The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-08
CHAPTER v.

1t seems to me that strong speech Of
Lemaire's coming so closely upon Miri-
ans denunciation takes the ginger out
of Miss Stones lines. Tone that down,
Murray, or hold it back bit"
The rehearsal of "The Worlds Way"
was on. Raw gaslight flooded the stage
and showed the auditorium beyond, q
shadowy pit that echoed every word.
Tom stood near the manager, the prompt
book in his hand, interlning 1t with new
suggestions for stage business and some
times altering line to be more effective.
He was accustomed to the theatre by
this time. For two weeks he had been
coming and going, spending much of his
time among scene painters and holding
long interviews with the manager. He
no longer felt resentful at hearing the
text slurred at rehearsals and only the
cues given with distinctness. He was
accustomed to seeing the players go
through the business" hike automatons,
and climaxes his heart had stood still in
creating arranged with mechanical ex-
actness.
The skeleton of the players craft
without the simulated passion and hu-
mor-the hardship and disillusion, were
all familisr now.
The days wero too short for all he
found to do. and sometimes it was past
midnight before he thought of returning
to Chelsea square.
= The interrupted avowal of his love to
Virginia had not been finished. But in
q vague, happy way she understood that
even that must remain abeyant to the
success Of his play.
Ofttimes the thought that it might
fail gave him soul sickness that i'm
Uttered his food and kept sleep away.
It-was not enough to hear it praised and
feel its reality himself. The final ver-
dict must como from the crowd, the
vague mass called the public, depending
upon its mood. What this would be
who could foretell2 He heard on every
hand Of plays teeming with promise that
had gone down like ships at sea with
flags flying and cspgoes of gems on
board, Of others of only doubtful value
that had made fortunes and established
xeputations.
Doubt left him no peace, and the first
night Of "The Worlds Way" found him
with every sense quivering and alert.
Behind the scenes the air was freighted
with fever. Everybody was whispering,
peeping, speculating except Tom, and
he leaned against one Of the wings wait
ing. He could do no more. Opallike
CLEANS Of excitement flickered in his
eyes, nervous tremors ran through his
blood, and behind an easy smile his teeth
were cliEched. He could not breathe
freely until the first act was over.
Five minutes before the curtain went
mp he peeped over the gasman's shoulder
and looked eagerly at the upper right
hand box. He saw Mr.. Kent first, stand
ing well in front leisurely surveying the
house through an opera glass as famil-
iariy as II boxes on first nights were
quite everyday matters.
Alittle moro in shadow sat Virginia.
Tom scarcely knew her in the new gray
gown and the feathered hat with bent
rim. How pretty she vast Happiness
was q tonic that had softened every
curve Of her face. Her eyes, dilated TO
starry radiance, rested dreamily on the
still undrawn curtain. Her cheeks were
burning pink.
A tenderness swept over his heart, and
the thought of ell she was to him rose
triumphant above every other feeling
Was it not good to know that one in
that crowded house was thinking with
tenderness of him, not as the new dram
atist making bid for fame. but just as
"Tom," whose every hope was at stake?
Perhaps as they went home he might
whisper.those three words that hold inn
prisoned in their small circle the har-
mony Of the world. He might tell her
in the crowded car, or for moment be-
fore parting in the hall. It mattered
not how or where If only he received in
word the assurance Of the belief that
she loved him.
The first few moments following the
tinkle of the bell he never remembered
clearly. Save for the rustic Of the
promptcr's book there was absolute ST.
lence behind the scenes. The house was
as still. On the hush voices swept to
him speaking the words he knew by
heart. The music commenced family
like the distant sob of waves-a swaying
melody painful and sweet. Tom dared
to lift his eyes and watch the scene;
then by degrees the painful sense of
trepidation left him, for this was the
pregnant action he had dreamed Of.
These were the words fire laden, scorch-
ing, hying-the passion that had put
on the garb Of reality--the humor, sweet.
surprising and irresistible. Sometimes a
gust OF laughter swept over the house.
intermittent applause that showed crit
ical appreciation, or dead, absorbed ST.
lences.
But when the curtain fell sound
Hke = thunderbolt leapcd across the
footliehts and made the scenery quake
II sank only to revive again. its clsmor
swelling like . storm at it's culmina-
~ A. ts,p se seemed lifted up. The