The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-02
! Copyright. 1902. by W. R. Hearst.)

play. The stage Of the New Orleans
Grand opera house was in its custom
airy state of transition. preliminary to
.he final rise of h curtain.
"Clear the stage for the last act!
Last act! Last act!
The subdued voice ran clear through
the din. At the sound Of the call the
noise and confusion died down and
Where is Miss wentworth" the
stage manager muttered, with gritted
teeth.
The great actress smiled at him from
behind. palm as he passed.
Here l am, Mr.. Clark" she called.
! taking her hand from her companions
arm, but I am not quite ready"
mot ready!" the stage manager re-
peated.
Her companion led her toward the
: stage.
found me difficult at times?"
'.That was before I ave you that
rose"
aAnd since then?'' she asked. 81 have
said nothing to you since"
mo; but / have seen your eyes!
Your eyes! Not the eyes Of Felicia
Oakland as you look whe.1 you thank
Wilbur Crawford for the rose he gives
you in this act, but your own eyes
your very own!"
..Don't co. she said, as she seated
herself in a chair on the waiting stage.
Tell me first a word or two about my
new play-.Her Last Appearance How
does it progress?"
IT must go. Notice the expression
on Clark's face"
Mr.. Clark she called, tell the or
chestra to play something else. I am
not yet ready"
Now. then she resumed. ''tell me
-,.s i. u 49, EtEyENH
"How could it but progress well, with
you for my inspirations"
Am I? You Creoles are co untrust-
worthyi"
"You are wrong. 1t does progress
well. and simply for the reason I tell
you. It is finished except for the de-
movement in the last act"
He looked away for a moment.
you know" he went on, wi agreed
to let my heroine, after all her-ah
trials and tribulations.' marry her
manager-the mar who had loved her
so long and had been of SO much SER
vice to her"
Yes"
but I am thinking of changing it.
Among the characters there is a man
who suddenly awakens to the fact
in the last act, that he, too, is
in love with the heroine. 1 don't know
about her. I have not gone that far
yet. These things write themselves, at
times. They simply develop, logically
n inevitably"
Yes; but which character could you
elaborate sufficiently to make his mar
riage with the heroine a convincing eli
mako"
Zone that you have lost sight OF. 1t
seems to me he has SO much to offer
her. She has reputation-she doesn't
want money. She want only to be
E10VnH VIM I'm INV rnfe0r the e.n ~
der calciums and amid scenry, without
make-believe, for herself alone. You
know we discussed allowing her to
yield to the wooing of her manager
the man who has looked forward for SO
long to marriage to her at first, and I
have even gone so far as to write some
of the dialogue of the last act, bringing
this about. I had almost arranged for
her to marry her manager and leave the
stage. In the play as it now Is she
makes a last appearance as soon as her
new play is successfully produced, and
then the daily papers print the news
the next morning that 1t had been a
real farewell appearance, that she real
~ had married her 1t was
the last advertising she was ever to
have. You know at your request I have
always tried to make her an actress in,
every way n give her all the traits Of
one. She was to retire with eclat'-
that was the phrase. But. now, the
new position Of this other character on
rather spoiled the sureness Of my
hand. These things do seem to write
themselves or they attempt 1t at all
events"
Who Is the other character?"
I'll tell you when o come off to
dress for this scene. Here's you man
ager now"
"Mr. Bushnell" he continued to the
new conner, I'VE were just speaking Of
the last act Of the new play. Dc you
think
"Iu tell you what I think" Bush
nell interrupted. II think Miss Went
worth ought to let this curtain go up.
We're seven minutes late with it, Mr..
Clark tells me-"
Seven minutes is a very short time
sometimes" L~ongchamps replied, as
they passed through the wings. ut is
& short time when I'm settling the ne
aouement of my new play. for one
thing
ITS a hi Of a long time when I'm
waiting for the denouement Of my old
uae!!' his companion replied.
Well Longchamps said, II was
tIlling Miss Wentworth I think the
heroine ought not to marry her man
ager. as the denouement, after all"
by heaven!" Bushnell cried. 'tf she
u0eS not 1 Will not prOduce IT.!
did it ever occur to you that I might
produce this play myself? That is,
Miss Wentworth and I together?'
You produce it. You! Apenniless
newspaper man, specially engaged here
in New Orleans TO a a play to-
Sether! She! She produce it! A great
actress, truly, but equally penniless!
Why, YOU haven't a thousand dollars
between you'll" Bushnell laughed.
1T wont take much money" Lang
champs said, imperturbably. mot for
the start. anyhow. And l have a little
place up here in Louisiana, o know.
where 1t could be rehearsed and made
perfect. No long, expensive New York
preliminaries! No long
What do you mean? It'll take
more
He was interrupted by the e
ance of Miss Wentworth. as she came
al to dress for the last scene
Valerie! r. Bushnell began.
Longchamps found her eyes with his
own.
Excuse me, Mr.. Bushnell" she said
40 cn.,- ,,a r,ola III ssr1i %nI1.As- 49,. =