The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-11

it?"
After Carpenter had given his opin-
ion upon this question, Dresser allow
ed him to escape. But he had not ad-
vanced ten yards until he was claimed
by Mrs. Castleman.
MIR. Carpenter" the elderly actress
began, in her usual haughtily dignified
manner, "how do you think ought to
dress this part in the first act? She's
a housekeeper, isn't she? So 1 sup
pose 1 ought to wear an apron"
The young dramatist expressed his
belief that perhaps an apron would be
a proper thing for the housekeeper to
wear in the first act.
But not a cap, 1 hope?" urged Mrs.
Castleman.
Carpenter doubted If cap would be
necessary.
THANK you," said Mrs. Castleman.
you see, have always hitherto been
| associated with the legitimate and 1
really don't quite know what to do
with this sort of thing" Then she
suddenly paused only to break out
again impetuously: "Oh, 1 beg your
pardon, Mr.. Carpenter, really / did not
mean to imply that this charming. play
of yours is not legitimate"
The dramatic author laughed. you
needn't apologize" he declared; I'm
inclined to think that Touch and Co
is 81 illegitimate now that it's own par
ents can't recognize it!"
At last the rehearsal of the second
act began, the two authors sitting at
the little table with the stage mana
ger.
Sherrington consulted them once or
twice in regard to the omission of a
line here and there.
"Cut 1t down to the bone, when you
can-that's what l say" he explained.
what you cut out can't make people
yawn."
But once he stopped the rehearsal to
suggest that a speech be written In.
you've got to make that complication
mighty clear" he declared, land this is
the place to do 1t, think. If you want
them to understand that Dresser here
is going TO mistake Marvin for Fostelle
| in the next scene, you had better give
| him another line now to lead up to It,"
The two authors consulted hastily;
and Carpenter, drawing out a note book
and a pencil hurriedly wrote a SEN
! tencn which he showed to Bracket.
"Thatll do it," said Sherrington and
he read it aloud to Dresser, who bor-
rowed Carpenters pencil and wrote in
the line on the manuscript of his part,
wondering aloud whether he should
ever remember 1t on the first might
A few minutes later Sherrington
again interrupted the actors to insist
that the sunset effect should be ad-
! justed carefully to accompany the
spoken dialogue.
! II want a soft rosy tinge on Fostelle
in this scene," he explained.
| quite right" laughed the black
! eyed star; that ought to be becoming
to my style of beauty"
| And 1 want 1t to contrast with the
blre moonlight in the scene with Mar
vim" said the stage manager.
| quite right again." Miss Daisy Fos-
| telle commented, "Ill take the center
of the stage and you will order calci-
ums for One!"
1--WE had better go back to your
entrance, I think" Sherrington decid-
| ed, land take the whole scene over"
The actors and actresses obediently
resumed the positions they had occu-
| pied when Miss Daisy Fcsteile made
her first appearance in that act. The
cue for her entrance was given and she
came forward with a burst of artificial
| laughter
THAT laugh was very good" Sher-
rington declared, better than it was
last time, but you must make it as hol-
| low ao you can. Remember the situa-
ton; your best young man has gone
| back on you and you are trying tc keep
a stiff upper lip-but your heart is
| breaking all the same see?"
The star repeated the laugh and it
was more obviously artificial
That's it, my dear" said the stage
manager. Now keep it up till you
cross, and then drop into that chair
there. and then you let the laugh die
away into a sob."
The star went back to the rustic gate
by which she had entered, laughed
again and came forward; then she
crossed the stage, sank upon a seat
and choked with a sob.
Carpenter stepped forward and
whispered into Sherrington's ear,
whereupoTi Miss Fostelle sat upright
instantly and very suspiciously asked;
whats that? I'd rather have you say
it out loud than whisper it,"
The young dramatist explained at
once.
II was only suggesting to Sherring-
ton that perhaps II would be better II
that seat We're turned little so that
you were not so sideways-then the
audience would get full view Of your
face here"
1T would be pity to deprive them
OF that, I'll admit" said the Modified
actress, as she and the stage man,
ager slightly turned the rustic chair.
|, Then she dropped into the seat anC
repeated her sob.
Miss Marvin stepped upon the stage
and remarked to space: What a love
ly evening, and how glorious the sun,
set!" Then she stood silently watching
. Miss Daisy Fostelle sobbed again
and in tones heavy-laden with tears
she said: What have l to live fol
now?" Looking back at the other ac
tress she remarked in her ordinary
voice: You will give me time TO picl
myself up here, won't you?" Then sh,
went on in the former tear-stained ac
cents: What have l left to live fol
now2 My heart is broken! My hear
is broken" Again she resumed her ev
eryday tones to ask the stage man,
ager: rs that all right? Ans l IA
enough around now?"
Thus they came to perhaps the mos
important scene OF the play-that be
tween the Stellar Attraction Gas Breck
ett liked to call herr and the girl Car
penter was in love with. Botn actresse
were well fitted to the characters the,
had to perform. Carpenter, who ha,
no liking for Daisy Fostelle was a lit
tie surprised at the judgment and skill
with which she carried off the bravur,
passages OF her part; and he was no
q little charmed with the delicate fore