The Washington herald., 1909-06-13
iss Delaney want to know Wy you vent on the stage

there on time. She had all the madden
ing aplOmb which is the curse OF the
novice. and did not acknowledge 10 q
nerve" in her body Her colleagues
truer artists. as they appeared from theiI
dressing rooms, were in a state Of nerv-
BUSINESS, bordering upon panic. Jane
grinned at them serenely. yet she admit
tedly envied them and was aware that
not till the same pale fright should de-
scend upon herself would she be the ar
tist Of her ambition.
Studheim. stTikingly handsome IN his
kingly guise. was on the verge Of ridicu-
lousness, constantly primping his lips
smoothing his curls. adjusting his ermine
and smiling his radiant property smile al
nothing. He was an Iraelitish yoUng
New Yorker, with plenty Of money and
plenty Of brains. too, but none for
Shakespeare as often happens. and he
was confiding 20 his roupe that he In
tended next season to star in an eccen-
trio part better suited 10 the public-that
is how he put it. He held audibly to the
opinion that he was the best Shake
spearean actor Of to-day.
You'll have an opportunity 10 show
your talents in another direction" he
said. You. too. Miss Duke I've cast
you for dandy part, small, but fat
And you'll have chance to study me in
new role You've never seen me dc
farce-cOmedy, have your"
Yes, I have contradicted Jane. I've
seen your Macbeth"
The palsied silence which fell was
fortunately for Jane. broken by the sud
den music of the orchestra. which, like
magician's charm. transformed then
Immediately into dwellers Of the past
Even Jane sobered and strove 20 re-
member few bits Of business she was
Overapt 10 forget TIL seeing Studheirn
from his kingly throne glare at her.
But no matter how good her resolve
circumstances generally found her in dis
grace As tonight. in the throne scene
at the very psychological moment OF the
stacy pause and silence with which Stud
helm prefaced his most telling speech. the
awe was rent and scattered by a smoth-
cred cackle Of ill-placed mirth-from Jane
Of course.
Pipe the throne" she whispered. nudg-
Ing the earl next her. The earl looked
and guffawed. A prince and a few lesser
mobiles did the same. Upon the giIded
runSs Of the royal seat some domestic
stagehand. who evidently "housekept'' be-
hind the scenes. had hung a pair OF mod
ern and bargain counter red socks to
dry.
Two for FIVE" hIssed Jane, sending of
the few who had so far behaved them
selves.
laundering from his eminence, Stud
helm soon had control Of the scene again.
Jane judged it pretty good policy tenn
porarily 10 disappear when the drop fell
Studheim had a quick change to make
and dared not take the time TO hunt her
When he was safely immersed In the
majestic current Of the second act, Jane
came out Of retreat and amiably ambled
among her friends. She had the social
instinct and could not be crushed for
long at a time.
Whose reputation is going now?" she
asked. insinuating herself into a conveI-
sation between Carlton and Nance and
seating herself boyishly on a convenient
bier.
Nance was perilously beautiful O. nights
Carlton had excusable admiration In his
fine eyes.
I'm 50 sorry for you, my dear" sighed
Nance. glancing at her most sadly; st
must be shocking 70 have TO wear so i'm
modest a garb-''
Tmmodest?'' queried Jane. fitting up
her tiny feet to eye her boyish slimness
from toe to sash.
However, II my contour offends youg
continued Jane kindly. III cover H."
She took the white pail from the bier. IN
reality an ample linen sheet, and draped
IL around her Ike ghostly cloak
Cabling, she was still sitting this way.
when Studheim hurriedly sought her. He
was harmlessly full Of trouble OF the
present not the past
I'VE are short-handed for guests in the
audience chamber, Miss Duke he said,