The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-12-20
I! Ts1 .!yts etA. ,t.I IE1I


wildly exuberant playwright whom
you have known in his ragged days.
THAT little book of yours" he says;
st has strong dramatic power. Dra-
matize 1t. Ill tell you exactly how to
60 about making it stronger" and he
tells you.
Then he goes out of town and stays
q couple of months and comes back
and meets you again.
what are you doing with your
play?" he asks.
Nothing" you say.
Nothing" he shrieks, "and have
promised that play to a real actress
for the first Of August"
Whereupon you write the play in a
hurry. Then when you meet the play
wright again you say to him trium.
phantly, Il have written the play" and
having it under your arm you hand it
to him.
"Um." says he, "um. want to read
this play. but am so busy now. You
should have had 1t ready month ago.
Then | could have read II. but <low--
but now-wait. we'll see what we can
do. | will give YOU letter of intro.
him read II for me. Then we will see
what we can do"
Armed with the play, you wend your
way to the Office of the producer. The
way leads up some staircases in
through little narrow door, up more
staircases and into an anteroom.
In the anteroom are singers who are
having their voices tried
You almost forget your play in fol.
lowing the fate of these singers, but
by and by the boy in charge says to
you:
What is II. please?"
And you say, with some timidity:
Il have brought play for the pro-
ducer to read and a letter of introduc.
tion," whereupon the boy conducts
you high headedly into the presence
of the producer, who takes your play
and lays it in front OF him on the desk,
reads the note and says. with a win.
ming smile, combined with a pleased
glance at your tout ensemble that
somehow makes you glad that you
have one:
Il will read this tomorrow. Come
back the day after. Look around here
again. My, but you have beautiful
eyes,"
Flushed with pride and hope you
walk smilingly out ond down the steps
and through the little narrow door
and down more steps till you get TO
the street. The world is good! To.
morrow! Next day!
How beautiful are the days!
But above all how good of the gods
to think of giving you beautiful eyes,
On the day after you dress in your
Sunday best, though 1t is only Thurs.
day, and once more go up the stairs
and in through the little door.
He looks at you in a puzzled way
for an instant, then says quickly:
"oh! Your play. | haven't read
II yet. There it lies on my desk. You
can see it hasn't been thrown in the
waste paper basket. | will read It.
will read it, / promise you, but give
me time. Come back next week some
time. Don't make 1t too long OF
may forget That's a lovely veil you
have on. So becoming"
He seems always to like your looks
somehow, and yet
It is long time till next week, but
you wait patiently. :.
- You go In again and stand before
the producer of plays. He recognizes
you. lrsfa 'e11a-s- ..-
What are you going to do to me7"
he asks. 81 haven't read 1t yet"
let me read II to you," you beg.
You read very badly, often you
can't pronounce the words you write,
but 1t seems the only way to get the
play a hearing
Her smile brightens.
Good" he cries. "That's what
I'll do. I'll let you read It to me. I
will appoint a day. I will give you
an hour and a half. Yes. Busy as
am, will give you an hour and a
half OF my time to read It TO me.
You'll forgive me for not reading It.,
won't you? That's lovely skirt you
have on. like the embroidery. No,
! can't make the appointment now. I
will write you"
Then you wait and wait and wait
for the letter which never comes.
He seems to have forgotten you en-
tirely 1t has been so long. Or may
be 1t is the difference in the dress.
Perhaps you should have picked out
the dress that pleased him best and
alays worn 1t the one with the en-
broidery.
"Oh, yes" he catches you up hur.
riedly. Your play. / have been so
busy. Really have been SO busy"
You promised" you falter, ito let
me read 1t TO you"
He looks at you sharply.
Did | promise that?" he asks. 1T
must have been when was out Of my
senses. never let anybody read
plays to me. Life Is too short No
I'll read 1t myself. But you must give
me time. like your little white
shoes. Always wear shoes. They are
so becoming"
Then you would like to tear your
hair and scream out at him:
when will you read my play!
This side the millennium? Remember
life is short and tomorrow we die,
but, like the cadaverous Mamie, you
go out instead with tears In your
eyes, stumblingly, wondering II II
will be possible to go to him through
A. aao.. daan anoruo ~ tho daad IA