Ellsworth American., 1913-12-31
THE
UNDERSTUDY
., LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

,.,a Of cars stopped at station.
a,gps u,au came aboard aud looked
ar an empty seat. There was
nse vacant. and he sat down In IL
~ handsomely dressed. middle
= nay who moved aside to make
. = tOr him. changing at the same
I, the position of certain articles of
I'D baggage.
y, nj ali. replied the lady Il am
, .sanly not especially selfish.
=, e a cas. OF sciiishness that
.as.s mo to make this journey" re-
~,rked tbc young man.
a,,,,ssag~ said the lady in tone
|hst seemed to invite further CON
asace
~ My sister Is an actress She
:. b..en an underStndy for the lead
Z, lsdr at the theater with which
a connected. Aiy sister has
rstural talent for the kind Of acting
..suined in the part and became un-
s,r.tuay Tor Il. hoping that she might
r., an opportunity to play II and make
Il Nh In Il She has already done 30
|, nnyate theatrlcals. But the leading
AN has not been obliged to give over
~ par, TO her understudy once dur
sr The whole time she has been the
rsdsrs,ady. didn't wish Bcss TO 20
n The stage. and now that she has te-
,ou,e discouraged hy her long wait |
nave persuaded her TO give NJ trying
No m actress and come home. IL
b. leading lady would but give her
a. opportungty to show what she can
A. II l. quite possible that Bess might
gst an engagement at a fine salary"
The lady listened to this with con.
ssaerahle interest aud at the end said:
@Yon didn't say with what theater
yvur sister Is connected"
~No have no wish to openly ac-
case hes principal OF seIfishncss"
III doesn't matter. nm acquainted
with number Of theatrical persons
and know that Elizabeth Twinlng Is
gnlersgdy for the leading lady at the
National who plays under the stage
pane Helen Wadsworth. but who Is
really Allsn Stanforth. I'm glad you
have told rue OF this case OF your sis
ter, It pa-s the matter ot an unter
nBdy ia 4 different Ilght from the way
tAealricaj persons see H. They con.
saier an ulderStudy some one who Is
prepared - take part ib case the
actor OF a'trrss must be. temporarily
laid oa They are selfish lot. aud
! don't sui pose It has occurred to this
Helen Waisworth that by giving up
one nights profit she might enable
yous slsirf to make her fortuB""
III you know her trust you will net
mention - hat have said"
4 10 kn1w her and. | thought. very
well but from what you say have
Rot known her as well as | supposed.
shall suggest TO her 20 give your sis
Ter enc night In which to play the lead
ing part She doubtless receives some
thias Hke 500 for each performance.
ahd. thou,h the amount is cOnstdera-
hae, il s0 I'D be only about sixth Of
aeF week v Income. The only excuse
fer her nrt having given way in favor
Of yoar sister Is that the .l b ~ers Of
tickets psy TO see Helen Maus worth
AL act 8 izabeth Twfnlng"
! ne;e thought OF that" said the
yeung ms1.
III It Is Hn excuse IL Is poor one"
Young Twining was very much
pleased : ith hls rencounter aud what
Il proulsfsi The lady did not say that
she wouli secure his sister the oppor-
taHiiy sire desired, but sl.e intended
10 Try. Twinlng begged her to ap-
preach tie subject ginseriy. to which
sde readily agreed. assuring him that
On 40 account would she make any
Trouble. However. she cautioned him
against Rising any hopes Iu his sister
hat mlSat not be realized.
Twiuirx arrived In the city In the
morning and the same evening word
was sert to the manager that Helen
"adswoFth had taken cold and her
voice hsd become SO husky that she
would rot be able TO play her part
mat nIshL Miss Twining, who ex-
pected st the end OF the week to go
aoine With her brother. was hopeful
inas her going might not now be nee
esSary.
She hardly did herself justice, being
agiale'i at assuming so important a
'ole Put Helen wadsworth sent word
mat she would doubtless be confined
70 heF room for several days and per
@ps longer. so the understudy had
Iu'<e opportunity On the second
H'sR SIZE did her best. making a pro-
a'uheed hit. which was maintained
=. u the ather performances Then Helen
" adswo~th returned to her work.
on the last night that Elizabeth
awning played the principal part, aft |