Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-11-11
The Reunion

It lacked 10 minutes 70 q quarter
OF 10. the time set by Manager Harris
for a rehearsal Of the "Womans
Love" company. when Nina Forsyth,
cast for small role in the company,
awoEe from bar sleep tired. and with
the caustic remarks the manager had
thrown at her the night before still
ringing in her-ears
In case OF sickness and adversity
he was as gentle as a woman. but in
business, ahl that was where ho
showed the cruelness OF his nature.
With a bound she left the bed and
hastily dressing herself ahectionately
patted a golden haired mite OF hu.
manity on the bed which she had just
left, saying. BE good, dearie; mother
will soon return" Drawing on her
outside wraps she descended the long
flight Of attic stairs and went out into
the storm which every minute was
increasing in its intensity. AS she
rounded the corner of the street, she
drew her garments closer about her
body when the wind in a crescendo Of
rage blew the powdery bneness into
her face.
Nina Forsyth had not chosen the
stage as her vocation or because she
loved It, but because it afforded her
self and child the best means of sup
port, when her husband Richard For
syth, had left her in anger some
years before, SO it may be the reason
why Manager Harris had never I'd.
vanced her from minor roles TO that
of a star, because she was not heart
and soul in her work.
She arrived at the theatre. where
Manager Harris was putting some To-
cal recruits through the big mob
scene, and was about to go to her
dressing room. when he beckohed for
her to approach, With secret fear
possessing her and with starvation
staring her in the face should she be
discharged, she obeyed her call.
Mrs. Forsyth" he began. clearing
his throat She was sure her hour
had come. Mrs. Forsyth, the com
pany move on tomorrow to Kingston,
so be in readiness"
"Yes," she replied, secretly pleased
at the news, then as she was turning
to go he said. "Then there is one
more thing; Bennett, the leading lady,
was taken suddenly Ill last night and
may not be able to go on, so be in
readiness; If you make good, it's
yours for keeps" So saying, he turn
ed his attention to the local recruits.
With tears of joy moistening her
cheek she sought her dressing room.
Could 1t be that after all these years
Fate was going to be kind to her?
The rehearsal over Manager Har-
ris said: Keep 1t up. Mrs. Forsyth:
you're doing good work" Such words
were scarce from him, and when be-
slowed meant not a little. so with
heart lighter than 1t had been for
many day she sought her lodging
house, actually humming the air to a
popular song
Early in the gray dawn of morning
the company left town for Kingston,
where the initial performance was to
be held. AS the manager had pre-
dicted, Bennett still continued Ill. and
her husband. also playing male leads.
stayed behind to nurse the patient.
The manager was furious. He
stormed, tore his hair, but to no ap-
parent use we are ruined, simply
ruined" he cried in anger.
AS luck would have it there chanced
to be in town a company of stranded
players, held there by the storm, so
at the suggestion of Mrs. Forsyth he
decided to try and borrow their lead
ing man. He was successful. as he
had played the part before in another
company 1t was. however, impossi-
BILE for him to rehearse with them, so
Mrs. Forsyth did not see him until
their big scene in the fourth act.
AS she stood IN the wings waiting
for her cue. a vague. premopftion seiz-
ed her Could It be possible that Dick
was at hand? "Pshawl- she said. It
is only the imaginings Of an Overwork-
ed brain" and before she scarcely
realized was on" and doing splendid
work.
IL was the scene of a soldier lad
being welcomed by his sweetheart on
his return home from war
The lights were turned low, and in
the dimness Of the stage she thought
she beheld a familiar figure; her lines
left her. so she substituted. She
felt a strange gripping at her heart
strings and heard the manager say
fool. she's ruined the whole thing"
There was intense silence; .at last
II was broken by tumultuous ap-
plause. Bravo" they cried, and
Manager Harris knew then that sue
cess was assured. Little did he or
the audience realize the domestic re-
Cancellation that was taking place, or
that which followed after the show.
Thank God, you came at last
Dick, said his wife.
Yes, dear" he said tenderly fold
ing her In his arms, "but think what
might have happened had not Ben
net been taken sick" "Or even had
not the storm come as it did" said
she, looking coyly into his face. "And
you see Dick, after all it's 'woman's
love that makes the world brighter"
SARA KIRK.
Nofe.e