Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-06-11
RIVALS.

( house. Every one WAS settled comfort
( ably or uncomfortabIy as the case might
( be, according to the locale and the price
paid. bu. nevertheless every one was
there, for it was very important first
night indeed
Behind" the call boy was tearing his
1 hair.
There was no need, for each individual
member of the company was quite as sea-
/ sble of the gravity Of the situation rs
( he, quite as conscious of his or her par
( ticular Importance upon this particular
horizon, but it was the proper thing to do.
/ and he did it.
Men and women, clammy handed with
nervousness. stood about at the entrance
waiting for their cues.
Meanwhile. i'll her little dressing room
close to the Side, the leading lady was
standing before long glass. She rubbed
a powder puff over her face while the
dresser arranged the lace on her bodice.
She was an exquisite picture--a modern
to the finger tipS-a tall. slim woman
with haunting eyes. The puff seemed to
/ caress her soft white throat as if it
loved it,
There WAS a light knock on the door
I The dresser looked up into her mistress
face and the mistress looked into the
tIesscr's face, while the red blood mount
ed. showing pink under the makeup.
The dresser opened the door softly and
went out.
Have You come to wish me luck 2"
asked the beautiful woman. turning from
her reflection to look into Il mans gray
eyes.
Yes, and my luck is your luck,
laura
And mine yours, She answered, smil-
ing.
Boil! her hands were in his, and they
trembled.
You are neryous?'
Terribly. IL | should fail and spoil
your playE'
1T rs that very nervousness, love, that
tells me YOU will not" he answered
bending to kiss her hair.
lie would have taken her in his arms,
but she gave a little cry.
Are you mad, George? Look at me-"
And he did look, and his eyes were full
of love.
You ought to be in front. you know.
Why, you're missing it all-thc first night
of your own play. Do you realize the
gravity of it?'
1T doesn't begia until you come on"
he answered: You are the play and the
play is you"
Then good luck to us both" she said
earnestly.
\ knock at the door.
The call boy stood With staring eyes
and hair on end.
Not waltz gasped Laura.
NO, miss, not quite replied the boy
The dresser was on his heels She lift
Ell her mistress train from the ground
and followed her out into the wings.
The house was very quiet.
:, 1T IS gong very wen, she thought.
lier lips moved softly in a little prayer.
she was unknown No one had heard
whether she was clever or not. There
mad been no previous paragraphs TO raise
the falntest expectation. There was no
vulgar big lettering of her name Tic
house was there to see the play. for
George Templeton was looked upon as
the coming dramatiSt. There was
vague interest among a few of the faded
critics as to who Laura Hebden might
be.
New blood. of course" said ono.
Always acceptable" murmurcd an
other.
we shall Sec" said third.
Seems To me someone told me Temple.
tons engaged to her" exclaimed n
fourth, Sotto vOce.
Lord help usr' whispered another.
What q risk, She'll probably damn
No one knew that but for her the play
would mover have been written; that the
pnN with eyes rivcted upon the door
whore she would enter owed inspiration.
everything that was best i'll him. To the
touch of her soft fingers and the light of
her dark eyes.
When she entered there YVES no ap-
plauSe, no sound of greeting.
She glided slowly and noiselcSsly on to
the stage, and the house looked in won
der ut her beauty, but expressed itself in
silence
Laura had caught the glow in her
lovers eyes; she needed no more than
that
The act was nearly over when she APP
Feared.
At the lowering of the curtain some
applause ana hubhub of voices. Peo-
PIE leaned over one another's stall.
Critics knotted themselves in groups to
ascertain one anOther'S feelings. Tho
impression left by the first act was de-
cidedly questionable
We'll, what dyou think of her?'' asked
one.
"Early days" answered the other.
Nv hat Il voice!'
GRACEFUL"
HIM"
Watt suggested cynic
People hustled To their pla -es and once
more the house was still.
about halt w2' through the act some
one conaned Several angry faces were
turned toward the offender suggestive of
eNtermination. The crime was not re-
peated
Al the end of the act the curtain had
To bc raised Il dozen times. The excite
ment IN the house was tremendous.
George Tcmpleton walked ON air 10
the door OF Laura'S dressing room. On
being admitted he found her with face
flushed and shining eyes.
You are magnificent he cried.
oh, no. She said softly, lit is YOU
who are magnificent. only echo you.
And what an echo
She hau been perfectly sincere. but it
/ hurI her. even then, that he did not con-
tradtct her.
'Nou must e" she said quickly. you
/ know | have a tremendous change here
ana there's not much time. You may
! kiss me.
/ The third act was the great act of the
play, and Lauras almost entirely. She
+ wore long, sweeping dress, having in
/ II the dull. changing lights of absinthe.
/ 1t was a quiet. terrible scene. There was
/ no tearing passion to tatteyS. 1t was
/ PLAYED almost as though in whisper