Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-10-02
MARGY'S PLAY
BY MARY SANDERS.


Nl the bulky roll of manuscript with
a piece of bright blue ribbon and fell
to contemplating it with shining
eyes. 1t was finished. The last
touches and alterations had been put
to can Impentinent Woman" an
original comedy, by Margaret Halls
ton; so ran the title page, and the
authoress of that work drew a deep
breath, half of satisfaction, half of
regret, that the task which had so
long occupied her leisure was ended.
Ever since the day, three years
before, when, flushed with the ap-
plause she had won by her inter-
probation of Lofty, the heroine in
''Two Roses" played in aid of some
forgotten charity, she had conceived
the idea of writing a play herself,
the scheme of it had been part and
parcel of her life. 1t had slowly
evolved, a secret intrusted to none,
not even her father; how often she
had written and rewritten; now it
was completed, and she had to con-
slider the next step towards it's pro-
duction.
She must have the opinion of some
competent person upon it before
venturing to approach a manager;
who that some one was she had al
ready decided. Though it was only
about six months since she had been
introduced to Herbert Rising, they
were good friends, and Herbert OBJ
viously admired her greatly. He was
dramatic critic of the Drum a we'll
known weekly, a judge of the play,
and would know good work from bad.
She would forthwith get his opinion
on IAN Impentinent. Woman" BY
good luck that day was Thursday,
the day he usually called. Margaret
put away the manuscript, devoted
some necessary minutes to adorn-
ment and went downstairs.
The afternoon was rainy, and Mr..
Rising the only caller. He was a tall,
thin, fair-haired man, with some
thing more than the average looks
that fall to man, and a sunny smile
that won him many friends among
both X
"How delightful to find you alone,'
he said, accepting a cup of tea from
her hands.
Don't you like my friends?" in
quired Margaret.
Not when they ~monopolize you.
Last time l called I got nothing out
Of you except How do you do?' and
a few similar interesting remarks
when I said good-by."
"That is ungrateful of you. I in
troduced you to a nice girl"
Eyes, l remember. | forgot her
name, but she was delightfully."- vol.
uble. l could silently sit and see
you out of the corner of one eye,
but / prefer to-day, for l can look at
you with two, and hear you talk as
we'll"
II will make a note in my diary:
N. B.-Mr. Rising likes talkative wo,
men. But I'm glad to have a tete-
a-tete with you to-day, for the selfish
reason 1 want to ask a favor OF
you"
Pm delighted to hear my friend
ship is to be put to the test"
ITS a secret. You can keep a sc.
cret?"
~It's one of my many virtues"
"I've written a play, a modern com
edy. Pm ambitious to get it pro-
duced at a good theater. 1 want you
to read it and give mt your opin'
ion of it, and tell me which manager
is most likely to consider it favor
ably"
Herbert was taken aback and Sc
cretly annoyed. He had not ex
pected such a test of friendship, ant
it was only with an effort he made
the desired answer that he would BIZ
only too happy to read Miss Halls
toms play and assist her to the best
of my ability.
"It's seldom a girl takes to play
writing" he said. Had 1t been a move
1 would not have been surprised
but a %play-why, it's ten times MORE
difficult to write. What induced 20,
to attempt such a task? 1T wants tech
meal skill, and intimate knowledge
of ~stagecraft, in most cases acquired
by serving an apprenticeship on tn
boards"
I'm not SO unqualified for pla.
writing as you think, though I know
it's presumptuous of me to think m.
play good enough for a theater,
laughed Margaret. tive acted
good deal in amateur theatricals, an
read scores of plays, nearly all tn,