Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-04
MISS BRBTHDRT0N
By MRS. HUMPHREY WARD,


 produce is and play the principal part in 1t herself" Interrupted Kendal
 Wallace nodded. Just SC; you seq, my relations with her are so friendly that it was impossible for me to say no. But never was in a greater fix. She was enthusiastic. She walked up and down tho room after I'd done reading, repeating some of the passages, going through some of the situations, and wound up by saying. Give it nc, Mir. Wal lacc. It shall be the first thing l bring out in my October season-if you will let me have it Well, of course, 1 suppose most people would jump at such an offer Her popularity just now is something extraordi- nary. and 1 see no sl:tcs of it's iessening. Any piece she plays in is bound to be a sue cess. and l suppose 1 should make good deal of money out of it, but then. you see. l don't want the money, and"-
 "Yes, yes see.' said Kendall, thought fully; you don't want the money, and you feel that shc will ruin the play It's a great bore certainly"
 Well, you know, how could she help ruin ing itt She couldn't play the part of Elvira you remember the plots-even decently It's un extremely difficult part. It would be superb-I think so, at least-in the han.!s Of an actress who really understood her busi ness. but Miss Bretherton will make ir one long stagey scream, withou. any modula- tion, any shades, any delicacy. It drives one wild to think of it. And yet how, in the name of fortune, am to get out of its'
 You had thought" said Kendall, "l re- member. of Mrs Pearson for tho heroine
 "Yes; should have tried her She is not first rate, but at least she is intelligent, she understands something of what you want in part like that. But for poor Isabel Brother. ton. and those about her, the great points ill the play will he that she will have long speeches and be able to wear medieval dressesl don't suppose she ever heard of Aragon in her life. Just imagine her play ing high born Spanish woman of the Eff teentb century, Can't you see herf
 Well, after all. said Kendall, with little laugh. II should see what the public goes for mostly-that is 70 say, Isabel Bretherton in effective costume. No, it would be a great failure-not a failure, of course, in the ordi- nary sense Her beauty, in tho medieval get up, and the romantic plot of the piece would carry it through, and, as you say, you would probably make great deal by 1t. But, artistically, it would be a ghastly failure. And Hawesl Hawes, l suppose. would play Maciasi Good heavens"
 "Yes." said Wallace, leaning his head on his hands and looking Gloomily out of the window at the spire of St Brides church. Pleasant, isn't itt But what on earth am to do' l never was in n greater hole. Pm not the least in love with that girl, Kendall, but there isn't anything she'd ask me to do for her that wouldn't do if 1 could. She's the warmest hearted creature-one of the kind est frankest, sncerest women that ever stepped. feel at times that I'd rather cut my hand off than hurt her feelings by throw ing her offer ill her face. and yet that play has been tho apple of my eye to me for months; the thought of seeing it spoiled by clumsy handling is intolerable to me-"
 "I suppose it would hurt her feelings" said Kendall. meditatively, Eff you refused"
 "Yes," said Wallace, emphatically, II be- ieve it would wound her extremely You see, in spite of all her success, she is begin. ming to be conscious that there arc two publics in London. There is the small, fastidious public of people who take the theatre seriously, and there is the large. easy going public who get the only sensation they want out of her beauty and her per sonal prestige Tho enthusiasts have no difficulty, as yet, ill holding their own against the scofeis, and for long time Miss Bretherton knew and cared nothing for what the critical people said, but Of late have noticed at times that she knows moro and cares more than she did. It seems to me that there is a little growing soreness in her mind, and just now if refuse to let her have that play it will destroy her confidence in her friends, as it were She won't re- proach me. she won't quarrel with me, but it will go to her heart. Do, for heavens sal,c, Kendall, help mo to somo plausible fo- tion or otherp
 II wish 1 could" said Kendall, pacing up and down. his gray hair falling forward over his brow. There was pause, and then Kendall walked energetlcally up to his friend and laid his hand on his shoulder
 "You oughtn't to let her have that play, Wallace; I'm quite clear on that You know how much like her She's all you say, and moro; but art is art and acting is acting. 1, at any rate, tako these things seriously, and you do too. We rejoice ill it for her sake; but, after all, when ono comes to think of it, this popularity of hers is enough to make ono despair. Sometimes l think 1t will throw back the popular dramatic taste for years At any rate, am clear that if man has got hold of a fine work of art, as you have in that play. he has duty to it and to the pub lie. You are bound to sec it brought out under the best possible conditions, and we all know that Miss Brethertons acting, capped with Hawes', would kill it from the artistic point of view"
 Perfectly true, perfectly true,n said Wal ,
 "You must get out of it somehow. Tell her that the part is one you feel won't suit her won't do her justice" 5r t
 Much good that would dc! She thinks the part just made for her, costumes and all"
 "Well, then, say you haven't finished your reri iSion, and you must have time for more s work at it; that will postpone the thing, and sho will hear of something else which will put it out of her head"
 There are all sorts of reasons against that" said Wallace; ''it's hardly worth while going through them. In the first place, she wouldn't believe me; in the second. she won't forget it, whatever happens, and it would only put the difficulty of few weeks at most. l feel SO stupid about the whole thing l like her too much. I'm so afraid of saying anything to hurt her, that can't inesse. All my wits desert me. 1 say. Kendall"
 "Welli" Wallace hesitated. and glanced up at his friend with his most winning expression.