The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-07-06

She shall have try anyhow" And he rap
ped his men to attention again.
Henley said. "We'll begin the rehearsal,
please. Attention, every onel Places
Act I. Of you go, Corbett"
The overture went with snap and dash
and needed not word Of correction. The
opening chorus, too, seemed to be sung
better than ever before, and everything
went swimmingly till the entrance OF
Grace Damal-the role of the prima don
ma. Then Constance entered, came down
stage for her opening number, beautiful,
quiet, rather pathetic song. Kenyon stood
up at his desk and whispered to her:
stake your own timel Sing confidently
Trust to mel I'll help you outv'
She didn't need bit of help-not a bit.
True, at first her voice trembled just tri-
fle, but Henley whispered, Don't be
afraid-you're all right" And her tones
came out clear as bell. That girl had
been taught the right way to produce
note. In heavens name, what had such
voice been doing in a chorusl
Kenyon smiled, sat down, and albeit
watching Constance closely showed he had
no fear or hesitation.
The solo ended, the rehearsal stopped.
1t was no use. 1t could not go on. The
entire company burst into a shout of APP
plause, and as for Henley and Kenyon the
latter had jumped upon the stage right
over the footlights and held Constance's
hands in his shaking them up and down
as IL they were rattles and he big
baby. Henley-well, Henley kissed her,
he did. and then, looking like a fool, said,
al fine myself eco, but it's worth it" 1t
was quite awhile before the assemblage got
back to its united senses.
Why, Miss Marriott's voice was infinite
ly purer and better than the absent Blan-
ville's. She felt the music and made you
feel it too. SingS She sang the proverbial
lark out of his whole gamut. Finally the
rehearsal was resumed, and allowing for
little crudeness here and there, but no
Northumberland even the crudeness dis
appeared as Miss Marriott gained conf
dence-the role was acted with remarka-
BILE finish. ''Save your voice, dear" said
Henley. "You're all right, +" smiling on
his pretty savior from disaster.
"Just hum through the principal num-
beers once more to get the action, said
Kenyon, and by this means parts of the
opera were gone over twice or thrice long
before 3 O'Clock.
When night came, to the crowded house
Henley made splendid speech of explana-
ton regarding the change of cast in the
principal role. The audience was trife
cold and hesitating until after Constance's
first solo, and then, as Kenyon said when
he held his stick on high for the tumultu-
Gus encore which followed, "She's got
'em" And in fact she did "have them 4"
The performance was a complete tri-
lint hot ho,.
or the new prima donna had won the great
er success it was difficult to say. The Lon
don critics telegraphed over column each
to their several journals, and in one night
Constance Marriott sprang from simple
chorus girl to the foremost rank among
comic opera singers. Henley whispered to
Kenyon as they stood at the stage door
after the performance.
"All right, old boy. l envy you. Wish
you luck, f" said Kenyon, and he started on
ahead of his partner in success.
Henley walked home with Constance
Marriott He must beg her pardon for
giving her that kiss. He did so quite elo-
quently, and she gave it back to him when
they got inside the door of her dwelling
What welcome came from the sweet in
valid motherl
Well, well, well, what a happy hour it
was, while Constance told how, after the
first rehearsal we have spoken Of, she had
overheard the description of the accidental
telephone from the prompt side to the lead
er's desk; how she, too, had discovered the
same sort of line of communication lead
ing from the star dressing room to the
chorus room; how she had listened that
Friday night, how she had deliberately
bribed the librarian of the theater to let
her have the score, telling him that she
had been made 'understudy" and needed
to look over the prima donna's part; how
she and her mother had worked at the role
all Saturday and Sunday, and
You know or can imagine the rest.
Forbes kissed her again-this time right
before her own mother, who laughed a very
knowing laugh. Then Forbes actually
kissed the mother
1.-THE Wayside Inn' ran to crowded
houses for over five months and was then
taken off. Miss Marriott was unable to
appear for two weeks, and the public
would have no one else in her role She
took this fortnight's vacation because Mr..
and Mrs. Forbes Henley went ON their we'd
ding tour.-Nath Childs in Short Stories.