The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-12-25

Mary nor I had the temerity to break
We were much subdued since the be
ginning Of that dinner, and was about
to bring in the weather to relieve the
situation, when, looking up, I found
that he was examining us intently
with an entirely new expression.
But" and his voice was very sol
emn, almost reverent, Outfits the
best plot I've heard for years."
Mary came up against the edge Of
the table with bang, while 1 ossi
fed.
TITS strong, there isn't a weak spot
in it, and what's more-its new. Az
far as know, the idea has never been
used before. nor the time, nor the
country, nor the characters. 1t ough,
to make a great play"
After awhile felt sensation return.
ing, and as the roaring in my ears
died away, I heard her voice asking Il
he would advise us to go on with 4.
Go on VIII it? Don't iAil to go on
with it! Work on it carefully, make
1T more exciting and bring in some
stunning effects. For instance, why
not have that battle on the stage7
That would look all right-sunset be-
hind the fortress of Quebec-or sum
rise, whichever you want, a lot of Brit
ish and French soldiers with flags and
band or two. You've literary mate.
rial enough for three plays and not
enough action for one scene. The &C.
ton wust tell the story without q
spoken word, if necessary"
We were too happy to speak-suc
cess seemed within our grasp, and nc
amount of prospective work or trou.
BILE mattered.
More than year had passed since
Mary had come to me with her idea
for play. During six months Of that
time she had been with me in New
York to help in the process OF
pushing things; and we had learned
how small a part of producing a play
Is the mere writing of it; and that
beyond this pure preliminary, it is an
occupation for business promoter or
a walking delegate. We haunted the
Offices of manager after manager, and
made change after change in the
manuscript. One wanted it longer
we stretched, it; one wanted it more
melodramatic-we peppered it with
fights; one wanted it more Soulful"
we introduced mystical verse at
short intervals. Each character in the
cast had played many parts. From
noble, self-repressed gentleman, Gen.
Montcalm had become an impossible
combination Of swashbuckling brag.
gard milksop, and sentimental cad.
Alene's affections were vibrating con.
fusedly between the general, the vii
lain and the spy; and her character
had been torn to shreds. We got used
to pushing ourselves in where we
were not wanted; to insisting on talk,
ing to people who did not wish to hear
us; and a crust began to form over
our sensibilities.
We had drifted to a little East side
boarding house. Our money had faded
away and we had found work. The play
had become merely haunting mem.
DRY in the background of our minds,
and we spoke of it remorsefully as Of
trusting friends whose character we
had DETAINED.
One day a young musical composer
called at our lodgings and suggested
scheme which gave us new hope,
His idea was to combine our play with
some composition of his own, and dis.
pose of it to a manager who made
a speciality Of extravaganzas. He was
an energetic business man, and it was
hardly five weeks before this new ar.
rangement was completed. He had
persuaded the manager to put it on ex
perimentally.
The first night arrived-how we
had looked forward to it year ago!
We were seated in the managers boz
alone.
When the music ceased the curtain
rose on bewildering mass of color:
there was the fortress of Quebec, but
instead of the weather-beaten French
regulars, it was garrisoned by the
pretty feminine soldiers in white and
gold, and as they performed an intri.
cate march, they sang bright, catchy
song. A charming figure in a modern
Partisan gown tripped lightly forth.
twirling chiffon parasol. 1t was
Alene-our Alene-the French girl Of
1765, the highborn demoiselle whose
love had driven her to break the
chains Of convention and given her
courage to face the dangers of New
France. After a swirl of skirts and q
preliminary pas seul, she warbled
mellifuously that she'd
Always be true to Billy,
To Billy, Billy Billy.
In this touching sentiment she was
Joined by the villain, habited in
red and green coat with dropping
corn-colored whiskers. The dance
with which they concluded each verse
was applauded again and gain. The
blue fire succeeded the red, and the
spy came on disguised as an Irish
washerwoman to perform some won.
derful feats Of tumbliag. The gen.
eral was stick, but he looked well.
and when he said: