Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-10-12
CHAPTER V.

it seems to me that strong speech of
Lemaires 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 1.-The Worlds Way"
was on. Raw gaslight flooded the stage
and showed the auditorium beyond, a
shadowy pit that echoed every word.
Tom stood near the manager, the prompt
book in his hand interlining it 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 rehear5als and only the
cues given with distinctness. He was
accustomed to seeing the players go
through the cuisines" Ike 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-tho hardship and disillusion, were
all familiar now.
The days were too short for all he
found to do, and sometimes it was past
midnight before he thought of returning
to Chelsea square.
The interrupted ayowal of his love to
Virginia had not been finished. But in
a 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
bittered his food and kept sleep away.
It was not enough to hear it praised and
feel its reality himself The final YER
dict must come from the crowd, the
vague mass called the public, depending
upon its mood. What this would be
who could foretell? He heard on every
| hand of plays teeming with promise that
had gone down like ships at sea with
flags flying and cargoes of gems on
board, Of others Of only doubtful value
that had made fortunes and established
regulations.
Doubt left him no peace, and the first
night of 1.-The Worlds Way" found hin
with every sense quiyering and alert
Behind the scenes tho air was freighted
with fever. Everybody was whispering
peeping, speculating except Tom, an6
he leaned against one of the wings wait
ing. He could do no more. Opalliks
CLEANS of excitement flickereI in hi.
eyes, nervous tremors ran through hi
blood, and behind an easy smile his teetl
were clinched He could not breathe
freely until The first act was over.
Five minutes before the curtain went
up he peeped over the gasman's shoulder
and looked eagerly at the upper right
| hand box. He saw Mr.. Kent first. stand
ing well i'll front leisurely surveying tn,
house through an opera glass as fainil
iarly as if boxes on first nights were
quite everyday matters.
A little more in shadow sat Virginia
Tom scarcely knew her in the new gray
gown and tho feati.er III GN. Lent
rim. How pretty She .... .-.ppiness
was tonic that had softcned 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 all 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 a 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, OF for moment be-
fore parting in the hall. 1t mattered
not how or where if only he received in
q 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
prompter's book there was absolute 81
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, living-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 81
lences
| But when the curtain fell a sound
like a thunderbolt leaped across the
footlights and made the scenery quake.
1t sank only to revive again, its clamor
swelling like storm at its culmina-
ton. An, then he seemed lifted up. The
sound made him sick with delight His
hour had struck
The players stood around him, flush
ed, triumphant group
TITS CO."
"a hit"
Went swimmingly. Every line told.
never played to warmer house."
Words like these and the persistent
applause followed him down the mar
row passage to the street. He wanted
to feel alone for little while the rap
ture of triumph. They lied who said
that hope was fallacy, life failure.
The world had widened and grown SO
fair. The years teemed with rosy pos
sibilities. mystic, beckoning. His heart
was full with rush Of joy.
It seemed to him there never was a
fairer night than this, which marked the
first important ascent in his life. Frost
glittered on the pavements like pale
dust The rays Of the moon blanched
window panes into squares Of pearl and
skctched the outlines Of chimneys and
doorposts in fanciftll black angles.
As he strobe along his blood tingled
IN tho seductive confusion of dream
where passion and triumph walked hand
in hand. Virginia- he loved her sol She
was 80 necessary to him. He would make
up for all she suffered now All, would
be not? It would be sweet to lavish
upon her the dainties and clegancies that
all K. omen love She should have done
with l,inching and worry in that happy