El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-18
= OOK out, there's.a step here!
81 Dorst

EFT OOK out, theresa step here!
Don't stumble
Ruth felt her way carefully
along the dark passage A sudden turn
brought her to the back of a deep
stage Uttered with scenery. The cur
tain was up. and far out in front could
be seen the empty house. dark and
ghostlike, with its rows of whitecov-
cred seats
Never been behind the scenes be-
fore?" laughed Trixie Mansfield. who
had invited Ruth to see IA rehearsal of
1.-The Wife's Sacrifice" a four-act me1o-
drama, which was to be put on the
road in the fall. and in which she had
part
Never" answered Ruth. "Oh, had
no idea 1t was like this.
A small group of persons were at the
other end of the stage. Two of them
were in their shirt sseevess One OF
the girls was calmly powdering her
nose with n soiled piece OF channels
and pocket mirror.
A stout, florid man, who, Ruth
learned later was the stage manager,
now called out. Lets get busy here
We're late as 1t is" :
would you rather stay back here
or go out 'front.'" Miss Mansfield asked
Ruth hurriedly.
\ "Oh, anywhere-just so I'm not in
the way"
sewen. then, run down in front. you
can see better there. Here, this way.
The steps are right there back Of the
boxes"
Ruth Sees the Rehearsal.
Ruth made her way down to the
front Of the house and slipped into
seat near the center of the orchestra
&1o droy
couple of chairs and table toward the
front Of the stage. A desk telephone
instrument was placed on the table
and also a newspaper dagger re
knife and a small brass box
Now, then, all ready. Miss Roberts,
Miss Roberts drew the hatpins from
a big sailor hat, threw it back of some
scenery, came forward and took a chair
by the table. She opened the newspaper
and pretended to read. The stage man
ager touched a bell at the side of the
stage A young girl who had been
standing at the back with a bandbox
in her hand came forward Miss Rob-
erts looked up
.oh. my hat from Florrinesl Open it,
Marie
Marie who was evidently the maid,
opened the box. and Miss Roberts
stopped over and took out an imagf-
nary hat. She walked over as though to
a mirror, with her hands to her head
as If she were trying on a hat
Ruth was conscious Of srude feel
ing of surprise at the crudeness of 1t
all. Why not have the hat and the
mirror? This trying on of an i'm
agfnary hat before an imaginary mir
ror seemed so foolish. Then one Of
the men came forward and threw
hat and a stick on the couch.
ooh, dear. this Is my new hat from
Florrine'sl Isn't it lovely?"
Very" without looking toward her.
Miss Roberts whirled around.
Howard, why. aren't you interested
in anything any more?"
II said your hat was very pretty.
What did you expect of me--raptures?"
ct expect you to take some interest
in your wife and your home. You
haven't
"Faold on, there" interrupted the
stage manager. you cross to the
right ON those lines, and You don't say
them like that. I expect you to take
some interest in your wife and your
home You are trying to express
there a real indignation. not nag
cling disposition. Now try it again,
and don't say it so snippishly."
81 expect you to take some real in
terest in your wife and your ="
''No-noEnow you're OVERRIDING IT.