The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-06
TOMMY'S DRAMA.

It was the last night of the house
party. Everybody was sitting out
the terrace enjoying the full beauty OF
the glorious Indian summer night. The
full moon rose serenely in the heavens,
and across the fields the mist lay low
on the ground, giving to what in day.
time were common enough Illinois corn
fields all the witchery and charm of a
tropical sea cleaning serene and white
in the moonlight.
Miss Minott had just finished singing
some little love ballad that was apro-
pos OF nothing especially, except moon
and mist and the spirit which must
brood over house parties, else they are
bore and dslusion. She left the
piano and came out on the terrace
W hat a delicious night 1 was miss
Ing by staying in there at the piano."
she said. But why are you all sitting
so silent staring at the moon like a lot
of old owIs?''
AS she stood in the doorway the
moonlight shone full upon her and
brought out all of her exquisite beauty.
she reminded Tommy Trafford of some
leading lady making dramatic en-
trance on the stage from the right up
thought aloud. you've got the center
of the stage and the limelight and ev-
erything,' ne said. Il think your line
Just as you stand now must be, And
tomorrow dear old Jack is going away.
am sorry, so sorry.
Miss Minott laughed. And if I am
leading lady, Tommy" she said, what
are you. the comic Irishman or the trick
Donkey"
THAT is not nice" returned Tommy.
81 was throwing roses at your feet and
you returned me thistles."
"Donkeys like thistles," returned
Miss Minott, and then she hastily add
ed, ''Oh. Tommy, 1 don't want to say
nasty things, but you give me such fine
leads I can't help it"
well, anyhow" said Tommy, some
leading lady that 1 think we ought to
have a play extempore. Come on, this
terrace with moonlight effect will make
a fine scene, and I'll fix up the lines.
The house party received the sugges-
ton with tremendous applause. All ex-
cept Mrs. Latimer. the hostess. She
plucked Tommy's sleeve and, under pre-
tense of collaborating with him on the
play, dragged him back into the draw
ing room.
Tommy" she said tragically. you
are going to spoil everything. Here I've
been scheming for three days to give
Mr.. Boothroyd chance TO make love
TO Julia Minott and you've all oeen
against me. and Julia has acted-well,
just as contrary as a girl can act who
knows a, man is madly in love with her,
and who is in love with him. And here
is the last night of the party, and all
my plans have been in vain Tommy,
had this house party for the one sole
purpose of giving Mr. Boothroyd MS
opportunity, but he's had less chance
than if he'd been in the middle Of the
Sahara Desert and Julia had been on the
moon. You men have haunted Julia,
and Mr.. Boothroyd has been compelled
to be nice to the old married women
It's Just too bad. 1t makes me want to
cry. and he is so nice, and he does love
Julia so much. and he is so terribly
bashful. Oh, it's shame!"
Madam said Tommy, admiringly,
what a born matchmaker you are.
MY fll
way you do of Boothroyd?"
You don't need it. Goodness! 1
think you had proposed to every one CT
the girls before they had been in the
house an hour.
And was refused by every one con-
tinued Tommy. But look here, I've got /
a notion. III fix W the play, SO - that
Julia will be the heroine and BoothYoyd |
the hero, and I'll give them some fine
love lines and get him started, and then
we'll all disappear, and maybe he'll nave
sense enough to go ahead and add few /
original ones to the splendid ones l nave |
given him.
Tommy said Mrs. Latimer, I have
q good notion to kiss you
''NeVer mind that" said Tommy, I'M
s,raciously. Just go out and tell them
what you please, and III pc out III
minute with the play"
Tommy scrubbed busily for ten or
fifteen minutes and then summoned one
of the girls to come in and help him
copy the parts IneH ne dppedlSu III
the terrace
''The company will please assume
listening attitudes while the stage man
ager gives the preliminary lnstruc-
TONS" said Tommy.
He brought out a lamp and placed 1t /
on the table in the center of the YER
anda-
NOW" said Tommy, consulting his
manuscript, this beautiful little So
ciety drama is called For Her Sweet |
Sake !"
rs there a tank or a railroad train
in the drama?" asked Miss Minott. I
love to see the villain throw the hero |
inc in front of the train or into the
river. Only she always gets out"
Tommy scorned the interruption. |
Miss Julia Minott." he said, lis cast
for the title role of Her. otherwise set
down as Imogene de Vancy, coquette. |
Mrs Latimer is the heroine's fond /
mother. Billy is the hero's comic friend
and Miss Motley is the heroine's friend. |
"Mr Boothroyd is Harold Hunting |
ton. loyal and true. Miss Marsden is |
the maid who waves a feather buster |
here yet EnmonS, you're the foot |
man who keeps wondering where mas |
ter is and who kisses the maid now
and then when nobody is looking and |
If she'll let you, and 1 am the villain |
that smokes cigarettes and says, 'Ha, |
ha, proud girl, you shall repent those |
words! Now, here's your cues, and if |
you happen to get in wrong never |
mind Just improViSe a few lines. You /
can get light enough to read your lines /
when your turns come and I'll give you |
your cues Anybody that refuses to |
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