The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-19

IL came-the fret night-that night
to those in front, and which means some
thing 40 very different to those behind.
l make ii rule to shun the first nights of
my own plays. | have strong feeling
that those are occasions on which the su-
thor ia better away. That night | broke
my role.
All men say that they are not supersti-
tious. But fancy that, at bottom, and
on occ ssion, we all OF us are. know that
something told me that that night would
be night of disaster had never written
a play of which | had hoped greater
things felt that | had put into it some
oil the best work OF which j was capable
If it was a failure, then | was q failure,
too. And yet
Several things worked together to bring
about this satisfactory state OF mind. But
oddly enough they all grouped themselves
about Mr.. Rnthven. The more L saw OF
him the less | liked him. | found that this
feeling Of mine was shared by others. Trot-
t-r. In confidence, actually told me that he
Was afraid of him. lie said that he never
came near him without n shudder; that
his presence filled him with a sense Of
physical repulslOn. This Was nonsense. /
told him 60 But !. myself was conscious
in nv heart of hearts, OF something of this
kind. And yet the man was inOdensive.
HI was the most retiring OF mortals. lie
never spoke unless be was first spoken TO.
He never thrust himself &c the FRONT. In
deed / wished lie would have thrust him
self little more TO the front. Anything
more Oppressive than his demeanOr at re-
hersals j never witnessed. lie acted like
a wet blanket lie was absolutely liieless !!
At the eleventh hour both Trotter and |
wished We were rid OF him. But Trotter
wouldn't take the initiative, and, ridicu-
lous though it sounds felt couldn't.
You're the manager" reminded
TrOtter, who seemed 10 need reminding.
And you're the authorW
You engaged himY
AT yOuT insligation -
"Well. you play leading part. and il
Won choose to let him spoil you, it's your
affair, not mine"
ITO listen 10 you anybody would think
that it's a matter of complete indifference
10 you If he ruins your play :"
All this was of course absurd. But the
consequence was that the man retained
his part.
As the night approached / worked my
self into state Of fever. On the night
Itself couldn't keep away from the thea
ter. An irresistible fascination drew me
Strand-wards. was haunted by hide
Que and altogether unreasonable suspicion
that. ct the last moment. Ruthven would
play US "A trick and fail to appear As my
caD drew mp at the stage door, l put the
question to the doorkeeper.
elias. MIR. Ruthven arrived ?"
Just arrived. sir"
Are you sure"
The man stared.
quite sure, sir. He just went through. !"
In spite OF the mans protestatiOn |
went myself TO see | knocked at the
door Of Mr.. Ruthven's dressin g-room.
There was no answer. ! knocked again.
Sill no answer.
"Mr. Ruthven" cried.
Not sound. turned the handle. The
door opened. stepped inside. My frs,
impression was that the room was empty.
Then. looking round, / saw that some
thing, some one. was lying on tho floor. II
was a man lying all OF beap. am not
ashamed TO confess that, in the already
agitated state OF nv mind. the sight oil
that heap filed me with sense OF distinct
diEcomfort.
"Rutbven" said--"is that you, Ruth.
ven?"
No reply. Ny impulse was TO seek for
helD. What ] did was 10 move forward