Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1909-01-28

est us IN her sny other way; tun ner
cuse with knife and pistol and
let her stir things up bit"
| There was pause which neither
Mary nor I had the temerity to break
We We're much subdued since the be-
ginning OF that dinner, and Twas about
TO bring in the weather to relieve the
situation, when, looking up, found
that he was examining us intently
with an entirely new expression.
But. and his voice was very SOL
emn, almost reverent, Quits the
best plot I've heard for years."
Mary came up against the edge Of
the table with ! bang, while l ossi.
fed.
It's strong, there isn't weak spot
in it, and what's more--it's new. AS
far as know, the idea has never been
used before, nor the time, nor the
country, nor the characters. It ought
to make a great play
| After awhile felt sensation return.
ing, and as the roaring in my ears
died away, heard hersvoice asking If
he would advise us to go on with it.
Go on with it? Don't fail to go on
with it.! Work on it carefully, make
it more exciting and bring in some
stunning effects. For instance, why
not have that battle on the stage?
That would look all right-sunset be-
hind the fortress of Quebec-or sun
rise, whichever you want, lot of Brit
ish and French soldiers with flags, and
a 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 a
spoken word, if necessary ... } }3... 4 ,.. =,
We were too happy to speak-suc-
cess seemed within our grasp, and no
amount Of prospective work or trou.
| BILE mattered. %r -. ~
| 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 part of producing play
is the mere writing of it; and that
beyond this pure preliminary, it is an
occupation for business promoter or
q 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 1t more
melodramatic-we peppered it with
fights; one wanted it more soulful
we introduced mystical verso at
short intervals. Each character In the
cast had played many parts. From
g noble, self-repressed gentleman, Gen.
Montcalm had become an impossible
combination of swashbuckling brag-
gard milksop, and sentimental cad.
tAlene'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. s.... '. : 80
We had drifted to little East side
boarding house. Our money had faded
away and we had found work. The play
had become merely a haunting mem
DRY in the background Of our minds
g., and we spoke Of it remorsefully as Of
trusting friends whose character we
=, had DETAINED II -, IL s. y AL
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
speciality of extravaganzas. He was
an energetic business man, and it was
hardly five weeks before this new ar
rangement was completed. He haG
persuaded the manager to put it on ex
perimentally. ID.
The first night arrived-how w
had looked forward to it a year ago!
We were seated in the managers boz
alone.
When the music ceased the curtain
rose on a bewildering mass Of color;
there was the fortress Of Quebec, but
instead Of the weather-be French
regulars, it was gasrisoned by the
| pretty feminine soldiers in white ant
gold, and as they performed an intri
cate march, they sang bright, catchy
song. A charming figure in modern
Partisan gown tripped lightly forth
twirling a chiffon parasol. It wa,
Alene our Alene-the French girl o.
1765, the highborn demoiselle whose
love had driven her to break the
chains of convention and given he1
J, courage to face the dangers Of New
i France. After swirl of skirts and q
preliminary pas seul, she warbled
mellifluously that she'd ,s