Evening star., 1896-09-26


eyed girl go back into the dim auditorium
and take seat beside her mother, and his
heart thumped suddenly. as he found him.
self wondering when he would dare to tell
her that he loved her and to ask her to De
his wife. Then he also left the stage and
dropped into the chair behind mother and
daughter.
'It was very good Of you to como this
evening. Mrs. Lorraine he began. II feel
as If having your daughter act in this play
of mine will bring me luck somehow"
"Tne idea!' said Miss Marvin. smillngly.
"Mary had told me how clever the piece
was.' the elder actress responded, but 1t
is really better than she said. The dialogue
Is very brilliant at times, and the charac-
ters are exce!lently contrasted-and. what
is more important. the whole thing will
actD The parts carry the actors: they've
got something to do which is worth while
doing. 1t will go all right tomorrow
night!'
"1ts beautiful piece" Mary Marvin de-
clared: "and I think my part is just
lovely!
And before he could say anything in fit
acknowledgment, Mrs. Lorraine went on.
Yes. Marys part is charming; and think
she will play it very well, too!'
I'm sure of it, he cried. unhesitatingly.
Il think there is more in it than 1 thought
at first" said Mary's mother. now I've
seen the play. ard Til go over Mary's part
with her tonight, and show her what can
be done with 1t. I'm waiting for that scene
in the second act with Fostelle. 1 think
that 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! l should get my two
weeks notice the next morning, shouldn't t
L? And L don't want to be out of an en-
| gasement just at the beginning of the sea-
son. when all the companies are made up"
Are You sure that the ghost will walk
every week with this FoStelle company, If
you strike bad business for a month or SOP
| asked Mrs. Lorraine. with a suggestion of
| anxiety in her voice.
| Il think Zeke Kilburn is all right" the
! dramatic author responded; "he made q
| pile of money last year on that imported
meiodrama. the Doctors Daughter and.
| besides. he has backer."
| Mrs. Lorraine laughed gently, showed her
| peautlrully regular teeth she was still a
| handsome woman. with fine figure and a
| crown of silver hair.
! "a backer?" she rejoined: "but who
backs the hacker? I've heard your friend.
| MI. Bracket, there, say that Jay and
his money are soon parted"
| Carpenter answered her earnestly "I
| really think kilburn is pretty solid. but 1
suppose that great deal does depend on
| the way that the play draws. They've got
open time here i'll New York. and If Touch
Snd Go catches on they can stay here till
|
II our piece is a go. the ghost will walk
regularly"
Il hope 1t will make a hit" Mrs. Lo-
raine a. Wered. for your sake too. You
haven't sold 1t outright, have you?"
NO. Indeed" the young dramatist re-
piled. Harry Bracket is too old in the
| business for that. We've got a nightly
| royalty. with a percentage on the gross,
| whichever 1t plays to more than $4,000 a
week We stand to make a lot Of money
II 1t makes hit. What do you think of
lis chances, Mrs. Loraine?"
The first act is all right she respond
| ed. That's the most 1 can say now. But
| come and ask me after I've seen the third
act and I'll tell you what 1 think. and be-
| we'll"
By this time the scene of the second act
had been set. 1t represented stone sum-
mer herse on the top of a hill overlooking
| was picturesque in itself, and 1t was in
ger'oLsly arranged to provide opportuni-
ties for effective stage business.
Carpenter accompanied Miss Marvin back
| to the stage when the time drew nigh for
| the second act to begin.
AS he was passing through the door be-
| tween the auditorium and the stage he
fcrnd himself face to face with Dresser,
! VINO was hdgeting back and forward.
| 'Oh. Mr.. Carpenter" he cried, I'm SO
glad to see you. 1 want to ask your opinion
about this. After all. you know you wrote
the play, and you ought to be able to de.
L
am really In love with her then, or AIM
|! Sherrington says I am, bat 1 think it's
great deal funEier if I'm not in love with
her then-it helps to work up the last ac,
better Now. what do you think? Sher.
irgttr insists that his way of playing II
is more dramatic. Well. 1 don't say /,
amt. but it isn't half as funny is it?'
After Carpenter had given his opinion
upon this question Dresser allowed him tc
escape. But he had not advanced ter
yards until he was claimed by Mrs. Castle
Mr.. Carpenter" the elderly actress be
gan. In her usual haughtily dignified man.
ner. "how do you think 1 ought to dress
this part in the first act? She's house
wear an apron
The young dramatist expressed his be-
lief that perhaps an apron would be q
proper thing for the housekeeper to veal
in the first act.
But not cap I hope?" urged Mrs
| Castleman.
Carpenter doubted If a cap would bt
| necessary.
Thank you," said Mrs Castleman. .'Yo,
see have always hitherto been associated
with the legitimate and l really don't quite
know what to do with this sort of thing
Then she suddenly paused only to breaI
cut again impetuously: "Oh. I beg you
pardon. Mr.. Carpenter really 1 did no
mean to imply that this charming play o
yours is not legitimate"
| The dramatic author laughed "You neet
not apologize. he declared; I'm inclinet
to think that Touch and Co is so iIlegiti
; mate now that its own parents can't rec
| ogniZe it,''
At last the rehearsal of the second ac
, began. the two authors sitting at the littl
| table with the stage manager.
Sherrington consulted them once or twic
} in regard to the omission Of line here an,
there.
, "Cut it down to the bone, when you can
that's what 1 say" he explained, 'wha
, you cut out can't make people lwn.'
| But once he stopped the rehearsal to sug
! | gest that a speech Re written in. "Youv
! | got to make that complication might
: | clear" he declared, "ard this is the plac
! I ~
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