CHRISTMAS OCCUPATIONS AND AMUSEMENTS AS SEEN BY THE CARTOONIST.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 305, 24 December 1924, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS OCCUPATIONS AND AMUSEMENTS AS SEEN BY THE CARTOONIST.

-Mrs. Doran laid a quiet hand on the girl's head. "Hut, dear, oven if Mr. Denver isn't very successful, xvhat does it matter? If the audience don't like him they'll applaud out of politeness. And in any case," she added, soothingly, "if they do criticise him they won't do it to his face, so he'll know'nothing about it!" Jose's face cleared momentarily, only to cloud again, "lint there's tho paper," she said, despairingly. "There's a horrible xvcll-knoxvn musical critic staying with the editor. lie's coining to'the play. He's often heard Higano sing that sonir and Konnie has told him .1 lot of horrid things about Mr. Denver and lie thinks it nil a hti.-e juke, and llonnie says lie is coming to the concert to write it up: and Mr. Denver's certain to sec it and if anything happens to him on the night—'•' she paused, miserably. Mrs. Doran looked thoughtful. There was such a tiling as carrying a ioko too far. It occurred to her that the quarn-l between Jose and Konnie had gone quite far enough. "Of course, dear, it would lie very painful for both you and Mr. Denver if there was an unkind review about him. Hut, don't work any more, Jose, I'll ask your! father to brins this .Mr. (..'leason in to ! dinner and we'll see xvhat cfn he done." ' :<►:.:♦ i<cs io_". ♦ z<c ♦ r»i" ♦ ~»_: > z<c <

I group near the hack of the hall. The 1 audience had become slightly restless and she noted that the massive form of lOlenson grew more intent and relentless as the minutes Hew. j As the evening drew to its close. j Maurice, usually tho soul of tranquillity,' 1 became strangely xvrought up and ill [at ea.-e Jose' remembered Ronnie's ■ words, "He'll hack out of it." Pro 1 viously he had boon the one person I siii limcly unconscious of all the 01mmotion he bad caused. Put t.i-ni'lit he was different. Had he suddenly become 'aware of the hostility I oiiin.l the smil-s and sm h compliments? Or had he J suddenly liocomc co.iscioiu of his own temerity in attempting lite grenl I,lns. itcrpiece? Jose, watching him narrv.lv : saw that his face was -iniinei and [ drawn, and an unwonted llu-h i.t his pale cheeks. Just now they were alone lin the ante-room. Five more minutes i and ho xvould he on tlie stair.'. She j saw him suddenly run a nervous hand I through the curli'll3 hair graying at the J temples, then she saxv his j i'w suddenly harden in determination. Siie saw that he was bracing himself for the ordeal, and she divined that for nil his n'- Vlltleness he was a brave fight v. I\'o she xvould not lot him face the scoffs of the audience and the sneers of Clca- *£* -.♦ "--■*-♦-^-♦3 > Z ♦.!<>": ♦!<►;>

'. ♦" >. ♦ :<►::♦: ;<c V r-o; ♦7"«-i>i>~ V" it. She tried to listen to his singh«g hilt she knew she xvas incapable of criticism. To her it was like the inspired beauty of an angel's voice. Then he finished. There wo." a sound of applause and lie came to her. The applause did not decrease and suddenly he heard across ii the fatal word "Higano." and she kn.-vv- ilmt. Koiinie's moment bad cmo. Mauri,-,- tore himseif from her. "l!y jove it's decent of thorn to applaud in,, like that. I must acknowledge it.'' "lWt!" she cried passionately. "They're not worth it!" "Hut my dear little girl—why nioason!" For a moment (iloasoii looked at the two with an indescribable expres- *'""• l! "'» Ie s lenly seized Maurice by tlie hand and dragged him on to the stage. There was a sudden silence at his appearance. Itonnie's little group felt that, (,'leason could deliver the knock-out blow tar bettor than they could. }\r began to speak: "When some months ago Signor Kignno left the stage through trouble that might involve thrioss of ho- voice, the lm , s i c world mourned not only the loss of a groat artist, but also one who had endeared himself to all as a friend. Then the news came that although the operation had boon successful, some nervous ••oblo. tho result of bis suffering, some strange lack of confidence, pre- * ■ >-" ♦' I<C>'Z«-~ ¥ - o'~ * "<r V" -a-a. 1 -*