Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-11-17
THE PLAY THAT
is NEVER READ

you have known in his ragged days.
THAT little book of yours" he says;
sit has strong dramatic power Dra-
Matte it. I'll tell you exactly how to
go about making it stronger" and he
tells you.
Then he goes out of town and stays
couple of months and comes back
and meets You again.
What are you doing with your
play?" he asks.
Nothing" you say.
"Nothingl" he shrieks, "and l have
promised that play to 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 1t under your arm you hand 1t
to him.
"Um," says he, "um. want to read
this play, but am so busy now. You
should have had it ready month ago.
Then | could have read it, but now
but now-wait, Wen see what we can
do. | will give you letter OF intro
duction to producer know and have
him read it for me. Then we win SEQ
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 anteroo-a 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 IA charge says to
you;
What IS it, please?"
And you say, with some timidity:
Il have brought play for the pro-
! Queer to read and 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 daysl
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 it is only Thurs
day, and once more go up the stairs
and in through the little door.
He looks at you in puzzled way
for an instant, then says quickly:
"Oh. Your play. / haven't read
it yet. There 1t lies on my desk. You
can see it hasn't been thrown in the
waste paper basket. will read It,
will read 1t. l promise you, but give
| me time. Come back next week some
time. Don't make 1t too long or l
may forget. That's a lovely veil you
have on. So becoming"
He seems always to like your looks
somehow, and yet
1t is long time till next week, but
you wait patiently.
You go In again and stand before
the producer of plays. He recognizes
| you.
What are you going to do to me%
he asks. II haven't read 1t yet"
Let me read it to you," you beg.
| You read very badly, often you
can't pronounce the words you write.
but it seems the only way to get the
play hearing.
Her smile brightens.
| "Good!' he cries. That's what
I'll do. I'll let you read 1t to me.
will appoint day. ! will give you
an hour and half. Yes. Busy as I
am. will give you an hour and .
half OF my time to read 1t to me.
| You'll forgive me for not reading 1t.
won't you? That's lovely skirt you
have on. like the embroidery. No.
can't make the appointment now. /
will write you"
| Then you wait and wait and wait
Cor 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. l have been so
busy. Really l 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 it myself. But you must give
me time. ! like your little white
l-t A Oh