Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-09-04
THE UNDERSTUDY.

IL was w NC ~ Sfeitu OCcuSlOH. olI 0uy
Ashlyn after retirement of ~ years,
had been persuaded to appear for one night
as Hamlet, the greatest of all his triumphs.
Carriage after carriage rolled up to the
box office, and q crowd waited at the pit
entrance large enough to battle the good
tempered policemen who had charge of it..
The excitement behind the scenes was
almost as great. Scarcely any of the pres
ent company had enjoyed the honor-it
was an honor-of acting with "dear old
Guy" His success had been that of the
last generation, but in spite of his seventy
odd years. almost all spent in hard work,
the old fellow still had the high spirits
and alert figure of q young man.
About half an hour before the doors
were to be opened to the public his
brougham drove up to the stage entrance,
and amid little chorus of welcome from
the crowd waiting for his appearance he
sprang to the pavement.
Everybody>was delighted to see him full
of yigor as he genially turned round to
help his granddaughter alight.
Then came his pupil, young Allen Web
ster, who had undertaken to look after his
master and even act as dresser" for he
best understood his whims, and old Guy
Ashlyn was apt to be nervous and irritable
with strangers.
Everything had been done to study the
convenience of the old tragedian. The
greenroom had been temporarily converted
into dressing room to save him the ne
cessity of climbing stairs between the
scenes, and with his own pupil to act as
"dresscr" and strict orders given that nc
one should disturb him his strength would
he spared AS much rs possible for the most
trying part on the English stage.
Mr.. Ashlyn led the way to his dressing
room, closely followed by Grace and Allon.
"Do you feel at all nervous, dear?" ask
ed his granddaughter.
"Not bit, my love-" answered the old
man cheerily II feel 20 years younger,
and when face the footlights shall feel
like boy"
"That's all right, said the girl. "Now,
Allen" she continued, turning to the
young man, with slight blush, "mind
you look after him. shall hold you re.
sponsible."
'It strikes me-" said the young fellow
with laugh, "that Mr.. Ashlyn is quite
capable of taking care of himself and
everybody else in the theater."
"Then shall run away and dress. Re
member, grandpapa, shall keep quite
close to you Oh the stage, and | know
every line in Hamlet, SO If you forge
anything shall be able to prompt"
"Bother you and your prompting" said
the old man testify. II played Hamlet
before you were born.
Then, with nod and SMILE Grace
who was to be one of the crowd SO that
if her grandfather strength failed him
she would be close at hand, danced away
to her dressing room.
''It seems to me, young fellow" SAID
Mr.. Ashlyn as soon as no and his pupil
were alone, "that you and Miss Grace have
commenced little sweethearting.
The young man smiled consciously.
II hope you won't raise any objection
sir" he said. II wasn't going to say any
thing about it just yet, but you are sc
sharp"
"Bless your soul, my dear boy said
the old man grimly, II played lover for
nearly SO years l ought to understand
the part What does she say about itp'
"Well she won't say anything very def
mite" he answered. "Have l your per.
mission, Mr.. Ashlyn, to win her if CAM"
"Oh, dear me, yes!'' said the old actor.
"Win her by all MEANS but I won't have
any marrying until you have shown us
whether you can act. Personally think
you have future if you do what l tell
you"
81 intend to do we'll, for her sake" said
Allen quietly. cat any rate no man Oh
the stage has been better taught than
have"
The old fellows eyes twinkled at the
compliment but the necessity for dressing
and making up prevented further CONVEX
sation.
At exactly a quarter past s the curtain
was rung up, and an eager house, crowded
from floor to ceiling, waited to welcome
the old favorite. The first scene was fin
ished, and in the second, a room of state
IN the kings palace, Hamlet makes his
first appearance.
He was recognized at once, and it seem
ed as If one mighty shout of welcome rose
from every person present.
It was trying moment for an old gen.
tleman, who had long since passed the or
binary years of human life. Before him
were the footlights, which he had not faced
for 10 years, and beyond them nearly 5000
people, shouting, yelling, applauding-
him.
He stood and bowed. Still the applause
continued, and he bowed again and again.
People said that he bowed a little stif1ly
and awkwardly, like one who is not used
to it. Near him-though none of the au-
dience noticed her-stood girl, with a
sweet but anxious face She was dressed
as one Of the court ladies, and it might
have been observed that she always stood
as close to old Guy as the business Of the
stage would allow.
Even as he stood bowling, with queer,
almost bewildered look on his face she
was whispering reassuring words.
The moment came for Hamlet to speak,
"A little more than kin and less than
kind"
But the old man seemed to be almost
choked with emotion, and not a syllable
Of his first line could be heard by the au-
dience.
That queer hush passed over the house
which signifies disappointment. What
could 1t meanP The scene went on, but
scarcely word uttered by the central fg-
ure was heard. Theaudience settled down
to deadly silence, straining Its ears pain
fully to hear Guy Ashlyn, who had once
been the best elocutionist of his day.
"Spoak up dearie. don't think they
can quite hear you" whispered his grand
daughter uneasily.
~ am speaking up" he answered pee
vishly. "They can hear me at the back
Of the gallery"
The scene on the battlements with the
ghost was almost painful. Everything
depends on Hamlet. Practically II Is .