The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-19
"A FIRST MIGHT.
From Advance Sheet. OF the April cornhm.l
What does Shepherd say p


much as he implies" opened shepherds
letter, and glanced through it again. 1T
Is easy to see that he thinks Ruthven's in
bad way"
Then shall at once get some one to
take his part"
He says that the mere thought of such
thing would be sufficient to send Ruth
ven headlong into MS grave"
Trotter became excited.
Then do you mean to tell me that I've
only a choice between murder and
suicide?"
shepherd puts it that Ruthven has
been waiting and working all his life for
such a chance. and that if now be only
gets it to lose 1t the man will break his
heart and die
Trotter threw himself into chair.
"Ince. you'll drive me mad! l consider
that I've been badly used all through.
When, at your special request, l offered
The part to Ruthven-''
There is no man upon the English stage
who could act it like him"
Did 1 say there was? Good heavens,
man. let me speak When / offered the
part to Ruthyen and he accepted it there
wHs not word said about his being
unwell. \ few days aftsrward, when
the reading is called, he writes and
SAYS he is little of color, but
that If / will send him his part he will
show at first rehearsal. 1 send him his
part. First rehearsal comes and still no
Ruthvenl Second rehearsal, and still no
Ruthvenl Third rehearsal, and still no
Ruthven! Until We have driitsd where
we are Then YOU asked Shepherd to 20
and see the man. who has stuck himself
In come remote corner OF Scotiand-as ii
be had done it on purpose-and tell us
what prospect there is OF his putting in
an appearance. Shepherd writes
that there is little or none. Then
you say thatif l take the part away from
him shall send the man headlong to his
grave"
That's what Shepherd saws, not l."
Then | say, Shepherd be hanged! l
have never met the man in my life. l
have never seen him act. / know moth
InR about him"
But / have seen him act, and know
something about him. and l tell You that
in a part OF this particular kind he would
prove that he possesses something very
much like genius"
what has that to do with it. if the
mans too III TO act? You don propose,
presume, that ho should como onto the
stage the first night without having at
tended rehearsal at all p
What TOttsr said was true enough. And
was quite anxious for the success Of
the play as he could be. AS hs put it:
Anybody would think ! was the only
person concerned. It's your play not
minew
My dear Trotter, don't hit me-
81 should like tor somebody. /
don't know how long you mean to keep
the stage waiting for rehearsal. I'm 20
ing And after rehearsal l intend 10 get
somebody to take his place"
Ii Was annoying. In writing the play
throughout it had had Ruthven in my
minds eye. The part of B'qise TotrHstend
was. in no slight degree, the play. As
Biqise TOWnslad / had felt convinced
Ruthven would score a success which
would make "A Story of Today" the most
successful drama / had given to the pub
lie. And now it appeared that the man
was so i'll that unless we postponed the
production of the piece-which neither
Troiter nor / was disposed is do-the part
would have TO be given to some man who
In all probability would be no more my
BiGise 10rHStel,d than | myself should be.
When We reached the theater and wore
hurrying through the passages which lead
from the stage door to the stage some one
who WAS standing there touched TrOtteF
on the arm and stopped him.
"Excuse me-Mr. Trotter, believe? 1
am Mr.. Ruthven"
Mr.. kuthven"
In his surprise Trotter started back and
almost trod upon my toes Hers was tile
man standing ~ our elbows who We had
supposed was Wing on a bed OF sickne SO
four hundred miles away. Ny personal
acquaintance with him had been but
slight had seen him act in provincial
town. and mad been SO struck by his per-
Torrance that l had gone behind between
the acts and obtained an introduction.
During the three or four DAYS | remained
IN the town had met him twice or thrice
again. AZ he stood in the uncertain light,
holding his hat IN his hand his ewes fixed
wistfulIv on Trotter's countanance, /
could no, bgt be struck by the change in
his appearance. He appeared To have
shrunk % nothing lie even seemed 20
have lost in height, His slight, fragile
figure had so decreased that one felt that
II IL decreased much more il would reach
vanishing-point. Ills face was worn,
and wan. and white. Trotter stared at
him in bevildered amazement-so, in
deed, did |.
Il may truly say, Mr. Buthven, that this
Is an uns expected pleasure. | was under
the impression that you were III in be-"
Mr.. Ruthven put his hand up to his
brow.
II haven't been quite we'll.
Trotter turned 70 me.
lyon know Mr.. Ince?"
II ought to-"
But he did not seem as though he did,
He looked at ne With expressionless eyes.
as though / were an entire stranger.
held out lay hand to him.
surely, MIR. RuthVen, you have not for
gotten me- l give you my word that |
have not forgotten yOu. / would sooner
see you thsn-anything
He smilod-or rather | should write
that be attempted TO smile, because the
attempt was a failure. Trotter clipped bis
arm through his
Mr.. Ruthven, we are already late for
rehearsal May ask if you have looked
at your part2'
81 am letter perfect"
He was. He went through his lines
cues and all. without a hitch. But with
what an air With the air of a man whose
thoughts we're far aWay-of a man who
took not the slightest interest in his sur
roundings. He certainly did not appear
20 be an actor who acted at rehsarsals.
a. A. IL l.