The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-10-26
Helen Tracy's
Love Affair
By MOLLY McMASTER

by MOLLY MCMASl Elk
Helen Tracy had become an usher
at the theater in which Wallace Drew
was playing because she was, like
many other women, in love with the
actor
1t was scarcely probable that the
noted actor had evsn noticed her on
the few occasions when she had en-
tered his dressing room with a note
or message from the fair sex
Nevertheless. Helen continued to
gaze with adoring eyes at the matt
nee idol during the long run of a
successful play From the lines of
her hero to the half-line of the under
servant Helen knew the play. So
many times had she witnessed the
performance that she could have
gone straight through the play with
out break in the lines.
Only occasionally did she grieve
over the loss of money which had
been the cause of Ter having to leave
the dramatic schoo. at which she had
studied: only occasionally she longed
for the wild applause of the audience.
For the most part she was content to
see the play from the less nerve
racking side of the footlights.
Upon the last night of the run,
Helen went down to the theater in
a very detected state of mind. The
play was being taken out on the road
and there was no capacity in which
Helen felt that she could follow. She
had thought of asking for small
part when at the last minute a va
cancy appeared but her better judg-
ment told her that she would soon
grow tired of the one-night stands.
She entered the theater with a
heart-breaking picture of ew York
minus Wallace Drew, minus his pic
ture on all billboards and minus his
very name.
Helen found the company in wild
state of excitement. The leading
| lady could not appear and her under
| study had eloped that very day. There
were few women in the cast and
none of them in any way equal to
| stepping into the part.
Il will play Lady Everly, tonight"
| Helen Tracy said. 81 am word-per-
feet in the part, at least" she added
by way of encouragement.
The magnetism which had long
| been hiden beneath demure re-
serve in the little usher suddenly
made itself felt. Something in the
calm of her eyes sent its message to
| the manager. He breathed a sigh of
| relief; it was the last night, anyway.
| and the girl at least had beauty and
grace in her favor.
All of the company save Wallace
| Drew felt that rescue had come In
the form of Helen Tracy. He alone
was morbidly sensitive. He was a
great actor and therefore fearsome
of his own work when playing oppo
site an amateur
Have you played at all?" he asked
II have studied-a little," Helen
She was a trif1e angered that the man
she loved should be the one to damp
en- her courage
| His gloom deepened when he dis.
covered that there was no time to
rehearse one scene The theater was
even then being opened,
Helen Tracy flew to the stars
dressing room and put herself into
! the hands of the stars maid and into
the stars gown for the first act
| Trckilv tho GOWNS fitted
Flushed with excitement and with
eyes grown wide and brilliant Helen
gazed at Ter reflection in the stars
mirror
She realized that she was beautiful
in a way far more compelling than
the woman whose clothes she wore
She smiled at the maid who had
dressed her and found encouragement
in the admiration in the woman's
eyes.
Il admire your pluck" said the
woman, land even if you can't act
you're a joy to look at She turned
aside to pick up Helen's plain gray
suit. Il don't know where you've
been keeping your good looks all this
time" she remarked frankly.
Helen laughed and pointed to the
suit. "In those" she said
Helen stood in the wings awaiting
her cue. Her nerves we're strangely
steady The thing had come upon
her SO suddenly that the tremor of
, anticipation had fortunately not been
! hers.
Her heart thumped for a moment
when she first spoke in the words of
Lady EVERY and met Wallace Drew's
eyes on the artificial side of the foot
lights. but she soon found her
strength
AS the play proceeded Helen Tracy
watched the light grow In the actors
eyes. She was compelling admira-
ton in the eyes she loved just as
she was drawing her audience with
her.
Unconsciously, shade more of fer
vor crept into Wallace Drew's acting;
Helen Tracy responded and the long
pent-up love which she had held in
her heart so long burst forth and made