Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-07-26


 heard Julie deliver the message. Good night, Miss Dorcas," he said Sleep we'll. Remember, everything is all x:ght owe 1t to you. owe you more than you understand. You made good tonight: the papers will tell you so in the morning. Good night. God bless you!"
 Good night" The girl shivered for a moment. It was intensely cold, and she drew fur coat close to her chin The cabman drove quickly. for the streets were emptied of vehicles. Along Broadway the theaters were dark.
 Jason stood waiting to open the door when the girl ran up the steps. His dusky old face was one grin of delight He had just returned from the theater and was growing impatient for the triumph of homecoming.
 Missy" he cried, "yo' certify done us proud My soul! I couldn't CT b'lieved de baby I toted yeahs en yeahs oga ud ebber a lived to act ez fine ez yo' done. used to play was yo' black mule. I reckon yi' don member, honey, ridin' mule on oP Uncle Jason's back, do yo'? En dar yo' was, honey, a-workin' me up till l 'clar to goodness mos cried my or eyes out. When Marse Enoch come out en made dat speech folkses hol- lered en got to der feet clappin' en bangin' sticks on de floor, 'clar to de Lawd dar want prouder op darky in New York den Uncle Jason."
 Dorcas began to laugh and cry at once.
 T don wonder yo's all done up. Missy. Is got de fines supper ready fo' yo' yo' ebber see."
 Dorcas was too unnerved to eat. She swallowed cup of coffee and nibbled at the good things Jason had prepared. Then she went upstairs and began to undress. She brushed her hair, plait- ed it in two long braids, and slipped into gray kimono, which folded it. self about her in sheeny waves. The coffee had driven sleep away. She tossed shawl about her shoulders and ran down through the silent house to the library. Wentworth often read there until long after midnight, and coal fire was burning brightly.
 She pushed an armchair close to the hearth and dropped into it wearily. She realized that she was very tired. She had not thought of nerves or body during the long weeks of rehearsal, with the incessant study, the multi tude of detail, and the strange irregu- larity of life.
 She began to live over again the last few hours and drew a long breath as she remembered the strangling terror which laid hold of her before she made her first entrance. When she heard her cue she felt dumb, crippled, almost blinded for one moment. The smile on Zilla Paget's face, as she stepped from the wings, stung her into action. There was scorn in 1t, and cruelty smoothed over by sweet, beguiling perfidy, which aroused in the girl a sudden hate that she had never felt in her life before. The hatred made her forget everything except her part.
 The recollection of bit of gossip had flashed to her memory: Zilla Paget had prophesied that her Cor della" would be dead failure. Be- fore the end of that second act the in- tense loathing and scorn which Merry had put into her lines became real. The woman understood. She shrank with terror which was scarcely simu- lated during the girls denunciation of a mother who had lost all claim upon a child for love or respect Seven times the curtain rose and fell upon the two women. Once a volley of misses was hurled at Zilla Paget, and she smiled in happy triumph. Oswald and Merry stood in the wings watch ing the act. The intensity which Dorcas threw into her part stirred both men strongly, as it did the audi ence. They had anticipated womanly sweetness and tenderness, but they had not gauged her emotion to the depths.
 'I never dreamed she could do any thing like this" said Oswald slowly.
 Merry did not speak. He had caught Zilla Paget's subtle smile. He knew there was more than acting in the scene.
 While Dorcas sat gazing into the red caves of the coal fire she went over each situation in the play, step by step. Once she buried her face in the folds of her shawl; her cheeks were throbbing hotly. She felt Merry's kiss burn upon her lips. There had been no real kisses at rehearsal. The trust and love and gratitude with which the broken old convict turned to his child seemed real for moment; she felt it when the actor touched her lips. Then she had fallen sob. ,.bfhg into his arms. She heard the audience sob with her. When she turned to glance aside through half blinded eyes. she met the derisive smile of Zilla Paget, who stood in the wings. There was jealousy in hel scorn. Her part was over for tho night; she was dead to people ir front. They had forgotten her. in spite of the applause she had won a hal