Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-09

But you would be marrying John,
wouldn't you, not his family?" suggested
Miss Tracy.
"oh they're such horrld, stuck-up crea-
lures, the women in his family" went on
Resale. holly. His sisters. particularly.
two old maids; they've talked reams and
insnuated volumes against me-"
TITS rather unfortunate that you are
young and pretty. Both crimes. in the eyes
give. my dear" put in Miss Tracy, gently
They said 1 designedly entangled their
brother" pursued Rosalie, with cheeks like
live Goals. why L wouldn't marry the very
best man in the world John IS the very
best man in the WORLD. and incur that sort
of suspicion. It would poison everything.
And my dear old dad is good theirs
any day" The light of homesick love came
for second into her sapphire eyes, making
them suffuse with tenderness. Then, her
childish dimples playing, she continued.
with an air of pride: When 1 get back.
famous, Johns sisters II be proud to have
him marry a successful actress
why are you SO confident of success, lit-
tie grip Miss Tracy's voice did not sound
curious, but sad.
"Of success? 1? Why 1 don't know"
stammered Rosalie with very real surprise.
rs it so difficult, If one once gets a start?
Don't you think"
Now Miss Tracy. from experience. had
whole carload of wet blankets ready to
throw on the girls untried ambition; but
she merely said:
I'm getting ready to produce a new
piece. and I'll see what 1 can do for you.
I'll see my manager about 1t. You certainly
can get position a supe-that means SO
or 81 week, and it'd be better than moth
Ing until you get started. Perhaps-if
you've any Talent could even get you a
small part"
Miss Tracy wasn't one to do things by
halves. The upshot of it all was that she
sent for the girls trunk, and babe Rosalie
stay and be company for her until she was
quite ION her feet" The sitting room
was only in use during the day, anyhow.
and at night-well the plush-covered couch
might as well be turned into a bed.
The company was rehearsing in the
gloom of an unset, daytime stage, when
Resale Ross first came among them Be
yond the managerial table with It's one
aspiring gas jet doomed the cavernous
act was. "on." The lines that came from
the shadowy figures moving about produced
an unreal, hlgh-strained effect mingled
with the more real practically of the stage
managers caustic tones. Now and then
but only now and then-the ear was struck
with some note of true and poignant love or
grief, or some elemental passion.
Bring a folding screen" the stage
manager called peremptorily the first
ac- ended. The company, chattering. scat
tered TO the back OF the stage and wings
second act! The managers strident
voice sounded like a generals cry to charge
the enemy. Resale moved hesitatingIy out
upon the stage-a Slight. girIish figure
clothed in confusion quite as in a garment
Are you Miss-Miss Rose, yes. Well. you
enter from the o. p. sde-ain't it down in
your part?'
Resale was standing near the newly
placed screen; the managers voice was far
from pleasngly patient She moved waver-
ingly. Miss Tracy caught her eye and
guided her to the indicated 90 p" signifi-
cantly.
Presently Resale lady In waiting. was
supposed to kneel to see If her ladys pa
thorns.
'Kneel on the knee next the house." whis-
pered Miss Tracy the patric!an LADY, quick
ly. Resale changed her action but the
stage manager stfied a portentous growl
Wen, that was only the beginning. The
end was much worse After three or four
rchearsals he pronounced Ros4ie impossi-
Bile However. as Miss Tracy was interest
ed, her services were retained as supe
Not that any of this matters much The
New York public wouldn't stand sponsor
for the play in question, and after u one
weeks run it was taken off.
The end of June and the early part of
July came TO New York as a flame that
left devastation in its track At night the
white, fierce heat of the day gave place to q
heavy breathessness that seemed to close
about the city like wall. The Manhattan
bred accepted the conditions philosophical
ly; but to Rosalie Ross, from the wide UNI
trammeled west, sometimes it seemed that
she was locked in place of torment from
which no escape was possible.
To begin with, she was sick at heart.
Encouragement and disappointment had
dealt their blows at her pride In the au-
tumn she told vaguely by the many
plausible and busy gentlemen who had
promised to remember and send for her
things would be different; there would be
many openings many opportunities. The
atrical affairs. like most others, We're at a
deadlock during the summer.
But here first engagement had taken out
of Resale the handspring of action-her
UnspOiled enthusiasm. She might get a sec
ond engagement. But to success, she
doubted it thoroughly. Her confidence in
herself gone. Her piquant face grew
wan and pallid: her eyes had pathetic pur-
pie shadows beneath them.
do you think I'll ever get a second en-
gagement?' she used to ask wistfuly.
Meanwhile Miss Tracy set to work on a
little clue of her own. A second engage
ment? Why, of course. She wasn't fond of
writing letters. was Miss Tracy. Neverthe-
less she wrote a letter TO the west.
One day Resale came in more d!scour-
aged than ever with her unsuccessful can
wasting from theatrical office 10 office. She
sank YEARLY upon a couch, fumbling for
her hat pins; even the light straw seemed
a superfluous weight.
II think I've secured a second engage
ment for you dear" announced Miss Tracy
cheerily, looking UP from her finger nail
polishing.
IAN engagement-for me?" cried the girl.
stopping in the act of folding her veil.
Miss Tracy nodded tentatively.
YES. AS leading lady, too She added.
with a spark of mischief.
with whom?' gasped Resale queerly.
But already a light was breaking in.
with John Miss Tracy waved ostenta-
tiously toward a huge bunch of American
Beauties in a vase. He left them for you
with his love- and he's coming again this
evening to see-well, to see IL you con-
slider yourself engaged
do you think" said the girl, very hum
bly, at last, smiling through her tears as she
shifted among the roses-"do you think
could play the part?'
Impulsvely Miss Tracy dropped her pol
isher, crossed the room, took the girls face
between her hands, and kissed the trem-
bling little mouth.
Beautifully my dear l haven't the least
doubt of it. You'll play the part beauti-
fully. Your second engagementll be great
success
Ard il was.