The Washington times., 1913-02-19

| which he knew he shared with th'
audience-with it's source, in fact
The opening scene in the development
of the drama Interested the gathinl
little or not at all: 1t was hanging II
suspense upon the unfolding of some cx
precedented and eXtraneous, foreign Il
the play.
Was It due simply to the fact that al
these people were present II the las
public appearance-as advertIsed--of {
star Of unusual popularity? Whitaker
| wondered or was there something elst
in their minds. something deeper. and
more profoundly significant:
Max slipped quietly into the box and
handed his guest a, program. Better
get over here" he suggested In a hoarst
whisper. placing a chair near the rail
you'll never have another chance tc
see the greatest living actress-perhaps
Whitaker thanked him and took the
Indicated place. albeit with reluctance
The manager remained standing for a
moment. quick eyes ranging over the
house. BY this time the aisles were sll
clear. the. rows Of seats presenting a.
almost unbroken array Of upturned
faces.
Max combined .Iod denoting satIs-
faction with slight frown indica ting
the reverse of that emotion.
Wonderful house" ne whispered, sit
ting down behind Whitaker. Drum
mond hasn't shown up vet. though"
THAT so?'' Whitaker returned over
his shoulder
Yes. it's funny: never knew him TO
be SO late. He always has the aisle
seat, fourth row. center. Guess he'll
be along presently. e." -
Whitaker noted that the designated
stall was vacant. then tried to fix his
attention upon the stage. but Without
faxx h0
became aware that he had missed some
thing important. The scene was mean
tngless to him, lacking what had gone
before
differently absorbing the Information
that Jules Max has the honor to pre-
sent Miss Sara Law in her first and
greatest success, entitled Joan Thurs
day'-a play in three acts"
The audience stirred expectantly: a
movement ran through 1t like the move
ment of waters, murmurous, upon Il
shore. Whitaker's gaze was drawn to
the stage as II by an inplacable force.
Max shifted on the chair behind him,
and said something indistinguishable in
an unnatural tone
the first left entrance. She appeared
suddenly, tempestuously. banging the
door behind her. The audience got the
barest glimpse Of her profile as. pausing
momentarfly, she stared at the other
actors In the scene. Then without speak
ing she turned and walked up-stage, her
back to the spectators.
Applause broke out like thunder
clap. pealing heavily through the big
auditorium: but the actress showed no
consciousness of it. She was standing
before a cheap mirror. removing her hat,
arranging her hsir with the typical. un-
conscious gestures of weary shop
girl: she was acting-living the scene,
with no zine to waste pandering to her
popularity by bows and set smiles: she
remained before the glass, prolongi1g
the business until the applause subsided.
Whitaker received an impression as OF
tremendous force at work across the
footIights. The woman diffused an ef-
feet az Of q terrible and boundiess en-
ergy under positive control. She was
not merely an actress, not even merely
great actress: she was the very soul
Of the drama of today.
Beyond this he knew in his heart
that she was his wife. Sara Law was
the woman he had married in that
sleepy Connecticut town six years be-
fore that night. He had not seen her
face clearly, but he knew. TO be proved
mistaken would have shaken the foun-
dation of his understanding.
Under cover of the applause he turned
to Max. ...F
who is that? What is her name?"