The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-13
SELECTED STORY,
One Night Only.

Gentlemen, am at loss for words.
In saying you have done me too much
honor tonight / mean we are apt to
forget that the opportunity to take his
tide at the food does not come to every
struggler. Now, mine-tbe speakers
voice had halted curiously for mo-
meut-well, it spells an actors story
that is perhaps without parallel. There
never, never should forget it-that
day, / mean, when as few of us were
waiting listlessly for instructions at the
new suburban theater our brusque old
manager painted in with face as white
as it was worried. And it was to me
he beckoned.
Quick This way, Strangl' And
went after him into one OF the dress
ing rooms. "Here's gol" he blazed
out l see his arms waving now.
"Here's the place alive with posters
and expectation, the curtain bound to
go up in five hours to packed house,
and no one in the wide world to play
Karl Angel. No onel The opening
night 1t means ruin in suburb like
this" Up and down he went striding,
while 1 gasped, for Karl Angel, as you
know, was the pick of the parts in
"The Unknown Knight" Every one
dying to hear Norman Caffyn, and here
comes note to say he can't possibly
take it to-night-had an upset or some
fine thing. l wire off to Wentworth,
the man understanding him all along,
and back comes the COMPOUNDED reply
that he's left home for nobody knows
where. Strangep He stopped and
faced me. YOU'RE not the pushing
man thought"
"I'll play it," l said The room had
seemed to whirl round, but l believe l
snapped my teeth on the words. AT
last, yes, but a mans heart may sink
verv low while he waits on chance.
He knew we'll enough l hao studied the
role from the very first, but he had al
ways given this Wentworth the prefer
ence and poohpoohed my every desper-
ate attempt to rise superior to those
deadening minor parts.
"You will You mustl There's no
one else to take it. There, do your
level best, and l shan't forget it; Meth
er will the public. Hang it, though, it
means half empty house tonight any
way, with Caffyn out of the cast. l
suppose Pm bound to stick up no.
tice. And what about the things-the
helmet, mail shirt and all? Annoying
] must send-no, 60 yourself for them.
You can compare notes. Here's his
address-the Strand Hotel. Hurry off.
You're quite sure of yourself, Strange"
he fumed nervously, and | spun round
holly. A thought had flashed through
me. Blake's estimation Of a mans
powers was VIGOROUSLY worth having
in those days.
"Am l? Well, go sure, Mr.. Blake"
l said, closing the door, "that if Mr..
Caffyn himself only consented no one
but our three selves need know there
had been any change for the one night.
Certainly / mean it. If that can alter
your fixed opinion of me, I'll play Nor
man Caffyn and Carl Angel, too, so
that you or any one else will never see
a difference. l could be ill-any one
could take my part--and you can have
your full house and advertisement Is
that agreed?"
Nonsense; you couldn't Never
heard of such a thing" he whispered,
staring at me. Perhaps there was
something in my determined front that
day that impressed him. "You would?
Well, if you think he-.it's the opening
night, too-there, won't say either
way. You must see Caffyn. I'll give
ycu two hours. The ideal"
Yes, the queer, daring ideal That
was at three o'clock. An hour later,
with the chance of my lifetime thrust
into my hands, had reached the city
and was in train on my way to Peck
ham. Short as was the time and thrill
ing the occasion, meant to call home
first and tell my young wife what a
wonderful thing had happened. She,
who had so often cheered me on, and
frightened hours as dark for her as
me, she should know, and be at the
theater that night to see my first real
bid for success! Never nervous, / could
do it, / knew-but to come on as Caffyn
himself, and play Karl Angel as he
alone was supposed to be able to play
it'll In our height, size and pitch of
voice, there was not deal of differ
ence-that was why it had occurred to
me to study his part at the outset. But
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