Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-12-18
NOT in THE
INTERVIEW
The Story OF an Actor,
= Journalist aud . WIZ.


0~Tc~~2s><e- :'>>:s:>%:se
Miss Broughton waited. Throupb
the stage door, opening and shut
ting every other minute, could he
heard the swish and patter of heavy
ram on the pavement outside and
cold little gusts of wind swept in
Miss Broughton read all the brief
notices pinned on the call board.
and, with the impatient WEAKNESS
OF one who Is accustomed to wait
the convenience of other people. she
leaned against the wall in apparent
indifference to the passing of time.
In spite of all her self assurance
Alice Broughton had earned her
own living for ten years, and five of
those as Journalist-she trembled
at the thought Of a short interview
with Lawrence Bright. What would
ne say? Would the time and the
place drift away from him. as it did
even now from her?
She heard the orchestra burst in
TO triumphal march. the play
was over, and in a few seconds the
inner door was opened and Young
cavalier, with his great plumed hat
dangling from his hand. looked out.
There was no flash of recognition
as Miss Broughton stepped toward
hun. lie was frankly aDolOoetic
and unconscious.
so sorry to keep YOU waiting till
the end of the matinee" Lawrence
began, "and even now | hardly
know where TO ask you-it was
awfully good of YOU to come, Miss
Broughton-you'll find me a very
poor subject. Where could we
talk?"
Lawrence turned his eyes search
ingly for the first time on the face
of the lady journalist.
is it possible. Alice? What does
II all mean? Why didn't YOU send
IN your name? Come, you're not
a real live interviewer, are YOU?
As for my name. Lal." she an
swered, don't YOU remember that I
told YOU when we first met that Sill
yerthorpe' was only assumed"
Then you've quite given up the
STAGE"
No; it gave me up several years
ago."
"What about dreams of fame.
courage, endurance? Have You for
gotten how YOU used to lecture me
in New York? I'm disappointed!
Alice. will YOU wait ten minutes
while | change? l won't be a see
ond longer
With a boyish laugh and back
ward look of mingled tenderness
and mockery he sped away. and
Alice Broughton pushed the stage
door open and looked out into the
drearv street The sound of his
voice, the expression of his face
SC gloomy and hopeless when she
saw il last-filled her with jov. All
the events of seven years swiftly
fitted through her mind. Alice
had been a girl Of twenty-three at
the time when she met Lawrence
Bright in New York. She was
playing n small part in an English
company, and he was stranded"
Lonely and alone in a great city
Lawrence was drifting rapidly down
the stream when the determined
girl had saved him with friend
ship most unusual and magnani-
nous. Without beauty or any
charm she had won the entire con-
fidence of young, moody, impress
sionable man.
Returning Lawrence asked her to
dine with him and called a cab.
81 can't take YOU to my place."
he said. I've only Just moved into
a new fiat, and this afternoon is
such Il chapter ont of my past life
that | can't bear to share tor
you-with anybody elsew
Dear Lal, you must tell me
everything for the interview in our
last five minutes. When did the
great opportunity come? | knew
you would be ready at the right
minute! Do you remember when |
first told you so ?"
eyes. was in despair, and YOU
you were in blue muslin. Have
you given up blue muslin? I've
given up despair
The foolish words Jared on
Alice, but she instinctively adapted
herself to his present mood. They
talked about New York, the the
aters, the actors, the streets, till the
lights of the Strand seemed as
bright as the glitter of Broadway,
and the Thames was spanned IN
their imagination by the chain Vt