Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-19

~SaA ~ Miss Bridewell's
sAp1WS/ apartment, at this
0619S4 morning hour. diff
fused a sense OF
GOODNESS of grateful shade. of delicate
acceptable scent Of garden flowers. MISS
Bridewell herself, in her white linen gown,
talking leisurely from the large depth Oh
wicker chair. was a note significant OF
coo, studied repose Frayley, a person
n whom one at once mentally assigned
an habitual frock coat, was the only
uoint of disuuietude in the room lie ap-
peared perspiringly conscious OF MS
fomenting irritation-the irritation OF
sleek. fattish five-and-forty which, In Us
own domain, DULLES itself out In Noisy
nrofane speech. on whomsoever happens
to be available.
.Then YOU don't want Irene La Farge!
he concluded with an effort at deIerehee
TO her desires.
"No-not at ALL" returned Miss Bride
well. indifferently.
well, Miss Brdewel. i tell you
straight the public like her and I'm none
TOO sure of this piece anyway. II you
could stretch point now-but. of course
If you insist" Frayley paused for a
vague. persuasive instant. LAS I say"
lie COHtihucu III :" ias'SA
you
Miss Bridewell smiled patiently. But
don't. | sha'n't have her. If she plays
in the company, I'll not. So you see?
Very well-then that settles It," groaned
Frayley. Who will play Berta! The
part needs
xk
Miss Bridewell lifted her fine mead with
something like interest. THE part needs
some one young and small and very pertiy
pretty in a very nice way, in lady way
she must be the incest kind Of a nice
girl to play the part"
Frayley stared at Miss Bridewell con-
temptuously "Ain't you little fussy?
Berta amt SO much; you know, I've man
aged good many plays and players In
my time and 1 never found 1t necessary
TO be quite $3.50 fussy." He plumed
himself confidently. settling his large
diamond into the groove Of his fat finger.
where you going to get such girl,
right OFF, he demanded. triumphantly.
II think I've got one" Miss Bridewell
replied, Ianguidly.
Got one! Who is sheT'
Her name is Lorimer-Louise Lori
mer."
Lorimer-Lorimer? Louise Lorimer3
Never heard of her. What's she done7"
asked Fraley, impatiently.
-
Probably you haven't heard Of her.
She hasn't ever done anything. She
wants to-" Miss Bridewell was gracious
1y explanatory.
Miss Bridewell." broke out Frayley.
''you can't do this. Let a raw little ANA
teur play Berta! My! You can't mean
that. It'll queer the show. It'll queer
your part. She can't feed you: she'll ba
SO scared she won't be aba to whisper.
Oh. come now"
Miss Bridewell pulled long-stemmed
rose idly toward her. while with cool.
irontcal eyes she smiled at her manager.
She came here yesterday to see me-
I'd never heard of her. you know. And I
let her do some things for me. She's
clever-crude, 1 admit-but clever and
pretty and 500 nice. With some help
she can get on-rn help her. When she
came into the room I almost cried 'Berta.
You must see her. I'll bring her to you
this afternoon. 1 told her I'd think about
her and tell her today whether thought
size could ever do anything with What
is IT. Annie?' She broke on ia speak to
the maid who entered.
"A gentleman, madam"
F'rayley frowned. II don't like 1t. I
tell you. But II you want to bring her
around and let me see her.
Miss Brideweli was looking meditative.
~ at the card the servant had brought.
"You may tell them to send him up she
said at length. ''Oh, she'll do she abb
sently answered Frayley, II like her. I
must have her for Berta.''
Frayley smothered angry retort. He
took up his hat in considerable annoy
ance. "Of course. / don't promise any
thing, Miss Bridewell."
She faced him rather insolently. You
know. Mr.. Frayiey. that II want her
I'll have her."
He departed noisiiy. Eerviss, Miss
Bridewelrs later guest. emerged from ths
elevator, noted contemptuously as Fray.
tey pushed by. muttering his feelings.
The encounter with Frayiey-if so II
could be termed-gave q sharper edge TO
Serviss' disgust at the conditions he felt
he was presently to endure. He shrunk
himself together with a scornful exhala-
hon Of breath between his closed teeth.
cBeast" he murmured. a. he sought Miss
Bridewell.
Miss Brdewell was too good an actress
not to have chosen the precise moment
for her entrance and the frank note which
her manner was at once to strike. She
came forward. nevertheless. with the ut
most sincerity. her hand out to Serviss.
Edward" she smiled. after all these
years."
Since she had made 1t a matter OF first
names, Serviss. unwilling. acQuiesced.
Eleanor" he found himself saying: and
In the unexpectedness OF her looking as
she did look. he continued, I'm very glad
to see YOU"
You haven't changed at ALL" she said,
abruptly. II once called you the ire
proachatle unapproachable.' Edward, do
you remember
Servss assented stifiy. The personal
turn to their adventure that che was max
ing affected him unpleasantly.
Serviss shifted uncomfortably, leaning
forward on his stick. Thank you," he
answered. You were always something
OF an analyst He cleared his throat
with dry sound and forced himself into