The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-01-31

the girl. She had never seen a play,
but she had read. She had but to be
cast as Little Eva In "uncle Toms
Cabin" and romance, fame and the
world were hers. At first she had
doubted her talents, but after commit
ting a fifty-word speech to memory
and repeating 1t to the manager, he
had pronounced her marvel, and she
had doubted no more
Brother Jimmy had overheard
enough, so that they were obliged to
take him into their confidence. In fact,
ON the night Mary left the house he
had carried her satchei for three miles
on the way to the village.
When his story had been finished
and. there were many other details
both father and mother looked at Zeb
Never before had they seen paleness
through hts sunburn--his eyes look 50
Eteely, his jaw 80 hard set. They
didn't ask what he was going to do;
they could read IL In his face. The
New York Uncle Toms Cabin Com
pany was to foPcgfther that night at
n village twenty-five miles away for
rehearsal previous TO taking the road.
The boy Jimmy had II all down pat.
II he had only been year or two old
er, 80 he had been told, ne would
n0yG pGSu l4kGN HDnS III Hlut-sbtE
part OF George Harris.
Zeb Hastings went upstairs and
changed to hts Sunday suit. When he
came down he went to the barn and
harnessed the old mare to the demo-
crat wagon. He had the barnyard
gate open to drive out when Mrs.
White came out and asked between
her sobs:
'.Zeb, what you goin' TO dot"
Coin TO tipover Uncle Toms
cabin"
He drove to the village where Mary
must have taken the train, put UP the
horse mt the tavern barn and then went
to the depot to wait for his train. Men
who knew him for good fellow shook
hands or slapped him on the back. and,
sitter looking at him in his Sunday
suit, asked IL he Was going away to be
married. To their surprise he replied
that he was. He wasn't mentioning
names. but he expected to bring wife
back with him.
At O'Clock In the afternoon Zeb
Hastings was landed at the depot In
Schofieid. He made few inquiries,
got a bite to cut and then made his
way to Turner's hall. A citizen named
Turner had had the enterprise to turn
the second story of his hardware store
into y place where outraged taxpayers
and other bodies might meet. Theat-
ricais had been given there. and there
were bills on the walls and boards an
nouncing that the Uncle Tom Com
pany would take its chances at an
early date.
A rehearsal had been called for 2
O'Clock. and as Zeb made his way into
the hall II was just beginning. He
paused for a moment to locate two of
the sactors---sMary White and the
summer boarder. Then he advanced
and lifted hiHHself apen the stage
Mary stared and turned pale and
recognize the farmers hired man.
and he advanced and demanded why
the Intrusion.
Il have come to act," replied Zeb.
and he proceeded To do SO.
1t was great acting. II never VIII
be beaten. 1t brought 5er1a the man,
ager and the sibdsa--the manager
first. BED didn't have many speeches.
ssat the action was superb. He seized
that manager by the hair and shook
him silly Then he naopped the stage
with him. Then he booted him about.
The women of the cast crowded to-
gether and shrieked and screamed.
They were real shrieks and screams--
warranted three ply. THE gentlemen
In the cast woke up after bit and
pitched into Zeh in body. There
was No make-believe in that uitch
but they were as straws in forty
mile gale. Down went Uncle Tom,
and down went Legree. The Law
yer Marks was tossed aside like
chip. and George Harris received two
Black eyes in ene-two measure.
1t took Feb Hastings just nine min
utes 10 tip over Uncle Toms cabin
and Uncle Tom and everybody con-
nected with 1t and bring about a
financial wreck When he had finish
ed he herkoned 10 Mary White. She
came over ana took his. arm. and
they left the hall together. II was
II o'clock that night when they drove
up TO the farmhouse. The family was
at tho gate. and the mother rushed
forward with extended arms to cry:
"oh. Mary. how could you--how
ccuid--t"
'scut Il out.- INTERRUPTED zeb.
Mary and me was married before
We left Schofield. and there's been
acting nun for one day."