The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-06-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
She Went A.PLAYING
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART.

home at night and Anne could 81
around at rehearsals; but this was dill
ferent. And then think she wa!
afraid of Mr. Cunningham. He wa
supposed to have as much temper al
he had professional reputation, and
Of course, that was colossal
l coaxed mother over at last. Tom
my had the mumps, and she was 81
worn out with him that she gave in
The whole family had hand in get
ting my costumes ready, and | Dor
rowed Anne's feather boa, little think
ing what use 1t would be put to!
The rehearsals were pretty bad
One morning Mr.. Cunningham made
me go through a six-line speech-tht
one whare find the revolver and take
out the bullets and then snap 1t a
him-17 times. | was pretty tired
and when he said, "Now-again,"
turned on him like wildcat.
IF you make me do 1t again.
snapped, II won't take out the bull
lets!"
He laughed-can you believe it? He
laughed, and | fumed, and it was bed
lam all around | went home ant
wept 1t out on Tommys pillow-which
made him think he was going to die
and his poor, comical face went al
notified But-Mr. Cunningham kept
me That's where the tragedy comes
in.
He was very particular with me or
the road. Once or twice he said that
some day | would learn to act and
walked on air for days. He had his
private car, and was very comfort
able; but the one-night stands nearly
killed me. We followed right along
after monstrosity called THE Merry
Maids Of Manchester" and the bell
boys thought 1t funny that we had nc
sing In the parlor and call one another
by our first names.
Baldwin, the juvenile, was very nice
to me, and we took long walks in
the mornings. picking up postcards to
send home, and sometimes running
over our scene in the second act
where my guardian-Mr. Cunningham
steps In and says: DO you love
him, Hilda? He-he Is a splendid
fellow" And, OF course, every one
in the audience knows the guardian
is In love with me and Is going to
Africa II ! take Baldwin. The guar
dian Is married. you see, and Miss
Darcy played the wife.
The funny thing was that Baldwin
was really crazy about Miss Darcy
and talked about her all the time.
Il wish you wouldn't" | said one
day. Il know she's beautiful, and
can act like a dream, and all that;
but you needn't rub it in"
How about you raving over Gun
ningham all the timer" he retorted
sulkily; which was SO absurd that
went back to the hotel without speak
ing to him again.
And then the most awful thing hap
pened, You know the scene at the
beginning of the last act-when We
are all at breakfast and the wife
sweeps in in a rage? Well, it starts
with grapefruit, and ! have line
when | taste 1t and say-to Mr.. Gun
ningham:
It's as bitter as-as you have beer
to me. this last week.
Well put that stuff in my mouth
and at once the most dreadful pair
began just In front OF my ears ant
seemed to go all over me. My tongue
drew up and my Jaws locked perfect
ly tight! | tried to swallow ant
couldn't. and there ] sat, while Mr.
Cunningham looked at me and waitet
for his cue.
At last he went on without m,
speaking. which caused a litter ant
made him wild. However the rest o
the act went well In the farewell
scene. where he goes to Africa t.
the war ! tried to warn him to kis
me on top OF my head, because b,
that time / knew that | had thu
humps and | was in fever OF fright
but Mr. Cunningham's big scene al
ways carries him off his feet, and tina
night, to my horror, he kissed M
twice.
Hopper, the stage manager. nearl
went crazy when told him.
Now I'll get it," he groaned, INC
not the humps, but the devil! You'll
have to go on-thats all. Wear
| nightcap-anything-but don't pu
| Cunningham up against a new ingenu
when he's up in the air with a ne,
| play"
Then you'll have to cut out tn
grapefruit" | said with shuddel
1T will have to be bananas, and
can wear big null ties to my garde
hat In The last act and feather DO
In the second"
so we fixed It. was not very II
and after all, Mr.. Cunningham too
the news like lamb. even sendin
me some Jelly his chef had made.
But a week later Baldwin stoppe
| suddenly and made an awful face owe
his lemonade In the tennis scene.
knew then what had happened; an
when he came to rehearsal the ne,
morning with his neck.line entirel
obliterated, and with a silk handke
chief instead OF n collar we all knew
He was quite shiny in spots-I wa
never like that. thank goodness! Ho
per had to take his place. and M