The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1909-04-15
A VALUABLE PLAY.
Observation-Disclosures,
BY BERTHA o. ALsoP

BY BERTHA o. ALsoP.
Copyright 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
AdOlph Stenterton at thirty had
made such rapid strides as theatrical!
manager that he owned two theatcrs.
Everything seemed to come his way.
including requited love. for lie was en-
gagged to Miss Mildred Linn. the daugh-
ter % AlOnZO Bernhard Linn. u retired
merchant. perfectly able to portion her
off on the day Of her wedding. Every
thing was moving on oiled wheels with
Mr.. Stenterton when trouble came as
result Of bit of carelessncss for
himself.
Mr.. Linn was possessed of literary
tastes. which ON his retirement he pro-
ceeded to cultivate. He wrote Il novel
that proved quite success. Then
his prospective son-in-law suggested
that he try his hand ut play. Mr.
| Linn demurred on the ground that, not
having knowledge Of stage require
ments, he would not know how to fit
his play for production on the boards
Mr.. Stenterton told him that he would
gladly collaborate with him in that re-
spect. Mr.. Linn consented, and the
play was written.
| At the time its author handed 1t in
| for perusal the marriage between Stem
terton and Miss Linn was being
planned to take place in the near fu.
ture. Then for the first time it &C.
CURED to the young manager that
criticism on a production Of one whose
son-in-law he was about to become in
volved rather delicate situation. Mr.
Linn had not shown himself amenablc
to adverse criticism and II 1t We're Of
fered might take offense and turn
against the critic on the eve of his
wedding. Mr.. Linn was amiable, even
jovial, but trife vain of his talents
Stenterton, when he went to his rooms
on the evening he received the manu-
script. took 1t with him. He stopped
OH the way at one Of his theaters and
didn't reach his rooms till midnight
II was week before he found an OPP
portunity to read the manuscript, then.
after hunting for 1t in every nook and
Granny of his rooms, came to the con-
clusion that it was lost. This was
the bit of carelessness that brought
trouble to the young expectant bride
groom.
The first thing he did was to make Il
casual inquiry of the author If he had
a duplicate copy of the play. When he
received mo" for an answer the bot
tom seemed to drop out Of the universe,
and when Mr. Linn added, 1--WE done
lot Of work on that play, and If you
lose 1t I'll never forgive you" the
young man nearly swooned. He
couldn't attend to business during the
day and couldn't sleep nights. Finally
plan-a desperate plan, 1t is true
suggested itself. He told Mr.. linn that
he had read his play and had found 1t
immense. There was, however, want
! Of smoothness in it consequent upon
its putting together. All that would
disappear under IL rewriting. He ad-
vised that this he done without seeing
the original manuscript. Mr.. Linn
considered the matter, but finally de-
cided not to adopt the suggestion.
Stcnterton's last nope was dashed.
Weeks passed and the play was not
mentioned. The young couple set n
day for the wedding. The parent de-
INJURED. He wanted to know when he
was to receive reply to the accept
ance of his play. ''These managers"
he said to his daughter, "are making
us playwrights tired with their mat
tention. If my own sOn-in-law is ca
pable Of treating me thus I'd rather
he wouldn't be my son-in-law."
One day Mr.. Linn, yielding to his
daughters solicitations, consented to
forego the treatment he had received
from her fiance 80 far as to permit
the wedding to take place. But he
said that for wedding gift they must
be contest with the play. He meant
to force Stenterton to get out of 1t
what there was in it.
OF course this was disappointment
to the young couple, but great relief.
Arrangements for the wedding were
mada. aud, now that Mr.. Linn had sat
isfied his pride in the matter Of his
play. lie seemed more amiable with re.
spect to the approaching nuptials.
"Your wedding present will make you
rich, Millic." he said. Its worth $780,
600, and l know it." Rats" exclaim-
ed Stentcrton when he heard this.
"He talks just like every other anna
teur playwright. They all think there
is fortune in their work. But. thank
heaven, I'm out of the scrape. I'm
satisfied"
On the morning Of the wedding Mr..
Linn handed the pair box which, he
said, contained their wedding present.
But thought your play was to be
our present from you, papa" said Mil
dred. "Have you relented?"
Not at all. said my play was
worth $4,000. You'll get nothing from
me except that"
Meanwhile Mildred opened the box.
There was the missing manuscript.
"For heavens sakew exclaimed the
girl.