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

blind cropping hope for reconciliation
was at an end; still he knew II he
ever needed diplomacy 1t was now IL
he were to precipitate a storm. Mer-
ry WAS capable Of fiinging over his
engagement at the last moment
Let me explain" began Wentworth
laboriously. A tap at the door inter
rupted him. 1t was opened and Os-
wald stepped in. He seated himself
on the edge of a trunk.
Have you mentioned to Mr.. Merry
the suggestion l made about the sec
ond act?". he asked, turning to Went
worth.
We were discussing it when you
came in"
What do you think OF it, Merry"
Il really have not had time to give
it a thought" Andrew looked unin-
terested. Besides, you know l do not
come into that act and have scarce
ly seen it rehearsed." He picked up a
towel and began to wipe the makeup
on his face.
1T Is simply this. Mrs. Esterbrook'
is an utterly heartless woman. Dead
to conscience as she is at the begin
ming, she comes out of her life's trag-
edy calloused beyond all redemption.
1t strikes a false note to have her re-
pent for even a second. She does not
know what mother-love or love Of any
sort means. With her last exit she
ought to leave an audience hating and
despising her Now one feels a sud
den touch Of sympathy. She must be
irredeemably bad. Then, too. it is not
only true to the woman's character.
but 'Cordelia shines whittier against it
Merry nodded. You're right, l fancy.
Wentworth has only to change q few
lines to throw the whole thing plumb.
You can do 1t in half an hour. old
chap"
When Oswald turned to Wentworth
that puzzled him, a flash Of impotent
rage. hate. and apprehension. Enoch
realized he had revealed his soul for
a moment. He picked up his hat and
spoke brusquely. You two finish talk
ing it over. have q thousand things to
tend to-"
is Wentworth-is he touchy? Did
he feel that was cdticizing his play?"
asked Oswald anxiously when the door
closed with a hasty rap.
Il don't think It's that" Merry
spoke slowly. then he dashed to an
other subject. Il want to consult you
about changing one OF the people In
the cast, little Katie Durham"
'Oh. the child in the first act?"
She's a bright enough youngster.
She tells me she once got a hundred
dollars = week in vaudeville as toe
dancer" Merry laughed. "A toe
dancer scarcely fills the bill for the
small Cordelia.'
She struck me in rehearsal this
morning as lacking in something.
She is lacking In everything. She's
a stilted, grown-up. little brat; there's
nothing childlike about her. When she
clings to my neck shrieking. Father.
in that ear-splitting baby pipe OF hers.
she jars every nerve in my body"
Let her go. Only it is a problem
where to find a sweet. natural stage
child"
Il can lay my hands on one imme-
diately." said Merry quietly. It's
youngster who has never been behind
the footlights in her life"
Gould you do anything with her In
ten days."
Il should like to try. She's a gen
tie, refined, sweet-voiced little girl;
besides, she has dramatic blood In her
that always tells. Do you remember
George Volk?"
George Volk! Why, OF course"
cried Oswald after a moments hesita-
ton. What ever became of the man?
Did he die?"
Nobody knows" Merry's voice had
a bitter tone in it. Better for some
people il he had died. This little Julie
l want a chance for is his child"
Where is volk?"
Il can't tell you. If he's alive he
must be far down by this time. He
was a wretched sot when I saw him
last"
by Jove, what an impetuous stage
lover he did make. l saw him in big
production the first time l came to
America, then in London. He was the
hapdsomest man that ever stepped on
the stage.
"A handsome piece of beef! Ten
years ago he married one OF the sweet
est, most loyal women l ever knew.
She was on the stage. but she never
won much notice. Her work was SO
quiet and delicate that she appealed
to the few. She was in company
with me for two seasons. How Volk
made her suffer! The beast!"
rs she alive?"
Yes. I hadn't heard Of the Volks
for years. was going home last night
when a woman touched me on the arm
She was lame and looked i'll. A little
girl clung to her. l did not know her.
I'm Alice Volk.' she said. l put them
in a cab and took them up to Harlem.
to the best old woman in the world"