New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-22
CHAPTER XLIV.


Evelyn's first scene kept her on the stage LOT
more than half the act; but during TINS ufnc sne
had ,o-v uttle 70 say: go she able to look
about the house. The auditorium was so oarh
that she could distinguish the faces of those
only who sat in the first few rows OF the VI
chestra. and among these she could discover Only
o taco that she knew-Oswad Webb :. lie
was watching her closely with an opera gas
II was not till she had spoken her hrst ie"
| lnes-they brought on two other charac'ers-a"u
had fallen into a pan;omimic conversation with
| voung actor at the back of the stage mat She
was able to scan the boxes. They were all "eu'
in one Of the upper left-hand boxes she 'hous"'
| che Gnu, some one she knew At her first glance
| sbe looked again and discovered the heaNlng
! hosoms Of the Misses Coffey In the excitement
Of the evening she had forgotten that the SIS
ters had declared their intention OF taking ooN
/ for the performance. They were po'h III emu
orata toilets and In the glamor Of their sur
roundings they looked imposing Behind them
sat a red bearded, heavy man, who appeared TO
be extremely bored. and two young ana inner
products. with sweeping mustaches ana the
cut Of men Of the world Though directly over
the stage and within few yards Of the actors
the sisters were armed with opera glasses OF
pearl which they aimed persistently at Evelyn
/ She looked at them ard bowed: they nodded
vigorously and smiled effusvely n reply and
! then fell TO bowling and whispering with the
| young men.
When Evelyn went back to her dressing-rooin
| she told Madge II the presence II their irends'
Madge who was just about to 60 on the stage
was delighted to hear that they were In front
.1u inst rattle EN-" she said Then she ex-
claimed. pointing to large trunk In the corner
Of the room the top II which was covered with
/ flowers. Just see what's come since you We pee"
..or nov lovolv,' EVELYN said who sent
them" The flowers consisted ~ an enormous
basket o, Jacqucminot roses and large bouquet
Of Marshal Neils. .,..
the edge ~ her nose with powder pun
Tho card that she found In The basket bore
the name Of oswald Webb with an Ro"d
wishes" was written on Il In his me hAh'
writing which, by a curious combination II
ideas sent her mind flashing back 10 the money
order When she looked a. me card VII. III had
come with the bouquet she read: For Miss
johnson and Miss Guernsey with me compi'
men,s Of Mrs COIN Ko.cor 60 Gerald .-,i ana Ned
"Ain't it. though" said Madsc. turning from :
the mirror The others al yours. M"isr
made no further comment; Evelyn wondered i !
she hal read the name on the carl
wei. You must take tho bouquet. Madg"
That's only fair. It's enough for m" - hif' /
bcen remembered. What lot u trouble they |
must have taken % send 4. wonder now th"y |
did it,
The boys prob2bly got some collcFc . lri'qA lc ~
came from Nclsons-ln Ff'h-aye Bu' ANITA
hog. Wen divide"
no. no." cried Evelyn. You must take them.
This baskets enough f1r me-
At that moment Mlig' was unable % con-
tinue the discussion. f0r she va obliged - iake
her place IN the wings before ing on.
The first act received quietly. u was 700 |
"Ntcrary' = excite enthusiasm even ln picked |
audience. and u served chiefly a. preparation
for the development OK the plot. When It was
over the wlscacros In tho lobby shook th"ir
heads. VERY foolish = Ewing o. ~ 81 i'r PLAY
himself written Two s,i. cc.sfu dramas ~ novel;
is, canno, d. Il. Woodworking and pay-wg,'-
ing are utterly distinct from each other Inr
remark was overheard by Young reg 'r'"r ~
N" next day 'n''''Nn''r', iH' f'l'.'. u'
not hear Spenc"rs Comment between Oh" s". M
ani ihird acts l'et us" ci'f"' ~ I"'nf ~ u.'
himself In at the beginning ana then lriing MIN
self ont So" II was In TINS a. mat Helen Cor
don had her great scene. she had 10 express
gc and sc)rn which finally CAV" way 20 tears
and groveIlng appeals for mercy. IN" situation
not new. but Ewing hal handled II with
cieverness that give II freshness ana power. ana
her art. From - u, ihe htg'nHlhE nj ,h' H''i''
she had seemed inspired. Evelyn thought AZ she
have to change his opinion ~ her. tonight Miss
Gordon certainly acted with heart and soul. ~
well as with her head. she moved IN kind u
dramatic ecstacv: even after she LEFT the stag
she would walk cxcltcdly up and down behind the
scenes as II she continued 10 I've the character
she was portrayng. Her associates paid her tn
her presence during the course u m" perform
ance when she was not on the stage. she spoke
scarcely a word = them
As for Evelyn she had no opportunity 90 assert
herself until the third. which was also the last
act Her work In the frst two acts called for
subtle treatment which Interested without sur
ring the audience Oswald Webb told her after
ward that at the close II the second at the
commentators In tho lobby seemed puzzled by
her. He had heard several, among them two ~
the professional critics. ask where she had got
her method and some one had said II was 50
natural that she must have got It from NE:
An. but she doesn't put color enough mo ". |
one authority. a literary friend 81 Ewngs had
then exclaimed sentenuousy. There's vast .
difference between life and art" This dirtun !
had amused Webb very much he said It might
have been taken bodily from a dictionary of
literary jargon. 1t the same person who
had referred to the play itself in subdued tones
as VERY strong, very strong.
At the opening Of the third act. Evelyn stood
In the wings with Madge Guernsey beside her
I'VE amt in 1t with her" said Madge. nodJing
at Helen Gordon. bathed in the glory Of the foot
lights. and revealing in the luxury of a scene
all herself. She playing II quietly. deiber-
ately effectively. with fine elaboration Of stage
business Now, Evelyn thought. she was all ,
head" and IL was an intellectual pleasure 10 !
watch her Even Madges dislike Of the actress
was for the moment transformed into admira- !
ton. she Is great" she acknowledged PEN
svely.
yes" said Evelyn rousing herself as the time t
approached for her cue TO be given shes /
E
Go in and win" said Madge pattng her ar
the back "Now's your chance"
Evelyn received her cue and elided on the
I: age and the midde-aged adventures and her
grlish rival stood face TO face. The contrast
between them was striking; for once in her
career Helen Gordon looked her part; she had
been able to create the illusion 81 beauty faded
by the ravages Of life~hat had been 'lived"; y
Evelyn, the contrary, seemed the persOnihca-
ton Of youthful innocence. Their scene began
quietly and worked up to climax In which the
girl defed the woman The power OF Miss Cor Il
1on's acting gave strength to Evelyn. made her -
feel as she had felt that night In Yonkers when
she played with Harold Seymour. When after
the outburst Of righteous Indignation and s
tempt, she left her enemy on the stage the {"
house rang with applause. MadGe who had been .