Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-01-14

dramatic entertainment; and, as the
time came near, Lena discovered
that she was growing just a little
nervous.
Charles Mistley, as stage-manager,
had naturally spoken much of the
play, giving. in his good-natured,
lazy manner. tentative opinions, and
asking advice of Lena and his broth
er upon sundry situations to be de-
picted. OF all had he fully treated.
excepting this cne most trying scene
between herself and VINEYARD, and
this he appeared content to leave to
their discretion.
Instinctively she knew, however.
that the part was within the scope
Of her little-tried histrionic powers.
She felt that she could endow 1t
with life and semblance; and, above
all, she understood the character of
the girl she intended to represent.
Such stage intercourse as she had
with Charlie gave her no trouble.
lie was, indeed, supposed to be her
lover; but of an old standing in love,
and therefore less embarrassing;
while the difficulties that lay in Win
yards path, of cross and under
current stream of passion. flowing
into and discoloring with it's villainy
the purer and colder river Of mild
affection, required tact and dra-
matte delicacy which Lena knew him
to possess.
The first rehearsal bid fair to real
lie the misglvings Of the elder ladies,
so intensely ridiculous was 1t after
the preliminary nervousness had
quite worn off. This was the result
of deliberate plan on the part OF
the stage-manager. whose experience
taught him that rehearsals beginning
with laughter usually finish up with
successful acting. VINEYARD and
Lena were not in the first scene, and
Charles Mistley's part was too unim-
portanr to have effect on 1t; and
Mrs. Wright. who was prompting,
had but little work to do. The sec,
ond scene began In the same manner.
"Win. this will never do" whis-
pered Charlie. 1T is more like a
board-school eSam,1ation than any
thing else. We must wake them up
somehow"
VINEYARD obeyed his brothers in
structions, and on receiving his cue,
introduced two new elements into
the performance-merr and
earnest acting, which can be COM
bined with great facility.
In the midst of all the laughter.
the idea suddenly came to VINEYARD
that 1t would be a worthy triumph
to quell the merriment, supplement-
Ing it with the opposite emotion,
which is SO near at hand.
In whisper he said to Lena:
Now we will show them what we
can do!" leaving her to understand
1t as she could.
But soon she did understand, and
aided him beyond his expectations.
The difficult scene appeared to pass
away as If it were portion of their
real and earnest lives-for life is as
real and earnest to the merriest Of us
as 1t Is to those who pull long faces
and suffer from dyspepsia. BY the
sheer force OF his dramatic power he
carried her away, and brought for
ward the talent of expressing pathos
which he had detected when she had
sung unwittingly to him. For the
moment she was no longer happy
Lena Wright-for assuredly nothing
could whisper Of sorrow in her young
life-but the heart-broken girl, part
Ing from her lover forever; and he,
VINEYARD Mistley, acted the part as
II he knew too we'll the pain and
anguish he depicted so cleverly.
First the laughter died away, then
vanished the last smile, as these two
searched deeper and deeper into
every human heart for the emotions
which cannot fail to be hidden some-
where there. 1t was almost an in
spiration, and quite passing stroke
OF genius. No word of forethought
had passed between them, and yet no
mistake could be detected-the art,
If art there were, was so well hidden,
so craftily covered, that none could :
determine where it lay.
The spectators were hushed into
silent wonder. With the majority of
them, however, 1t was merely a piece
OF clever acting - an exhibition of
dramatic talent such as lies in the
power of most of us, though the de-
mand for it may never come. But
to two of them it was something
more. The prompter drew in a long
deep breath, and glanced nervously
toward the stage-manager. OF course
1t was acting-mere acting-but Mrs.
Wright did not like it. Such acting,
such rehearsals were dangerous, and
why had that gray, drawn look come
over Charles Mistleys calm face?
When it was over there was a mo-
mentary silence, as II each person
present were waiting for some one
else to speak. VINEYARD busted some
Imaginary specks of carpet from his
knees, as If family prayers had just
been offered up, and proceeded to
move the furniture and rearrange
the improvised stage. This he did
quietly and mechanically, which
served very well to ease the breaking
Of that silence, and to allow Lena
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