The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1902-09-06
A Green Room Romance.

~ fhitOltD DIAN-
tcopyrisht- 1902. BY Daily Story Pub. co)
When Herbert Hollister wrote the
exceedingly clever interview with the
reigning queen Of the stage. Grace dc
Montfort. the latter did not dream
what a lot Of trouble ii was destined 20
cost her. II was good interview and
pregnant with that subtle quality
known in the newspaper and magazine
world as atmosphere" and II not only
had pleased the n,anager-one David
schlossenberg-but had accorded 50
strongly with the great actresses no
tlon OF the eternal fitness OF things
that she had thanked Herbert warmly
--effusively. indeed-and had admitted
him into the circle Of her close per
sonal friends.
All OF which was very bad for
Bert" as his friends knew him. He
was not keen, experienced and wary
old dramatic critic. but an enthusiastic
and ridiculous young reporter loaded
with much Information regarding "tho
drama" and redolent with much en-
thusiasm and ideality regarding the
stage. Il was a sort OF mistake that
he caught the assignment. but Gregory.
the dramatic critic. was sick and his
understudy. Chester Howard. was away
on his vacation. and the managing edi-
tor. admitting IN a grumbiing fashion
that something must be done for the
dramatic column. "drat g." had felt
around among the stan until he had
found Hollister with some sort OF a
vague reputation for knowledge and
taste ia that direction And Il was
necessary 20 put some one on the de-
partment. for the appearance Of Grace
de Montfort was supposed TO be some
thing OF an event IN the dramatic
world. And so il happened that
Bert got his chance and how well he
did It was attcsted by the furore his
interview created. The managing edi-
tor quite plumed himself upon IL and
admitted that he had discovered
new one Hollister quite overtopped
Howard and for a few weeks filed
even Gregory with anxiety and cha
grin.
He was a high card with the man
hgement at the Academy and all doors
opened before him at will. And he
persistently haunted the dressing
room OF Grace de Montfort At hrat
she invited Il. not only because his
story had pleased her so much. but
also because she liked the handsome
care-free audaclous young journalist.
who paid her such sincere compli-
ments In SO naive a WY and failed al
nj
tributes which she had learned
to expect.
NO. Madam" he remarked gravely.
y cannot. ia honor, say that you are
the most beautiful woman IN the world
lin fact | do not know II you are
beautiful at all But you are more
than beautiful-you are talented and
interesting and attractive A sculptor
can create face and figure endowed
with beauty and symmetry, but mo-
body but the Almighty can endow mat
ter with the charm and grace and in
terest you have" and be bowed low
and kissed her hand with all the de-
ference OF knight Of the Chiyalric
age. And Grace did not quite know
whether to be vexed at him for his
exceeding franl1ness regarding her
personal attraction or 20 thank him
for hts compliment. which. truth to
tell. she did not quite understand.
And so he continued 20 haunt that
mystic region behind the scenes and
particularly Grace de Montfort's dress
ing rooms night after night and 10
pass TO her upon all occasions the