The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-11-28
CHAPTER Vii-Continued.


parts were In rehearsal except two.
An Englishwoman, Zilla Paget, was
crossing the Atlantic to play Mrs. Es-
terbrook-" Oswald refused obstinately
20 give .-Cordelia" to any acHess that
Wentworth suggested
we must close with somebody
mighty quick" said Enoch, when Os-
valid had turned down Katherine
Dean.
Miss Dean is not even to be
thought of" answered the Englishman
decisively. She's beautiful but
where's her feeling, her intelligence? :?
! sat watching her face-the light fell
strong upon her while you talked
There's absolutely nothing to her but
beauty"
She can act" insisted Wentworth
I've seen her act. 1t isn't acting
we want in 'Cordelia The woman
who plays 'Cordelia' must have feel
Ing, tender compassionate understand
Ing. dignity. with a young face-not a
face into which youth is painted"
"'Cordelia' must have beauty"
We may get both. | am not search
ing for 'Cordelia' among the stars: |
have hopes of finding her among the
unknowns."
That's a risky proposition" said
Wentworth impatiently. "'Cordelia'
Is big part Why, it's almost leading
business-t ought to be in rehearsal
now"
Wait few days" suggested Os-
wald. Now, tell me. when is Merry
to show up? He should have been
here a week ago Can't you wire him
today?"
I'm do it right away" Wentworth
tossed his hat ON his head and left
the office. He drew long breath.
when he stepped out on the side walk
and looked anaiously up and down
Broadway as if hoping TO see Merry
approach with his nonchalant stride.
He paused for moment to light d
cigar, then started at brisk gait
down the street He was accosted
here and there by a friend Each one
offered congratulations He was in no
mood for that sort of thing. A block
further ahead he saw Phillips OF the
Herald in the moving throng There
would be no escaping him He
jumped on a downtown car. and a few
minutes later he was at the Battery
He stepped OF and crossed the square
The tide. WAS coming In and stiff
breeze blew OF the ocean
! He seated himself on a bench and
watched the spray dash over the pier
Thronxs came and went, but Enoch
d1d not see them. His mind was cen
tered desperately upon one anxiety:
Merry must be found He had felt
30 certain that the actor might appear
at any moment that he had allowed
Oswald to think he knew where he
was. He reported him haltsick. try
ins 10 recuperate and hating the
Worry Of a lawsuit with an Agry man
Ager. which Oswald was trying to
settle out OF court He assured him
that the comedian was letter perfect
in his part; all he needed was to ap-
pear at late rehearsals. The strain
however. was telling on Wentworth.
He had grown nervous and irritable
Oswald saw traces OF it. but laid it to
anxiety over the preparations for hts
play.
Dorcas realized the change in her
brother and felt it keeniy. She con-
1rasted the care-free. generous, gay
Enoch as he had been month ago.
with the man who had aged suddenly.
who was growing morose, fretful. un-
communicative, and impatient over
trf1es. Day after day she saw less
Of him. His plea was hard work, so
the girl was left to her own devices.
She had few friends in the city. She
spent the fall days in long. solitary
walks. and her mind dwelt constantly
on Merry. Her brother scarcely men
toned the play to her. She read news
OF 1t in the papers. Through them
came the information that Enoch had
relinquished journalism and was work
ing on the production of new play
by a new author She drew a long
breath of relief over that announce
ment She felt sure Enoch would do
full justice to Merry when the time
arrived. She was too proud to ask
questions. Her brother had always
taken her completely into his conf
dence; she was certain he would do SO
again when the toll and worry we're
over.
Wentworth watched her closely. He
realized how she felt his reticence and
change of feeling; her every glance
told It, He wondered frequently what
the thoughts were that she did not
Dut into words. In every woman he