The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-10-08
Hsreetns Mltb
Bcafnlsb.
By LULU JOHNSON
COPYRIGHTED. 1907. BY Jessie Morgan.
By LULU Johnson.
Copyrighted. 1907. by Jessie Morgan

On the stage the open fire skylights
flooded the bare space with light and
created grateful draft, but the body
thin cloths over the rows of the round
ed backs of seats, suggesting an order
~ row Of tombstones.
In the broad foyer back Of the bal
cony one of Manager Beamish's mo.
2" companies went through its re-
hearsal, while still another touring or
ganization occupied the side lobby
downstairs, but 1t was the Avenue
stock company, the pride of Bea-
mish's attractions, that occupied the
stage. Audrey Harwood smiled at the
thought that this season she was re-
hearsing with the crack company on
the stag instead Of one Of the less i'm
portant companies In the lobby.
The year before she had labored
through small part with road com
pany, and it had not been until the
last of the season that Basil, the gen.
eral stage manager for Beamish, had
noticed her work on one of his trips
of inspection and had promoted her
to the metropolitan company.
tits been the graveyard Of many a
blasted hope" retorted Mazda Terry,
the leading lady, With a laugh, "and
Beamish is the ghoul that goes prowl-
ing around the place seeking whom he
may devour. There he comes now"
she added as the burly form of the
staircase leading from the balcony,
where he had been watching the re-
hearsal of the minor company.
Now he settled his huge bulk in a
seat at the rear of the house, his
pudgy hands clasped across his fat
stomach, while he viciously chewed
the end Of an unlit cigar. Beamish
was an inveterate smoker, but he
lived in dread of fire that might put
his house out of business for a time,
and he never smoked In the theater,
even in his own Office.
His presence made itself felt to How
ard Basil, though the latter stood with
his back to the auditorium. Some Of
the actors played better with the man
ayers eyes upon them, others grew
nervous and confused, and Audrey,
coming under Beamish's notice for the
first time, failed utterly in her scene.
AS her voice faltered and broke there
came a gruff shout from the rear Of
the house, and the company eyed the
girl commiseratingly, while Basil drop
ped the rehearsal to answer Beamish's
summons.
Get another girl for that part of
Mona" was the terse command THAT
stick you've got there Is rotten"
''She will play all right" was the re-
Spouse. "She rehearses badly, and
then she is nervous because you are
out here"
Il want another GIRL" was Beam
ish's emphatic answer "It's only a
bit that she plays, but 1t comes In
Terry's big scene, and we can't have
that spoiled. Get rid Of her."
IF l thought that she would spoil
it, should not have engaged her,"
answered Basil quietly. 1.-THE girl viii
remain in the cast"
"Give the part to Ashton" ordered
Beamish. "Let this girl out tomor-
row."
ri have full control of the compa-
Mes" said Basil. whose face had
grown very white. Miss Ashton can
play the part at pinch Miss Har-
wood can live the part If she goes,
1 CO."
Eve got you under contract" sput-
tered Beamish.
IT just mentioned the important
clause of that contract" retorted Basil.
you will break 1t by your own ac-
ton"
The younger man stood quietly for a
moment, while Beamish chewed his
cigar viciously. Basil was a man
hard to replace. Moreover, he had
seen the English production Of the
piece and had read the play with the
author. 1t would never do to let him
go on the eve of production. Beam
ish rose heavily to his feet.
II don't suppose that you will object
to Ashton understudyingT he asked
gruf1y.
INOt III Tic LSdSt, bdlU DnCA. \ A
send for her this afternoon"
He returned to the stage. Those bet
ter versed in the Beamish methods had
guessed that the stage manager had
been fighting for Audrey and had told
the girl so. She flashed him grateful
glance, but he merely took his place
by the table and ordered the rehearsal
Of the scene over again. 1t was not
until after the company had been dis
missed that Audrey had chance to
speak to him.
How can ever thank your she
said gratefully.
Basil looked down into the wistful
face. by doing as well as you pos
sibly can," he said. II want you to
justify my Judgment and am certain
that you can. There will be an under
study here tomorrow, but don't worry.
If Beamish wants to pay any extra
salary. let him. 1t Is seldom that he
INDUCES In that luxury"
He turned away to hide the real an
swer to her question. The temptation
was strong upon him to take her in
bis arms and tell her that he loved her
| and 1t was because of his love that he
had fought. To do SO would seem to
be presuming upon his action. Men
| tally he cursed Beamish for raising
this barrier against his hopes.
Miss Ashton appeared the following
morning, sitting in one Of the front
seats and studying the business care
gully, but Audrey played without a
break, and at the dress rehearsal even
Beamish was pleased to grunt a
grudging assent to BasiPs praise.
Then came the opening night The
early opening of the season, and the
other theaters were still dark. Beam
ish cleaned upon the crowd of nota-
bles streaming into the house. He
knew that he had one of the strongest
plays of the hour. To score hit
would mean perhaps an all season run
at the home theater and a tremendous
advertisement for the road companies
But his hopes were dashed when
Basil came out front with a worried
look upon his face.
TERRY was thrown out of her auto
mobile on her way to the theater, y
he reported. '-The physician thinks
she has fractured her skull"
And we've got to lose all thisT
asked Beamish, with a wave of his CT.
gar. The accident to his leading wo-
man appealed only to his own selfish
ness and cupidity.
part" explained Basil. "She can play
| 1t, I am certain. 1t would never dc
to turn the crowd away. We could
never get them back on later night
Beamish nodded a grudging assent