The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-01-03

~ KEHEARSA

The play, was over Inc curtain naa
gone down, amid tremendous ap-
lause. on a fitting tableau- the heroine
clasped in, the hero's arms; the villain,
sauquished. but defiant. glaring at
them from the papier mache arbor.
and the pair of secondary overs In
balcony that threatened -momentarily
to collapse.
True love had run its uneven course
for an hour and three-quarters, and
after surviving a series of idiotic mis-
haps. absurd doubts and all the other
obstacles an 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 aud friends.
Lady Gatacre. still in costume. sank
YEARLY into a rickety wooden chair in
one of the little anterooms near the
stage. Sir Charles Winden climbed Il
pile of properties used in act l and.
perched there p~recariously. rested his
chin on his, upturned palms. and sur
veyed the lady thoughtfully.
al suppose I should apologize" he
Dtkdu cut iAcit. Sill 1 WUiklu IiAE
to say a word in self defense. May II"
"Go on" said Lady Gatacre coldly.
'WeII, 1 thought the scene demanded,
It. 1t seemed to make it more. real. In
everyday life the man would have lone
it"
"wellg' she aid in challenge as he
paused
"And-and so 1 did" he sale Iameiy.
~ HI AL-k a. -1.,- . she n1Ir
I'd, with considerable asperity.
''If I need yes" said he.
Lady Gatac ere regarded aim icily. Her
nose was elevated the fraction of an
inch.
.I suppose you realize fully the EN-
barrassing position you placed me inT"
b said.
Relieve me, I didn't Intend to-" he
demonstrated.
"Of course you heard that very au
dible litter in the audienceT' she went
on.
He nodded.
eft was none Of their business" be
complained
If" she said quickly. you hadn't
made 1t s apparent; if you haGnt
paused, debated as it were. it wouldn't
have been quite so conspicuous. But
when you stopped and looked about
and tlle-and then
Kissed you" he supplied. almost t,
umphantly.
"Oh. it was too CHASTITY evident. thai
it was impconptu," she finished
IT was perfectly willing to rehearse
that piece OF business" he suggested.
at was unfair Of you." she said bot
~. W agreed to leave 1T out-that It
was ridiculous and unnecessary
sit became quite necessary when ou
appeared in that own I'm only hui
a you know.
"You are quite inhuman sometimes"
she observed.
81 couldn't help it." he said will
AFFECT humility.
Your only excuse seems to be a re-
iterated plea of responsibility" said
she.
Sir Charles scratched his head and
smiled hopefully.
81 am an irresponsible party. that's
q fact" said he. Look here, if l say
I'm sorry. do you forgive me?"
Sorry for what? For-for"-
For putting you in an embarrassing
position: fc-. the other. never"
Lady Gaiacre frowned and fushed
You'll have to be sorry for both be
fore you're forgiven" b said.
'Then l sLall die unabsolved." he de
clared with finality.
''It seems to me you're making a bad
matter worse" said she
'Weli. turn about is fair play" he
replied. THAT is just what you're
been doing the past three weeks"
"I fear | don't follow you said
Lady Gatacte.
when we started rehearsing this
time" said he. st was beginning to fai!
In love with you. That was the 'bat
matter Since we've been rehearsine
you have completed what was already
begun. That's the worse"
He looked at her steadily. Lady Gal
acre studied the toe. Of her shoe. He
could see her cheeks were crimson.
.SThat was why I kissed you as l did
in the garden scene" he said.
Lady Gatacre did not deign to look
up from her shoe.
Are you really very angryT' he
asked.
very" she replied.
He slid down from his perch and
stood beside her.
What are the specific causes of your
anger he asked.
Everything" she said vaguely.
..Are. you angry because l said ]
loved your he questioned.
She was silent.
Are your" he persisted.
Still she was silent.
Sir Charles permitted himself a Gov
ert smile.
IF its only the kiss he began.
She sat up suddenly.
1T was the way you did itr' she
ao-h1l-anl ha--oroc annin oor10hf the