The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-12-12

absurd irritation.
Oswald hesitated Not actually
criminal. ! suppose. The law has not
made so fine a point as to indict a
woman when she drives a man to sui
eide"
What do you think of changing in
her part7" asked Wentworth
brusquely
Il was going to suggest you make
| Mrs. Esterbrook' coarser, more fam
boyant. more heartless. Do not give
her a solitary trait OF motherhood.
She is the very opposite OF Cordelia.
with her love and tenderness for a
broken father
How do you account for a woman OF
that sort having such a child"
Really now. Wentworth. that's up
to you: both OF them are your crea-
ton"
Yes. certainly" Enoch laughed
grimly. Still IT is an anomaly you
don't often see In real life"
lit is" assented Oswald Here's
Miss Paget-watch her in the scene
I've mentioned
The eyes OF both men followed the
woman as she moved slowly across the
stage. She dropped into chair and
waited for her cue, She did not look
the traditional adventures. She had
curiously pale, transparent skin, into
which. during excited moments. the
blood flushed rosily. Masses OF yellow
silky hair were brushed back in sim
pie waves from her forehead. She
used little makeup or artifice of any
sort. Her eyes were intensely blue,
There was lovely cleft dimple in her
chin Although we'll along in the thir-
ties she retained her girlish face and
figure
Wentworth turned to Oswald with a
flush of irritation. 1t doesn't t seem fair
to make degenerate Of such WON
an; she doesn't look IT.
That's where the mischief lies.
answered Oswald quietly.
The rehearsal went on. Miss Paget
took her cue. Both men watched her
critically Wentworth drew long
breath when the scene with "Cordelia''
| in the second act was over. The wom-
an certainly could act
She'll do" said Enoch heartily.
I Only, he added after a moment $
hesitation. how does Dorcas strike
you? Is she strong enough? 1t doesn't
seem to me as if she saw all the pos
sibilities of Cordelia.
Wentworth. your sister is going TO
surprise you. Take my word for it.
She is nervous now, but
It's devil of a risk. 'Cordelias >
such big part and Dorcas has had
no training
She does not need trainng-the
conventional training you have IN
mind"
If she fails 1t puts me in a nasty
light with the publlC-producing play
simply to exploit my sister" Enoch
tone was curt.
She won't fail" Oswald spoke with
quiet assurance. Think over my sug
gestion about Mrs Esterbrook's' part
II is there where Cordelia' leaves her
the mother knows the daughter well
enough to realize 1t is goodby forever
that you want to cut out every spark
of motherly feeling. Once or twice
she almost pulls on the audience for
sympathy. When 'Cordelia shows her
contempt for the mother and skaters
her every ambition, there could not b..
a solitary throb of pity, remorse or
love-it is not in her"
Oswald dropped the subject. Went
worth began to twist his hands nerv-
ously. habit he had when disturbed
The Englishman sat back in silence.
watching the rehearsal intently. Mer
ry stood leaning against stucco pill
lar. In this act he did not appear but
occasionally, against the sharp com
mands of the stage manager. his voice
rang out in brief, concise suggestions
What a remarkable conception Mer
ry has of every character" whispered
Oswald Enoch did not speak GIL
bert resents my orders-in d fashion
continued the Englishman. ] told
him to act on any suggestion t. at Mer-
ry offered. Gilbert would not say
word if you went back and threw in an
idea here and there. stage manager
expects that from the author. | should
think you would do it occasionally
1T isn't in my line" Wentworth
, spoke sulienly. Every move is put
into the manuscript as plain as pike
staff"
Yes, but" Oswald glanced at his
companion curiously, then he dropped
the subject 1T strikes me Merry has
changed The night | spoke to him on
the l. he was like boy with some
grand secret up his sleeve. Today he
takes nothing but a half-languid in
terest in the whole thing. He is going
to give remarkable portrayal of
John Esterbrook.' but when he is not
acting he seems to have no interest in
life What do you lay 1t to-"
Don't ask me- mumured Went
worth. Hes a man Of moods, gave
up trying to understand him years
aRo"