The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-03-27

/ rome down, amid ap-
lause, on a fitting tableau-the heroine
clasped in the hero's arms; the villain,
vanquished, but defiant, glaring at
them from the papier mache arbor
and the pair of secondary lovers in
dulging in expressive pantomime on .
balcony tina threatened momentarily
to collapse.
for an hour and three-Quarters, and
after surviving a series Of fdiotic mis-
haps. absurd doubts and all the other
obstacles an enthusiastic amateur play
wright could put in its path it had
emerged unscathed n triumphant
The orchestra was playing b latest
popular march as a sort of occasional
for the admiring relatives and friends.
Lady Gatacre, still in costume, sank
YEARLY into a rickety wooden chair in
one of the little anterooms near the
stage. Sir Charles Windon climbed a
pile of properties used in act 1 and,
perched there precariously. rested his
chin on his upturned palms and sur
yeyed h lady thoughtfully.
81 suppose L should apologize" he
began tentatively. "Still 1 would like
~ say Il HOlh III SSlI dCIC41oC- hhy -
go on" said Lady Gatacre coldIy.
well, I thought the seem demanded
1t 1t seemed to make it more real. In
everyday life the man o have done
It."
paused.
"And-and so l did," he said lamely.
And that is your e~xcuseF" b ask
- IL
"If l need one, yes" said he.
Lady Gatacre regarded him icly. Her
nose was elevated the fraction of an
inch.
81 suppose you realize fully the en-
barrassing position you placed me inT"
she said.
Believe me, I didn't intend to-" he
demonstrated
"Of course you heard that very au-
dible litter in the audience?" she went
on.
He nodded.
at was none of their business" he
complained.
If" she said quickly. you hadn't
made 1t so apparent; if you hadpt
paused, debated as 1t were, it wouldn't
have bee quite so conspicuous. But
when you stopped and looked about
and the-and them
kissed you" he supplied, almost tri-
umphantly.
"Oh, it was too CHASTITY evident that
it was ~impTomptu," she finished
81 was perfectly willing to rehearse
that piece OF business" he suggested.
ut was unfair of you." she said hot
ly. Eve agreed to leave it out-that it
was ridiculous and unnecessary"
1T became quite necessary when you
appeared in that gown. I'm only hui
man, you know"
you are quite inhuman sometimes"
h observed.
81 couldn't help it," he said with
abject humility.
Your only excuse seems to be a re-
iterared plea of responsibility" said
she.
Sir Charles scratched his head and
smiled hopefully.
81 am an irresponsible party. that's
a 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 Gatacre frowued and flushed.
you'll have to be sorry for both be
fore you're forgiven" she said.
"Then 1 sLall die unabsolved." he de-
clared with finality.
1T seems to me you're making a bad
matter worse" said she.
"Well, turn about is fair play" he
replied. THAT Is just what you've
beer doing the past three weeks"
Il fear | don't follow you" said
Lady Gatacue.
when We started rehearsing this
time" said he, 81 was beginning to fall
In love with you. That was the bad
natter Since we've e r%ehearsing
you have completed what was already
begun. That's b worse"
He looked at her steadily. Lady Cat
acre studied the toe of her shoe He
could see her cheeks were crimson.
THAT was why l 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 auses of your
anger?" he aSked
Everything" she said vaguely.
"Are you angry because l said 1
loved you?" he questioned.
She was silent
"Are you?" he persisted.
Still she was silent.
Sir Charles permitted himself a COW
ert smile.
eff it's only the kiss he began.
She sat up suddenly.
1T was the way you did itr' she
flashed. and her eyes again sought the
Interesting shoe.
1.-The way l did it" he chuckled. Il
think-weIl. I hadn't rehearsed it, you
know-I think with a few rehearsals l
could do it better"