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

W REHEARSAL

DEg
The play was over. The curtain had
gone down. amid tremendous APP
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 lovers in
dulging in expressive ~pantomime on a
balcony hat threatened m~omentarily
to collapse.
True love had run it's uneven course
for an hour and thr~ee-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 u~nscathed and triumphant.
The orchestra was playing the 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 neal the
stage. Sir Charles Windon climbed a
pile of properties used in act l and,
perched there precariously, rested his
chin on his upturned palms and sur
veyed the lady t~houghtfully.
81 suppose I should apologize" he
began tentatively. "Still I would like
TO say a void in self defense. May II"
go on" aid Lady Gatacre coldIy.
well, I thought the scene demanded
1t. 1t seemed to make it more real. In
everyday life the man would have done
it."
"Well?' she said in challenge as he
paused.
"And-and so l did" he said lamely.
"And hat is your excuseT' she ask
ed, with considerable asperity.
IF 1 need one, yes" said he.
Lady Gaia ere regarded him Jelly. Her
nos was elevated the fraction of an
inch.
II suppose you realize fully the en-
barrassing position you placed me inT"
she said.
Believe me, 1 didn't intend to-" he
demonstrated.
"Of course you heard that very au-
dible litter in the audience" she went
on.
He nodded.
"It was none of their business" he
complained.
If" she said quickly. you hadn't
made it so apparent; if you hadn't
paused, debated as it were, it wouldn't
have been quite sc 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
1t was impromptu." she finished.
81 was perfectly willing to rehearse
that piece of business" he suggested.
"It was unfair of you" she said hot
ly. I'VE agreed to leave it out-that it
was ridiculous and unnecessary"
'It became quite necessary when you
appeared in that gown. I'm only hui
man, you know"
you are quite inhuman sometimes"
she observed.
81 couldn't help it." he said with
AFFECT humility.
Your only Reuse seems to be a re-
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 meT'
''Sorry for what? For-for''-
'For putting you in an embarrassing
" LIN ONASh /
Lady Gatacre frowned and flushed.
You'll have to be sorry for both be
fore you're forgiven she said.
''Then l sLall die unabsolved," he de
clared with finality.
1T seems to me you're making a bad
matter WORSE" said G.
"Well, turn about is fair play" he
replied. THAT is just what you've
-, ~ o1-% b.a -raobc |
81 fear don't follow you," said
Lady Gatacre.
when we started rehearsing this
time" said he, 81 was beginning to fall
in love with you. That was the bad
matter Since we've been rehearsing |
you have completed what was already
begun. That's the worse"
He looked at her steadily. Lady Cat
acre studied the toe of her shoe He i
could see her cheeks were crimson.
THAT was why 1 kissed you as 1 did
in the garden scene" he said.
Lady Gatacre did not deign to look
up from her shoe.
Are you really very angryf" he
asked.
''very," she replied
He slid down from his perch and
beside her.
what are the specific causes of your
anger?" he asked.
"Everything." h said vaguely.
"Are you angry because 1 said
you?" he questioned
She was silent.
"Are you?" he persisted.
Still she was silent.
Sir Charles permitted himself a 10Y
ert smile.
IF it's only the kiss he began.
She sat up suddenly.
cit was the way you did it," she
flashed, and her eyes again sought the
interesting shoe.