The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-17

By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

I
room for him, changing at the same
time the position of certain articles of
| hand baggage
You are very kind" said the young
man.
Not at ALL replied the lady. Il am
! simply not especially selfish
1T is a case Of seltishness that
| causes me to make this journey" re-
marked the young man.
"Indeed.'' said the lady in tone
that seemed to invite further con-
| fidence.
Yes. My sister is an actress. She
has been an understudy for the lead
ing lady at the theater with which
| she is connected. My sister has a
natural talent for the kind of acting
required in the part and became I'M
| derstudy for it. hoping that she might
| get an opportunity TO play it and make
/ a hit in it She has already done SO
| in private theatricaiS. But the leading
/ lady has not been obliged to give over
! the part to her understudy once dur
| ing the whole time she has been the
| understudy. l didn't wish Bess to go
| come discouraged by her long wait
! have persuaded her TO give up trying
| TO be an actress and come home. If
| the leading lady would but give her
/ one opportunity to show what she can
| 30 it is quite possible that Bess might
/ get an engagement at a fine salary
The lady listened to this with con
siderable interest and at the end said:
/ You didn't say with what theater
| your sister is connected"
NO. | have no wish to openly ac
cuse her principal of seGshness.'
1t doesn't matter. am acquainted
with a number Of theatrical persons
| and know that Elizabeth TWining is
| uHderstudy for the leading lady at the
| National, who plays under the stage
name Helen Wadsworth, but who is
really Miss Stanforth. I'm glad you
have told me of this case of your sis
ter. 1t puts the matter of an under
study in Il different light from the way
theatrical persons see it, They con
slider an underStudy some one who is
prepared to take a part in case the
actor or actress must be temporarily
laid off They are Il selfish lot and
| don't suppose it has occurred to this
Helen Wadsworth that by giving up
| one nights profit she might enable
your sister to make her fortune
IF you know her trust you will not
mention what | have said
Il do know her and. thought. very
we'll. but from what you say | have
not known her as we'll as | supposed.
| shall suggest to her to give your sis
ter one night in which to play the lead
ing part. She doubtless receives some
thing like $500 for each performance.
and, though the amount is considera
BILE, it would be only about a sixth Of
her weekly income. The only excuse
for her not having given way in favor
of your sister is that the purchasers OF
tickets pay to see Helen Wadsworth
and not Elizabeth Twining."
Il never thought of that said the
young man.
IF it is an excuse it is poor one"
Young Twining was very much
pleased with his rencounter and what
it promised The lady did not say that
she would secure his sister the oppor
tunity she desired. but she intended
to try Twining begged her to APP
proach the subject gingerly. to which
she readily agreed, assuring him that
on no account would she make any
trouble. However. she cautioned him
against raising any hopes in his sister
that might not be realized.
Twining arrived in the city in the
morning, and the same evening word
was sent to the manager that Helen
Wadsworth had taken q cold and her
voice had become so husky that she
would not be able TO play her part
that night. Miss Twining who ex-
pected at the end of the week to go
home with her brother, was hopeful
that her going might not now be nee
eSSary.
She hardly did herself justice. being
agitated at assuming so important a
role But Helen WadSwOrth sent word
that she would doubtless be confined
to her room for several days and per-
haps longer. SO the understGdy had
more opportunity. On the second
night she did her best. making a pro-
nounced hit. which was maintained
in the other performances. Then Helen
Wadsworth returned to her work
On the last night that Elizabeth
Twining played the principal part. aft
er being called before the curtain
again and again. she found a n invita-
ton in her dressing room TO sup with
Helen Wadsworth and bring her broth
err who. the hostess had heard. was
with her The two were driven to the
hotel where the actress was stopping.
expecting TO find her with her throat
wrapped In fiannels- But she advanc-
ed TO meet them with no signs of i'll
ness and with an extended hand for
Mr.. Twtning.
She was the woman he had met on
the train.
Permit me to thank you" she said,