Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-06-11
CHAPTER vII-contInued.

Before the middle Of October all the
parts were In rehearsal except two.
An Englishwoman. Zilla Paget, was
crossing the Atlantic to play MRS. Es-
Textbook" Oswald refused obstinately
to give "Cordelia" to any actress that
Wentworth suggested.
I'VE must close with somebody
mighty quick" said Enoch, when os-
wald had turned down Katherine
Dean.
Miss Dean is not even to be
thought Of" answered the Englishman
decisively. shes beautiful. but
where's her feeling. her intelligence?
I 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. It isn't acting
we want In 'Cordelia.' The woman
who plays 'Cordelia' must have feel
ing, tender, compassionate understand
ing. dignity, with young face-not a
face into which youth is painted"
"'Cordelia' must have beauty"
I'VE 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'
10 a big part. Why, it's almost leading
business-it ought TO be in rehearsal
now"
wait q few days." suggested o.
valid. Nov, tell me, when 10 Merry
to show up? He should have been
here a week ago. Can't you wire him
today7"
I'll do It right away" Wentworth
tossed his hat on his head and left
the office. He drew a long breath,
when he stepped out on the sidewalk.
and looked anxiously up and down
Broadway as II hoping to see Merry
approach with his nonchalant stride.
He paused for q moment to light a
cigar, then started at a brisk gait
down the street. He was accosted
here and there by q 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 q downtown car, and few
minutes later he was at the Battery.
He stepped off and crossed the square.
The tide was coming In and a stih
breeze blew off the ocean.
He seated himself on a bench and
watched the spray dash over the pier.
Throngs came and went, but Enoch
did not see them. His mind was CEN
tered desperately upon one anxiety:
Merry must be found. He had felt
80 certain that the actor might appear
at any moment that he had allowed
Oswald to think he knew where he
was. He reported him half-sick. try
ing to recuperate, and hating the
worry Of a lawsuit with an agry man.
aEer, 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 APP
pear at late rehearsals. The strain.
however, was telling on Wentworth.
He had grown nervous and irritable.
Oswald saw traces of It, but laid 1t to
anxiety over the preparations for his
play.
Dorcas realized the change in her
brother and felt 1t keenly. She con-
trasted the care-free, generous. gay
Enoch as he had been a month ago,
with the man who had aged suddenly,
who was growing morose, fretful, I'm
communicative, and impatient over
TRIES. 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 a 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 were
over.
Wentworth watched her closely. He
realised 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
nut into words. In every woman be