The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-10

rehearsal began. Mrs. Castleman came
down to the center OF the stage and
took up a newspaper and read the date
OF II aloud, and remarked that IL was
just five years since Master and Mist
ress had parted In anger, adding that
neither of them had put foot inside the
old house in all the five years, and yet
1t was not an hour from New York.
Then one of the minor actors, an
awkward young fellow, one of the two
who had been standing in the wings,
entered with a telegram, which he gave
to Mrs. Castleman. She tore IL open
and read II aloud. The master would
arrive early in the evening. Then Miss
Marvin, the girl with the clear blue
eyes came forward with an open letter
in her hand and told Mrs. Castleman
that the mistress of the house would be
home again at last early that morning
And thus the rehearsal went on gravely
everyone intent upon the business in
hand. The speeches of the actors were
interrupted now and then by the stage
manager. Take the last scene over
again." he might command, whereupon
the performers would resume their
places as before and begin again.
Don't cross till he takes the stage, my
dear. And when he says: What is the
meaning of this?' don't be in a hurry.
Wait, and then say your aside :Can
he suspect?" In a hoarse whisper See?"
Finally there was a Jingle of sleigh
bells. and the orchestra, beginning
family and slowly, soon worked up to a
! swift forte, and then Miss Daisy Fos-
| telle made her first appearance through
the broad door at he back of the stage.
Finding that she had taken everybody
by surprise, she smiled sweetly and
said you didn't expect me, see-but
l hope you are all glad to see me once
more"
| A thin cadaverous man with a heavy
black mustach here stepped forward to
| face the wife he had not seen for five
years. 1--WE are all glad, to see you
once more" he had to say, "very glad,
| indeed, and we are gladder still to see
that YOU seem to be in such excellent
health and such high spirits! The
separation has not dimmed the bright
ness of your eyes nor" Here the tall
| gaunt actor stopped and hesitated. ~
| don't know what's the matter with
that Speech" he said, impatiently, "but
l can't get it into my head. i never
had such tricky lines!"
| The prompter gave him the word he
needed; and no one else paid any atten-
tion to this outbreak.
| The two authors wer seated at the
table in the center of the footlights;
and Harry Bracket whispered to Car
penter; stark is getting the big head,
isn't he? The idea of mere cuff-shoot-
er like that taking himself seriously
Then there followed an important
scene in which the wife gave her hus-
band a witty and vivacious account of
all her doings during the five years
of their separation ending with the
startling announcement that he had
| six weeks in South Dakota and had
there procured divorce from him! But
there is no need to disclose here in de-
tail the plot of Touch and Co." as the
new American comedy unfolded itself
scene by scene. AS the end of the act
approached Sherrington pressed the &C.
tors to play more briskly so as to bring
the curtain down swiftly on an unex.
pected but carefully prepared tableau
When the act was over the stage.
manager had the final passages repeat
ed twice. to make sure of its goins
smoothly at the first performance; anC
then the stage was cleared so that the
scene might be set for the second act.
| Carpenter watched the graceful, gray
eyed girl go back into the dim auditor
ium and take a seat beside her mother
and his heart thumped suddenly, as ht
found himself wondering when h,
would dare to tell her that he loved hel
and to ask her to be his wife. Tner
he also left the stage and dropped into
the chair behind mother and daughter
(TO BE Concluded