Norwich bulletin., 1912-06-18

tened to each and every familiar
speech of the second act and the deaf
ening applause at the latters logical
conclusion.
Trembling. he watched the curtain
rise for the third act, and doing so re-
NAMED silent, as in a stupor. Temple
leaned across the velvet embrasure in
front of him, drinking in every word
of dialogue and noting every change
of phrase, each new infection Of senti-
ment Unwillingly he found himself
forced to admit that the play as then
staged, gripped him in a thran 1t had
till then ever lacked. The comedy was
human. 1t pulsated with note OF real
life. Sullenly the angry man watched
! the audience, who voiced their ap-
| prevail in so stentorian and decided
| fashion on the curtains final fall. Five
| times it rose then from the back OF
! the pit rang out cry that on the
instant found its echo in every part OF
| the house.
! Author" he Kissed out in sibilant
echo from between his closely set
teeth. Heavens, l wonder if the scoun.
drel will take that call in full view OF
the man who is responsible for i've
sixths of the play?"
Temple paused, swinging round as
the door of the box, flung violently
| back on its hinges, admitted the burly
figure of O'Dowd. Hot and hurried.
the manager held out his hand in overt
congratulation toward the man who
stared into his eyes with menacing
fury.
Temple, it's a hit The things good
for a year, and Come, man. take
your call! Quick. Temple, none OF
your dashed modesty. There'n be
riot in the gallery If you delay facing
the music much longer" ODowd
lpaused, then added: Its the human
touch that's got them. ] said it would
and I was right. It's hit the house
squarely!"
Answer the call?" Temple muttered
vacuously. DO you want me to take
the call--to bow my Acknowledgements
from that stage there"
Where do you suppose I expected
you to take your call fron1-the pit
barr" o'Dowd laughed the words back
in amused query, Come on, Temple;
don't start getting platform fright, If
you think you'd make fool Of your
self If you spoke, just bow. That's all
l require at your hands, but l want it
quickly
YES, go. dear. Mr.. OtDowd is right.
Your play is hit-a big hit You must
have made 1t So"
Vaguely he looked into his wife's
face, q sudden comprehension fitting
across his brain as the softly uttered
words sank into his mind. The sensl-
tive culver of Helen's delicately CHS
eled lips, the significant moisture OF
her eyes raised to his in such sweet
command, reused into being all the ma
tive intuition Of his soul She had
} revised and rewritten the manuscript
Fl With a sudden hump of the shoulders
} Temple passed out of the box and into
J | a short corridor leading toward the
stage.
| A moment later Temple, facing the
audience, was bowling his acknowledg
ments to a crowded and enthusiastic
: house.
Great! The play of the year,
cried O'Dowd, cheerfully. welcoming
Temple as the latter came into the
{ wings. It's the human note that:
t wanted in things of this kind, anC
you've given IL. my boy-with tn,
: touch Of an artist, too, by jove!" You'll
l split bottle with me over this in m!
: room, of course? ASK Mrs. Temple t.
come, and-as 1 verify believe it wa
2 she who induced you to surrender you
r obstinate attitude will you kindly con
f vey to her my best thanks?"
You're right" said the playwright
. IF 1t hadn't been for her I'd have seel
] the Charing Cross at Jericho before
c Spoiled my idea of a good play"
Trembling with excitement Tempt
! pressed hotfooted on his way to tn
: box where Helen awaited his coming
= Opening its door with an abrupt jerl
1.-THE playwright, striding to where hi
j lwife stood clearly silhouetted in tn
t lgloom of the half darAened theater
took her in his arms
= A stif1ed sob of happiness answers
= the passionate phrasing Of the lip
= bent so closely to her ear and TEN
h pie, knowing women and their weak
r ness in the courts of joy, allowed hi
wife to weep undisturbed by any word
= Of his.
r Slowly the seconds sped in silence
s to find their rupture in sharp rap O
= knuckles on the panels of the door.
S Il say, Temple" drawled O'Dowd'
S voice in accents of languid impatience
e Are We going to crack that bottle to
G night or tomorrow morning?"-Tit
= Bits.