The Opelousas courier., 1889-07-13

"No; lie swears it's the worst part
he ever played, and he's sure that il
will be a frost; and Miss Brown won't
have that speech cut; she says it's the
only good one she has, and I'm sure
that it will be goosed, and it comes
just at a critical point"
Tom was just going tc lie down
again till the tea came, when a servant
came up.
please. sir, Mr.. Jones has called,
and he says he must see you at once"
"Oh, botherm said Tom. whats
the matter nov? Ask him to come
up
Rose went down, and presently Mr..
Jones, the manger of the theater where
Johnson's drama was to be produced on
Monday evening, came in.
"Sorry to wQEErNN you, old fellow"
said Jones, Us serious. Every
body who saw the dress rehearsal last
night, says the fifth act will settle the
play. You must end it in the fourth"
"What!n yelled Tom, pressing his
hands to his splitting head; "cut out
the last act? 1t can't be done? A year
has to elapse between acts four and
FIVE"
"Oh, you can get owe that. AT any
rate, it will have to be done"
Il won't do it," shrieked Tom; II
won't. I'd sooner throw the COMPOUNDED
play into the fire. Why. it's ridiculous.
Look here, Mr.. Jones; I'm the author,
and I'm responsible. You'll either play
my play as I've written ii, or you won't
play it at ALL"
Tom had worked himself up into a
violent rage, and the manager tried to
calm him.
Don't be a fool, Johnson" he said;
"think it over and come down to my
house. Smith (that was the leading
many will be there, and Robinson (the
stage manager), and we'll talk it yer
quietly. must go now. [ must call
on Miss Blank and see il she can play
Mary Walters tomorrow night" s.
'Miss Blank? Why Miss Dash isigo-
ing to play it"
"What! haven't you heard? She was
thrown out of her cab going home from
the rehearsal last night, and won't be
able to play for a month"
Tom groaned and flung himself back
ON the pillow.
Every thing in the play depends on
Mary Walters" he said, and you are
going to have it played at twelve
hours notice by q girl who has never
seen u line of the part yet"
what are we to do?"
II don't know" groaned johnson.
Til come round presently. I believe
this play will drivetRee mad"
An hour later Tom was going down.
stairs growing and grooming to him
self, when Rose came out of her bou-
doir.
"Going out, Tom? Why, you haven't
had your breakfast"
Il can't eat a morsel," said Tom.
I'm done up, Rose. / wish I'd been at
Jericho before I became a dramatic
author"
Monday night came, and Tom, in a
state of high fever brought On by over
work and anxiety and late hours,
walked up and down outside the the
alter, trying to summon up courage to
go in. He had cut out the last act; he
had given Miss Blank one hurried re-
hearsal; he had quarreled with the
leading william. who had toll him be-
fore the whole company thu, the play
was rot; he had gone home I'M a vile
temper, and made Rose cry her eyes
out, and now, in a state bordering on
delirious fever. hea was awaiting the
verdict on a play Nhich had cost him
months of anxious thought, and on
which the management had expended
thousands of pounds.
IF it's a failure. I'll never write
groaned Tom.
just then a man came hurriedly out
of the stage door.
Curtain up YETI" asked Tom, nerv-
mo, sir; there's something gone
wrong with the scene in TIE firs5 act, |
and the mechanical change won't work
through it. I'm just going to see i'll
can find Mr.. -. They say it'll be
half an hour before it will be put
Tom rushed into the theater. AS he |
went upon the stage he could hear the
audience stamping and shouting. 1t
was then five minutes past the time the
curtain should have gone up.
Every body was bustling about, and
there was evidently something wrong.
'It's all right" said the stage man
ager, coming up to TON and trying to
his mind. Its not so bad as we
thought. Wen ring up directly. We
can get it right. / dare say, while the
first is playing. If not, I must
come on and explain there's been an
Tom groaned and rushed out into the
street again. ooh, my poor play" he
cried; Its condemned before it's be-
gum
An hour and a half later Tom, pale, |
shivering, clutching his hands together
In V excitement, crept into the
back of the pit. The third act was just
beginning. There was avery powerful
scene in this act. Tom had built upon
making a great impression on the au-
dience.
The villain suddenly appears at a
window, and while another villain is
writing a letter shoots him. and the |