The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-08-09
A CHANGE OF HEART.

/ want to lose the result of two
months constant study and rehear-
sal?" Cyril Lawnsdale stood in the
back of the dim. deserted stage and
mopped his glowing forehead. 1--WE
a great mind to throw over the whole
thing"
You can't do that, Mr.. Lawnsdale.
You know your contract is to play this
piece all summer" Mr.. Marsh, the
stage manager, looked annoyed and
worried.
Eyes, but I never expected to play it
with a stage-struck baby, a girl scarce
~ out of the schoolroom! 1t is out
Tageous to even imagine that she could
take Miss Northrup's place."
"She got through the rehearsal fair
1y well, and she's pretty"
Mr.. Marsh tried to speak soothingly,
but Mr.. Lawnsdale only groaned in re-
ply.
ut is too late now to make another
change, and, anyway, 1 guess it will
run smooth all right" Marsh con-
tfnued.
Smooth; why, man, that-scene with
Adele in the vestry room, where she
comes to tell me of her doubts and
fears, is the keynote of the whole play.
One stumble there will ruin every
thing. Why On earth does Miss North
rup choose a first night to be sick and
leave us in the lurch?"
Heaven only knows, my boy. |
have been a stage manager for twenty
years, and the ways of a leading lady
are still beyond my comprehension"
Cyril turned away; he saw that it
was useless to say anything more. He
left the theater and started to walk
off, if possible, his nervous dread of
the evenings performance. He had
hoped so much from this play. The
part of the serious, deep thinking but
thoroughly modern young clergyman
was just the thing to bring out his
talents. And now his chances of sue
cess had flown, for he felt sure that
Miss Leigh would not be equal to
her difficult part, which would require
all the art of a finished actress.
When the curtain went down after
the first act that night Marsh eagerly
sought Cyril, who was in his dressing
room rapidly making his change of
costume.
The house certainly seems pleased.
1t wasn't so bad after all, was it?"
A little shaky, I should say, but
wait until the next act. there's the rub.
IF uo DOT tbrouob without n DOWNRIGHT
failure l will be thankful" Cyril said.
Hang it, man, you're too pessimistic
for any use" Marsh left the room,
and Cyril gave a long, low whistle.
That man is enough to drive me out
of the profession" he remarked to
himself, "as if l weren't sufficiently
nervous already without his vista
ton" The electric call bell rang and
Cyril went to the stage in a thoroughly
irritable state of mind.
The first few lines went off quite
smoothly, and then the scene ap-
preached that Cyril had all the time
been dreading. Miss Leigh, as-Adele,
throws off her usual gay society man
ner and lays almost bare a heart sore
ly perplexed, and whose secret, her
love for him, the young celibate cler-
gyman, he easily surmises.
The moment came for Cyril to speak. |
He leaned forward ready to begin, he
took her hand, but the familiar, Oft
practiced words refused to come. He
made a mighty effort to recall them, |
but his mind was almost a blank. He
gave Miss Leigh an agonized look, and,
turning her face away from the audi
ence, as if part of the business" she
murmured the first few words of his
lines and he was able to go on. The /!
curtain went down in the midst of a
storm of applause, which continued
until Mr.. Lawnsdale and Miss Leigh
appeared before the curtain. The lit
tie girlish actress had won the hearts
of the great audience.
you shall play the part all sum-
mer," whispered Mr.. Marsh as she
running off. full of happy excite
ment.
This success is entirely owing 70
Miss Leigh" said Cyril. "You
must allow me to thank you most sin
cerely."
you have nothing to thank me for.
1t was to my advantage to have the
go off smoothly"
Il may at least apologize for my
stupidity in forgetting my lines"
1T is not necessary. l quite under
stood your nervousness" Margaret
Leigh swept away, leaving him won
what she meant. What a
naughty little thing" he said to him