The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-10-25

Copyright. 1910. by Doubleday. Page (,
 Company Copyright. 1908. by
 the Mcclure Company their many doublings came first, which last, Loveland could not conceive; but, standing in the wings waiting for his own dreaded turn. he was filled with an increasing respect for the barn stormers, male and female. They could act, too, most of them, which seemed to him the strangest part of all. for he had not expected to find the satellites of Bills little star twinklinG with the light of talent As for his own performance, he realized before it had begun that such histronic efforts as had won him applause when an amateur in London would not be good enough to gain him admiration as a professional in Modunk. It was an- other thing when, as a handsome young soldier, Lord Loveland had swaggered easily about the stage. pleased with himself and pleasing every one else. because every one had come with the intention of being pleased.
 Here in remote little Modunk the audience was evidently far more crit teal, and if it didn't like what it saw it said so audibly with a voice from the cheap seats or at least fndulged in prolonged fit of bored coughing. If Loveland could have gone on 'tas him self" as Jacobus had said, he might have captured the fancy of the girls, but as old Dave Dreadnought i'll a wild wig and moth eaten beard lent by Pa Winter the new addition to the com pany could conquer the audience only by sheer force of acting.
 Fortunately for Loveland, he was not obliged to walk on to the stage in an- swer to a cue or 1t seemed to him that he could not have moved. It was bad enough to be discovered" in the act of being murdered, and as the moment came when he would have to make his first speech his blood was beating like drum in his temples. His throat felt dry. and when his cue to speak was given by Jacobus with meaning em- phasis he could only swallow and glare. Not a word of the carefully rehearsed part could he remember, and, involun- tarily looking out in front, thing Ed Binney had warned him not to do, it seemed as If the rows of faces down below the yellow footlights were leap ing up at him like a wave.
 Just as Jacobus bent over him, fran tically glaring, ready to prompt and swear at the same time, Loveland's frozen hesitation melted into words and gestures, the right words, the right ges- tures Jacobus sighed q great sigh of thanksgiving, and Val delivered his curse with transport of zeal. He was half frightened at his own explosive ness, but the audience enjoyed it, and when the curtain went down upon his death there was a round of applause.
 Though dead as Dave it. was his business to rise again in the third act as young man of fashion-a youthful butterfly from an ancient chrysalis- and, drunk with the sweet draft of tri- umph, he made the change gayly, as happy for the moment as if he were playing before an audience of kings and queens.
 He had dressed and was lurking in the wings again, watching with some interest the arrest of the leading man for his Goveland's) murder on false evidence snakily given by Ed Binney, when Miss de L4isle fitted noiselessly up, very, insuf1cientIy disguised as a boy.
 'T suppose you do remember that you're a young English LordP' she whispered anxiousIy.
 Loveland started and stared. Had she found him out?
 ''In your next scene" she explained.
 "Oh," said Loveland, relieved. "Am Ier-a lord?"
 ''Yes. Didn't Jacobus tell you? But perhaps he thought it didn't matter D
 "It doesn't seem to-" retorted Val, smiling faint1y at his own hidden meaning.
 You're supposed to be the son of the Duke of Highgate. Pa Winters the duke, you know. Of course though, you haven't seen the whole play yet, only your own scenes, sc you can't keep track of everything You have only to walk on, or, rather waltz on with Miss Moon, you know And when she goes off and I come on in girls clothes again you must Say The next is mine, believe with an English draw1. But the parts dowE on the program as Lord William Vane'
 By Jovei I know Willy Vane He's in the Black Wa began Loveland but he bit his lip and broke of abruptly.
 |EThe human flower laughed. q don't suppose your friends a lord though"
 Loveland did not reply as the choice lay between a flb and an affirmative
 You ought to know how lords be have more than any of us,' went on the girl, "as you're an Englishman suppose you've seen some?''
 "Yes, a few" said Val cautiously. Were they very haughty?''
 'Not all of them"
 "Well, as you've seen them you'll know just how to act, and you look real swell. Perhaps you'd rather watch Jack Jacobus' big scene than talk to me. I have to go. anyhow. in about four minutes"