The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-02
THE HARVEST MOON A Novelization of the Drama
 of
 AUGUSTUS THOMAS By GEORGE HENRY PAYNE
Copyright. 1909, by Augustus Thomas

(Continued from Page 15.) -, Il never saw him look so worried, persisted the elder Miss Fullerton "You know we had to go through thu same thing with Dora's mother. really do not see why it is Dora can not settle down and be a decent wom an''
 "I shall be a decent woman, Aun Cornelia, even in the theater," replied the girl hotly and, fearing that tn, scene would become even more dis agreeable, started for the house as he. affectionate relative fired after her:
 That's what your mother said."
 In the meantime Fullerton had pu frankly to Holcomb his reasons fo. asking him to be his guest.
 'I have asked" he said as they sa about the table, Judge Elliott's ad vice about Dora's wish to play in you. drama. am little afraid that have not the influence with my daughter which should have, although I have a great deal of affection for her and she has for me. M. Vavin you know and before Judge Elliott we can speal freely, as he is an old friend and my attorney"
 Holcomb eyed the three with grin humor. With the exception of Vavin who would, he felt, at least have sym pathy with his ambitions and inten tions, he knew here was opposition, in nate as well as developed. The little ruddy faced lawyer, with his small sharp eyes, his years of good living marked in every lineament, showed al almost professional antipathy for tht stage in the very suavity with whicl he expressed interest in Holcomb's work.
 "Is it not rather unusual" said Judgt Elliott, some of the suavity going ou of his voice and the tone of the eros: examiner coming into it, flor a girl O, Miss Fullerton's inexperience to be of fered what in your business you cal stellar honors?"
 "It is," replied Holcomb.
 "And yet you say that you do no think your play would succeed with out Miss Fullerton in it," continued the judge. "Why not some actress of grea ability, of great experience, of grea' 'reputationT"
 Holcomb laughed
 "Net every person who goes to law judge, has been able to avail himself of your services, has he? We'll, 1t if the same way with us. The man ager is going to put on my play, bun he will not pay for the woman o1 established reputation that you sug gest. The very question of salary tha, he would pay the leading woman ha, been matter of dispute. I could have man who was suggested for the lead ing part, though the manager wal willing to give her three times tht salary he would pay Miss Fullerton would have killed the play before the curtain went up. The heroine in my play is a woman of culture, education sensibility, strength and temperament I pictured such a woman before had the honor of knowing Miss Fullerton but as I watched her play during those two weeks of one night stands she full filled the picture in every detail. In way I rewrote my play during those two weeks, for she suggested to me great many things that I had sensed but that I had not actually known"
 You have no sisters" said Judge Elliott, with self satisfied intuition while Professor Fullerton nodded ap provingly at the point that he per ceived the judge was making.
 "On the contrary" said Holcomb with a smile, T have three" And a, this M. Vavin, who had sat back en toying the scene with Mephistophelear humor, laughed loudly.
 '"They're OF the stage?'' asked the judge.
 ''No,'' replied Holcomb; "one is mar ried, another is at school, and the third is still almost an infant"
 Would you like to see them on the stage?''
 ''Let us get to the point, judge. Ii my sisters showed ability, if they hae any real talent for the stage, l coulc not see any reason why they shouldn't take that up as a career, provided il would make them happy. We are beat ing about the bush You, like great many other men who know of the the ater only as you sit on this side of the footlights or as you read your plays and your criticisms or as you read the scandals in the newspapers, have what is, to my mind, very unjust impres. sion of the people who work therein It is perfectly true that the law is still on the books of parliament in England which declares that an actor is vaga bond who may be arrested on sight fo1 the first offense, burned through the griStle of the right ear with a redhOt, iron of the compass of one inch for the second offenSe and sentenced to be hanged for the third. 1t is perfectly true that in Nj. Vavin's own country SC great man as Moliere was greeted by the rustics as he appeared on the high way with his troupe with these kindly sentiments: Lock up. the silver; here come the actors"
 ''You see," said NJ. Vavin, ''he admits it all."
 But" continued HOlcomb. If the social mark of vagabondage was on the profession of the actor at one time, what crimes are not traceable to the men in your profession? The actor at