Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-09-25
CHAPTER XIV.
The Opening Night.

DOrcaS stood mOtionleS5 In the
wings. with Merry beside her, leaning
against a table. The curtain had fallen
on the third act of @The House of Es-
Textbook" The girls body throbbed
from head to foot, and she felt as If
the emotions of a lifetime had been
crowded into that single hour. There
was "a babel of noise behind the
scenes; in front the applause sounded
like a tempest. AT intervals the hand
claps died away as from WEAKNESS,
only to begin again with tremendous
vigor.
Come" said Merry; I'VE must go
out again."
again? ?" whispered the girl.
YES" Merry smiled: this time the
two OF us Alone
THE two of us?"
The two of us-alone." There vas
a low. tender thrill in Merry's voice.
He took her hand and led her out
upon the empty stage. The curtain
was lifting slowly. From where she
stood she saw Enoch standing in the
wings. His face was flushed with ex-
citement. The audience looked to the
girl like a blur of color and human
forms. The people swayed forward
eagerly, and the applause became upl
roarious. A voice cried, Speech!
Speech!" 1t began to come insistent-
ly from the back of the house. The
cry was taken up by men and women
everywhere in the audience. Dorcas
turned to Merry, Oswald was beckon-
ing TO him from the wings, but the
actor shook his head.
Il could not make a speech tonight
If my life depended on It," he whis-
pered, and the curtain descended
slowly.
A new cry came from the clamorous
house. Some one was shouting for the
author. Dorcas laid her hand upon
Merry's arm.
They want you," she cried.
He smiled and shook his head.
She heard Oswald urge Enoch to
go in front of the curtain. The noise
in front grew louder. The girl flew
across the stage and put her hand
upon her brothers, shoulder.
'Enoch." she pleaded in a whisper.
take Merry with you and explain"
Wentworth left her without a word.
Oswald and the stage manager beck
oned to him from the wings. She took
a few flying steps as If to hold him
back, then stopped. Merry had called
her. She paused, staring into his eyes
with terror.
..Enoch must not go out there
alone" she protested in a low voice
"He must not do it. You should be
with him. 1t is the last chance he has
to make restitution. He will never
never do such a. thing as thisi"
Listen" she heard Merry's whis
per clearly through the din. Dear, il
does not matter. What does anything
matter? The play is a success. Yor
believe in me. did it--for you. What
do | car about the people out there
They are nothing to us"
"Ohi" cried Dorcas, "oh, l will II
and tell them myself. They mus
know!"
She darted toward the edge Of tn,
drop curtain, then she stopped. 4
silence had fallen, not only upon tn
house but behind the Genes Stag
hands who had been dragging proper
ties about stood motionless. A shive
crept over the girl. She felt Merry la,
his hand Oh hers with a steadyinI
clasp that seemed to quiet her. Sh
could hear Enoch speaking. He ha
a strong, vibrant voice. Every one be
hind the scenes was listening and UT
Outstanding except herself. His voic
grew blurred as faces in the audienc
had been. She turned to glance a
Merry. Once a look of consumin
hatred fitted across his face. and hi
lips grew pallid as gray ashes.
Dorcas pulled away from his clasI
ing hand and ran to her dressing-roon
She was choking with sobs. She fel
her fingers Jingle where Andrew ha
touched them, and there was a look {
terror in her eyes.
Alice Volk sat waiting for her in th
dressing-room. Little Julie jumped t
her feet when Dorcas entered. Th
girl did not speak, but clasped th
child to her bosom.
Alice" she whispered, "help me t