The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-06-05
WANTED-A
W REHEARSAL

tsldSDeu III tie neTO > dTU1S, lDe NiildIA,
eanquisheh. but defiant. glaring at
them from the papier mache arbor.
and the pair of secondary lovers in
dulging in expressive pantomime on a
balcony ;1:a: threatened mouneutarily
10 collapse.
True owe had run its uneven course
for an hour and three-quarters. and
after surviving u series of idiotic mis-
haps. absurd doubt and all the other
obstacles ain enthusiastic amateur play
wright could put in its path it had
emerged ~unscathed and triumphant
The orchestra was playing the latest
popular march as "A sort of recessional
for the admiring relatives and friends
Lady G:ltacre. still in costume. sank
wearily into n rickety wooden chair i'll
one of the little anterooIns near the
stage. Sir, Charles Windon climbed II
pile of properties used in act l and.
perclled there p~recariously. rested his
hin on his upturned palms and ur-
yeyel the lady tlloughtfully-
Il suppose | should apologize" he
began tentatively. Still | would Xix"
to say Il woe in self defense May II"
Go on" said Lady Gatacre coldly.
We'll, thought the scene demanded
1t. 1t seemed to make 1t more real. In
everyday life the man would have done
II"
"Weils" She said In che llenge as he
paused
"And-and 50 did" he said lameIy. i.
"And that Is your eXcuseT' she ask
ed. with considerable aSperity.
"If I need one. yes" said he.
Lady Gatacre regarded him Jelly. Her
,0-x, --.- ntarataI tha. frnrfinn of nm
inch.
Il suppose you realize fully the en-
6arrassing position you placed me imp
she said.
Believe me. I didn't intend to-" ne
demonstrated.
"Of course you heard that very au-
dible litter III the audience" she went
On.
ct was none of their business" be
complained.
If" she said quickly. you hadn't
made it so apparent: if you hadn't
paused. debated as it were. it wouldn't
hav been quite so conspicuous. But
when you stopped and looked about
and tlle-and then
kissed you" he supplied. almost tr!
'imphantly.
"Oh. it was too CHASTITY evident that
t was III -omptu." she finished.
81 was perfectly willing to rehearSe
shat piece o; business" he suggested.
1t was uufair of you" she said bot
~. I'VE agreed to leave it out that It
vas ridiculous and unnecessary"
'':It became quite necessary when you
appeared u tLlit gown. I'm only hu-
man. you KNOW"
You are quite inhuman sometimes"
she observed
y Il couldn help it." he said with
ab;ect humility.
Your only excuse seems to be a re-
iteraled plea of responsibility said
she
Sir Charles scratched his head and
smiled hopefully.
Il an an irresponsible party. that's
a fact" said he. Look Eere. If 1 say
I'm sorry. do you forgive meE"
Sorry for what? For-for"-
"For putting you in an embarrassing
position: fc' the other. never"
Lady Ga,acre frowned and flushed.
you'll have to be sorry for both be
fore you're forgiven" she said.
'Then l STALL die u~nabsolved." he de
Jared with tinality.
1t seems to me you're making a bad
matter worse" said she.
We'll. turn about is fair play" he
replied. THAT is just what you're
been doing the past three weeks"
Il fear | don't follow you" said
Lady Gatacre.
When We started ~rehearsing this
time said he. Il was beginning to fall
In love with you. That was the bad
matter Since we've been rehearsing
you have completed what was already
begun. That's the worse"
He looked at her steadily. Lady Eat
acre studied the toe of her snoe. He
could see her cheeks were crimson.
THAT was why l kissed you as l did
In tie garden Gene he said.
Lady Gatacre did not deign to look
up from her shoe.
Are you really very angry?' he
asked.
Very" she replied.
He slid down from his perch and
beside her.
What are the specifc causes of your :
anger?" he asked.
Everything" said vaguely.
Are you angry because / said ! :
you?" he questioned. 6
She was silent.
~.Are you:" he persisted. |
Still she was silent. /
Sir Charles permitted himself a COW ,
ert smile.
IF it's only the kiss he began. l
She sat up suddenly. Z
ut was the way o did it," b
and her eyes again sought the
interesting shoe. f
The way I did it" he chuckled. Il \