The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-21
PART III.

this play OF mine VIII DrlnB me luck
somehow"
"The ideal" said Miss Marvin, smil-
ingly.
"Mary had told me how clever the
piece was" the elder actress responded,
"but it Is really better than she said.
The dialogue is very brilliant at times,
and the characters are excellently con-
trasted-and, what Is more important,
the whole thing will actl The parts
carry tho actors; they've got something
to do which Is worth while doing. 1t
will go all right tomorrow night"
"It's a beautiful piece" Mary Marvin
declared; "snd think my part is just
lovely!"
And before no could say anything in
fit acknowledgment, Mrs. Lorraine went
on. "Yes, Mary's part is charming.
And think she will play it very well,
tool"
I'm sure of it'll" he cried, unhesitat-
ingly.
81 think there Is more in II than I
thought at FIRST" said Mary's mother.
"now I've seen the play, and I'll go
over Mary's part with her tonight and
show her what can be done with it.
I'm waiting for that scene in the Sec
ond act with Fostelle. / think that
Mary ought TO share the call after that.
In fact, I'm not sure that she can't take
the scene away from Fostelle."
'Oh, mother" the daughter broke In.
''that would never do! i should get
my two weeks notice the next morn
ing, shouldn't I? And / don't want to
be out of ON engagement just at the be-
ginning of the season when oil the COM
panies are made up"
"Are you sure that the ghost will
walk every week with this Fostellc
company, IL you strike bad business for
| q month or SOP" asked Mrs. Lorraine,
with a suggestion of anxiety in her
voice.
"I think Zeke Kilburn is all right"
the dramatic author responded; "he
made pilo of money last year on that
imported melodrama, the Doctors
Daughter and besides no has
backcr."
Mrs. Lorraine laughed gently, showed
her beautifully regular teeth; she was
still handsome woman with fine fig
ure and a crown of silver hair.
"a backer?" she rejoined, "but who
backs the backer? I've heard your
friend, Mr.. Bracket, there, say that
jay and his money arc soon parted2"
Carpenter answered her earnestly.
II really think Kilburn is pretty solid,
but suppose that great deal does de-
pend on the way that the play draws.
They've got open time herein New York,
and If Touch and Co catches on they
can stay here till Christmas. So il
comes down to this that IL our piese
is q GO, the ghost will walk regularly"
"I hope IL will make a hit" Mrs. Lo-
raine answered, "for your sake. too.
You haven't sold 1t outright, have youT'
"No, indeed" the young dramatist
replied. Harry Bracket Is too old
in the business for that. We've got a
nightly royalty, with percentage on
the gross, whenever 1t plays to more
than four thousand dollars q week. We
stand to make lot of money-if 1t
makes hit. What do you think of its
chances, Mrs. Lorainep"
"The first act is all right" she re-
sponded. That's the most / can say
now. But come and ask me after I've
seen the third act, and I'll tell you what
7 think, and / believe l can then
prophesy its fate pretty we'll"
BY this time the scene of the sec
ond act had been set. 1t represented
stone summer house on the top Of
hill overlooking tho Hudson just be-
low WesS Point. 1t was picturesque In
itself. and IL was ingeniously arranged
TO provide opportunities for effect
I've stage business.
Carpenter accompanied Miss Marvin
back TO the stage when the time drew
nigh for the second act TO begin.
AS he wns passing through the door
between the auditorium and the stage
he found himself face to face with
Dresser, who was fidgeting back and
forward.
ooh, Mr.. Carpenter" he cried,s SIN
SO glad TO see you. want TO ask your
opinion about this. After oil, you know
you wrote the play, and you ought 70
be able TO decide. In my scene with
MuINIl III llis uCt, uiu Il ituJy ia io'S
with her then, or amt 1? Sherripgton
says / am, but think it's great deal
funnier IL I'm not in love with her then
1T helps TO work up tho last act bet
ter. Now, what do you think? Sher-
rington insists that his way OF playing
Il is more dramatic. Well, don't say
II amt but it isn't half as funny, is ?"
After Carpenter had given his opinion
upon this question, Dresser allowed
him 10 escape. But he had not adj
vnnced ten yards until he was claimed
by Mrs Castleman.
'Nlr. Carpenter" the elderly actress
began. in her usual haugbtily digniflcd
manner. show do you think ought TO
dress this part In the first act? She's
n housckeeper, isn't she? scsI sop
pose / ought TO wear an apron
The young dramatist expressed his
belief that perhaps an apron would be q
proper thing for the housekeepcr to
WAR IL, tbo er.t not