
She twitched and jerked at it, in .
futile effort to make it hang bet
ter.
1T does very WE'LL" Madame
Mailman said, after q hasty glance,
returning to the mirror to finish
beading her eyelashes.
"But the wig is impossible. I
can't wear it. They haven't = de-
cent one"
"Then go without one. Wear q
shawl oversyour head. The French
don't expect grand costumes, any,
way. It's the singing that matters,
over here"
"It's the singing that matters :"
Lily Lou went to stand in the
wings, turning it over in her mind,
moving every minute or two, to get
out Of someone's way. There was
confusion, excitement, sharp argu-
ment, then q sudden hush. The
curtain had gone up.
Before she realized it, it was
time for her to 60 on. No time
to be frightened. When the moment
for her song approached she felt no
fear, no emotion Of any kind. She
sang, and knew that she sang we'll.
The tenor was delighted. "A pleas
ure to sing with such . Micaela, -
he said, gallantly.
And then-for the first time
she was frightened. She had gotten
through the first act. But how in
the world could she get through the
rest? Her knees were jelly. Her
throat felt IS though it were
stuffed with cotton wool.
She wished she did not have to
wait until the third act to 20 on.
It was such q long time to wait.
She should have come to the thea
ter later. That would have given
her time to wait until the doctor
got there to see the baby.
His little head was hot but
Bess always said that children's
fevers didn't amount to anything
:. the bubchen was we'll, but he
wasn't rs strong as Bess' chill.
Measles can be very serious
. child can be left with terrible
things, If he isn't properly taken
care of. :.
If she weren't made up she could
get taxi and slip home and still
be back in time No she couldn't
.. =. not at this hour Well, the
baby was all right =. Shed just
have to wait. =.
Mailman, glowing with excite.
ment, exuding triumph from every
pore, stopped to embrace her just
before the third act.
Dear Lily, you are 50 beautiful
A little thin for the tradition, but
lovely! If you do just half as well
Is in the first act they will adore
you you are not nervous?"
"No-not really-just-"
"Of course, not. I must 60.
depend on you Lily, for my great
performance. I could not sing with
that squealing Deere. Remembe,
II depend on you-for my big
scene-my triumph"
Lily Lou was alone again. Shs
stood, waiting for her cue. Ner'
vous? She didn't know whether
she was or not. She wanted thu
chance +. She was determined K
succeed /. Her hands were fright
fully cold, and her face was ho'
%. maybe she was getting TIL
measles, too! She stihed = nervous
giggle. -.
Mustn't think Of the baby :. II
let that stop her nowl Suppos'
that she got opt on the stage an.
opened her mouth and no SCUM,
came out It was too bad abou
Dejere's ankle Her own ankle
hurt so much, that time she sprain
ed it in Woodlake and Ken held hel
in his arms and kissed her -.