St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-11-15
! MARGTS Play
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY MARY SANDERS.
M ARGARET HALSTON slowly tie
Ul the bulky roll of manuscript wit
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Wl the bulky roll of manuscript with
q piece of bright blue ribbon and fell
to contemplating it with shining
eyes. It 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
1.-TWO Roses" played in aid of some
forgotten charity, she had conceived
the idea of writing 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 its pro-
duction.
She must have the opinion of some
competent person upon it before
venturing to approach 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," we'll
known weekly, a judge of the play,
and would know good work from bad.
She would forthwith get his opinion
on "An 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 tall,
thin, fair-haired man, with some
thing more than the average looks
that fall to man, and sunny smile
that won him many friends among
both sexes.
"How delightful to find you alone, "
he said, accepting cup of tea from
her hands.
.sDon't you like my friends?" in
CURED Margaret.
.Not when they monopolize you.
Last time I called I got nothing out
! Of YOU except How do you do?' and
few similar interesting remarks
when 1 said good-by."
.That is ungrateful of you. in
troduced you to nice girl"
"Yes. / remember. I forgot he1
name. but she was delightfully."- vol
uble. I could silently sit and see
Won out of the corner of one eye
hut I prefer to-day, for 1 can look at
YOU with two, and hear you talk az
we'll"
81 will make q 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 I want to ask favor OF
. .I'm delighted to hear my friend
shin is to be put to the test"
"It's a secret. You can keep Sc
cret?' -..
ats one of my many virtues"
"I'ye written play, modern com
-dv. I'm ambitious to get it pro
duced at a good theater. want yor
n read it and give me your opin
ION of it, and tell me which manager
e. ,,,,s+ 1;lelv to consider it favor
ably."
Herbert was taken aback and Sc
cretlv annoyed. He had not ex
.eoted such a test of friendship, ant
i was only with an effort he made
the desired answer that he would b
only too happy to read Miss Halls
toms play and assist her to the bes
Of my ability.
ats seldom a girl takes to play
xvr;ting." he said. ''Had it been move
would not have been surprised
but a play-why, it's ten times NOR
d;ficult to write. What induced yo'
+ to attempt such task? 1t wants teca
nical skill, and intimate knowledge
If staeecraft, in most cases acquires
bv serving an apprenticeship on tn
boards"
"I,m not SO unqualified for pla.
writing as you think, though | know
its presumptuous OF me to think m.
NAV good enough for a theater,
laughed Margaret. 1--WE acted
rood deal in amateur theatricals, ant