The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-12
AN IDEAL COLLABORATION.

stage, ana the women decided that, after
an, the color Of the authoress' hair was
much more nearly auburn than red
The fourth act was a good deal bet
ter than the average fourth act put II
| In that way because I don't wish 10 ap-
pear fulsOme, but, as a matter Of fact,
/ it was about as good in its way as the
majority Of fourth acts are bad When
| the nnal curtain fell the house became
/ highly excited, and il is pleasant 10 be
! able to state that, despite the fact that
they had paid for their seats, the gentle
men IN the gallery behaved themselves
Z quite nicely. The engaged couples from
the suburbs and stage-strieken govern
esses in the upper circle would rather
have died than move from their places
| without having seen the authors Of the
play; the true supporters OF the drama
IN the pit congratulated each other on
a highly profitable evening.
IL was rather a nervous business for
/ them, getting into that --ansom, but
dignity, and the crowd had the salts
faction Of hearing the auth Z give the
cabrnan an address in the direction Of
/ West KensingtOn.
It's really awfully good Of you" said
! the authoresS, as soon as they had turn
/ ed the first corner, Ito see me such a
long way homei Are you sure you dOnt
"Of course not, dear!" said the author.
Feel tired?'
Yes, I do now. But wasn't it splendid,
the way our big scene caught on?'
"Rippingl Fairly knocked EN-. But ]
always knew it would The difficulty
was to make any manager believe it"
! ''Oh, they're so stupidi-alI the ones
who refused. I mean. I should think
! they'll be rather sorry now
You betl I had three offers for our
next piece before / left the theater.''
And 1 had two. That makes five alto
! gether. We shall have a monopoly OF the
/ comedy business" and the clever little
woman leaned back in the corner Of the
cab and laughed happily.
/ We'll" said the man. now II has
come, kiddy. Wen make EN- pay, en-. I
/ feel that I've got lot to get back on
/ this sordid old city
| Never mind" she said, gripping hts
! hand; you've got your reward at last.
/ old boy. You can have everything you
want now"
"Er-yes," ne replied, glancing at her
/ for moment, and then staring straight
in front OF him over the horses head.
| There was a pause. until May 1 light
/ a cigarette?" he asked rather nervousIy.
"Of courset"
won't it-?" He indicated her "trip
perry by a sweep Of the hand.
Not a bit And, besides. II wouldn't
matter now, woul- it? DO you know,
Dickie"-she leaned forward and slipped
her arm into his-"things seem unreal to-
night, unsubstantiaL Nothing seems quite
the same as il did yesteTday-except-
"Yes2"
Il was going TO say. except you, but
even you don't seem quite the same to-
/ night. I didn't think / was 50 readily
thrown of my balance
tsTarJ,a - 1,o cad 81 HE ~.
garette ash so clumsily that he burn his
| finger. perhaps 1 am not the same
What do you mean2' There was the
slightest trace Of suspicion in her tone
Il suppose you are"
There was another pause.
Aren't you, dear -
The girls tones were very tender, and
he felt her fingers tighten a little on his
YES he said. suddenly, u am the
same as yesterday, but 1 was different
then"
1T sounds like puzzle" she said. lay
ing her cheek against his sleeve. Don't
let's worry any more about it."
But, We must worry. At least I must
explain. live not been quite fair to
you"
How DO you mean. dear? I'm sure you
have"
NO. haven't. It's all through that
rotten play"
Don't say that. It's a good play
Yes. know. But it's muddled things
up frightfully. Do you remember the
little tiff we had after one of the re-
hearsals2'
DO you mean about-about Mr.. Tur-
ner?"
mo. mol ought never to have said
anything about that. O. course, you had
to be polite to a man playing such ar i'm
portant part"
yes, butt did flirt with him-a little"
"Oh. that's nothingl 1 mean about
about Miss Sewell.'
MY dear boy. we've finished with mat
long ago.
We'll thought we had, too; but"
Haven't we2"
I'm afraI4 not-quite. The fact is
con, Dickie, dear. don't let's have any
confessions tonight were both rather
tired. Do you think u wiser
I'D rather tell you tinight, If I may.
The fact is. I-weil, I've fiirted with her
more than you think"
AFTER our tiff
Yes"
THAT wasn't quite nice of you. Diclzie.
was it?"
NO. know that But-that's not all.
4 can help it. 1 want to tell you and
get it over"
But suppose It doesn't get it over?"
That's just il. I'm afraid IL won't"
1nere was yet another pause. Z his time.
IN his agitation, he lit a cigarette with
out asking permission.
You know" she said al last. you're
quite spelling my evening. Men are so
tactlessr
"Beastly Sorry he replied. stubbornly.
But / hate putting things OF.
II know you do. And you're awfuIiy
obstinate. I found that out when we
were working Do you remember-'
What wanted to say was, that"
Thank goOdnessi here we are al last"
The cab pulled up In front OF some rath-
ct new looking mansions. The author
opened the doors, helped her out. and
paid the cabby.
Aren't you going back to the Temple
with hin?'' asked the authoress.
mo, I'll get another want 20 speak
60 you first"
The man drove away and they began 10
climb the stairs slowly"
I'm afraid Z can't asre you In. said
the lady Mothers away
She paused en- the landing below her
own and he'd CIT her hand.
But / thought I saw her n the the
ater~ be said. surprised.
@Oh yes" she replied slightly con
fused Very likely you did. Bur she's
staying With some friends IN another
part of town What was IL you wanted
90 tell me7"
7 wanted TO tell you that-that I care
for Miss Sewen more than you think"
oh Dickie.'
There vas 2 world Of reproach n Ter
voice. and ~ looked up at him with
wide. iuquirine eyes.
That isn't al. he vent on. looking
ort % the staircase window into the
dark street. III proposed 70 her to-
u Eht after the t1-rd act"
''Weu7
The question came Sharply through her
set teeth