The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-06-09

three of them. Two were old friends
and admirers Of Polly. The third, Brad
ley Rogers, she approved the moment
he was introduced to her.
well" asked Polly gayly, looking
over the printed cast in her hand,
(which Of you is my loverT
Solemnly, with hands on their hearts,
all three bowed.
"You are all very silly" said Polly,
blushing. Now. please be serious.
Which of you is to be Captain Wheel
er, Claire's lover, absent on the feldT"
she continued, reading from the play.
sT am cast for that unfortunate
part" Bert Crawford answered.
"Unfortunater' queried Polly, and
she raised her pretty eyebrows haugh-
lily.
sUnfortunate," Bert FASTENED to ex-
plain, "because absent on the field for
two whole acts, you notice, gives these
other fellows too much chance to cut
me out"
.Oh," smiled Polly graciously, ''then
!. Mr.. Marshall and Mr.. Rogers are rivals
for my hand, too-Claire's hand, I
mean"
mo; haven't the pleasure" sighed
Jim Marshall. 'I'm only your brother
.Never mind, Jim,' said Polly COM
fortingly. "I'll be a real sweet sister to
you. And what are you, Mr.. RogersT
ssYour father" answered Rogers La
conically.
Polly found the admission exceeding
~ amusing.
4But what possible chance do my
father and brother have Of cutting you
out?'' she asked Bert suddenly.
"oh," explained Bert carelessly, Il
meant they'll cut me out with the au-
dience No chance to win any bouquets
and that sort of thing"
'But you'll win me. ! mean-whats
her name claire"
"Oh, I'll come out strong In the I'm
ish," Bert returned confidently, at
which Jim shot him a look that es-
capped Polly's notice. 1t did not escape
Rogers observation. however. and be
smiled at the thought of the fun to
come Den1nd the scenes.
who's to be my girl chum, Nata-
Hep" asked Polly, again consulting
the printed cast.
"Mrs. Rogers" Bert answered. "And
she'll be dandy in that part too. Where
Is she tonight, BradY
Couldn't come. The baby had the
Group or something or other"
Polly wheeled around suddenly on
the piano stool and faced Rogers.
"Do you mean to say" she asked &C
cusingly, "that you don't know what's
the matter with the babyY
Rogers, taken by surprise, looked
very much embarrassed.
He began to stammer an explana-
ton, but got no further than "Well,
you see, Miss Noyes," when the
.sprompter" arrived and the reading
over of parts and the studying out of
stage business began In earnest.
As the rehearsals of the play pro-
crossed Polly found them absorbing
beyond all her expectations. AS n
happened, Mrs. Rogers, owing to the
baby's illness, had not been able to
take the part of Natalie after all, and
Elsie williams, Polly's intimate girl
friend, was prevailed upon to try It.
This change in the cast, simple as II
seemed, was the cause of other changes
far less simple.
For one thing, Bert Crawford, whom
Polly had grown through force Of habit
to regard as one of her most effective
satellites, suddenly wavered from his
accustomed course and began to re-
volve at very dangerous speed around
Polly's friend Elsie.
Now, Polly ought not to have re-
scented this, for she knew very well IN
her heart that she never intended Bert
to develop, SO far as she was con-
cerned, into anything beyond an obse-
uuious and ornamental attendant.
However, since he was her lover In
the play, 1t piqued her not a little to
have him constantly missing his cue
while making love to Elsie behind the
scenes instead.
On one OF these embarrassing occa-
sions Jim Marshal came to the rescue
with what seemed to him nothing sort
of an inspiration.
"See here, Polly" he exclaimed 10
vially as Polly, alone in the center OF
the stage, impatiently waited the dra-
matte entry of Captain Wheeler aft
err his absence in the field" I've got
a simply corking idea. Bert and ! will
change parts. You see, Off the stage
he's Elsie's lover, and on the stage he's
yours. Now, why not f1x 1t as 1t really
is and let me be your lover on the
stage as well as off? Don't you think
that would work out wellf I'd be on
hand for this scene. you can bet your
lifer'
But Polly received his suggestion
with anything but enthusiasm.
Don't be foolish, Jim, and please
hunt Captain Wheeler" was all she
answered.
Accordingly Bert, alias the missing
captain, soon rushed In, and Polly ran
to meet him, falling into his arms
with a cry of JOY" as the stage direc-
lions called for.
"Oh. that win never do at ALL" COM
planned the prompter. You don't act
as though you were really glad to see
him, Miss Noyes. And you don't stay
long enough In his arms. You just
lump away as If you'd been shot"
Polly made up comical little race
and tried the scene over again.
mo" sighed the prompter. "That
wasn't any better. Now, after you've
rushed into Captain Wheeler's arms,
Miss Noyes, just stay until you're COM
Portable"
There was a general laugh at tnis'
and then Jim Marshall came Forward
as usual. with an original suggestion.
at don't believe it's all Polly's fault"
he said. "Just let me try the scene
with her. and then Bert can see now IL
ought to be done"
But Polly scorned the offer.
''I'r try 1t with Mr.. Rogers she SAID
archly. "You see, he's perfectly safe.
The shout that went up at Bradley's
expense did not daunt him.
Everything comes to him who's
modest" he paraphrased good ma
turedly.
So Polly tried the affectionate well
come home scene with Bradley-and
strange thing happened. In each Of the
many times she had rushed into Bert
Ora Words arms she had felt embar-
raised and conscious. Her one impulse
was to tear herself away again. But
when Bradley's arms closed about her
she felt a strange thrill of happiness.
and as she looked up into bis face their
giances met in the discovery OF an I'M
guessed secret
'srhene." exclaimed the delighted