Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-03-13
1t because had not had the heart t.
tell her the truth.

Bile act In paying me for play thnt
was worthless rather than hurt my
feelings 1t would be shame for me
to put you to such test again."
"You will permit me to read 1t sim
ply MS your critic, will you notT' re-
piled.
"We'l see about that when | have
finished It."
One evening soon after this when |
called on Alice | met theatrical man
ager well known to me coming away
from her house. wondered what he
had been doing there and wished to
ask him, but refrained. | thought he
looked at me with something akin to
jealousy. We bid each other good
evening and passed on without word
upon the subject that was uppermost
in the mind OF each. Entering the
house. found Alice. and It was not
long before | gave her an opportunity
to inform me why he had called.
"Oh, you mustn't think that you are
the only string have to my bow, "
she replied laughingly, and that WINS
all could get out Of her.
The next day as | was about TO en-
ter my office Parkinson. the man had
seen coming out OF my 1ancee's home,
passed by and. seeing me. stopped and
said
at seems that you and | are after
the same thing" he said
"The same thing! What do you
mean?"
Come Don't pretend to be stupid.
You know where | met you last even
Ing"
Certainly dor
"Well?"
"WellT
"I've got It all In my own hands, and
there's no use In your interfering. You
cant do anything"
you speak In riddles"
What nonsense! Own up, man,
You're trying to get ahead of me.
having been first In the field
"See here. Parkinson" | snId, with
rising color. Miss Woodruff IL engng
ed to me, and there's no use for you to
try TO get ahead OF me. II Is you who
are intruding."
The most singular expression came
over his face | have ever seen on the
countenance OF any one. He stood
gaping at me for few moments, then.
with an abrupt good morning. turned
on his heel and left me.
called on Alice during the after.
noon, hot for an explanation.
81 supposed" l said haughtily, that
you and | were engaged2"
$50 did l."
"Will you please explain what you
mean by encouraging another manT
81 encourage another mann
l told her OF my meeting with Par
kinson and Of his having accused me OF
trying to get ahead OF him She burst
into nm uncomfortable at Of laughter.
II think 1t time" she said, that you
and came to an understanding. SlI
down. hive story TO tell you"
| obeyed her Impntiently.
1.-THE first time | saw you" she said
"wns when left you play called
Consistency The next day the man
uscrlpt was returned to me by some
one who found II, though don't to
this day know where"
A cold chill began to creep down my
back.
II offered 1t to several other man
ayers and finally to Mr.. Parkinson
He brought It out under the name of
"A Sylvan Butterfly"
"a Sylvan Butterfly"
eyes. You remember that the play
was great success"
go on"
well, Parkinson made up lot of
losses on other failures through "A
Sylvan Butterfly Then you. out OF
Difference to my feelings, paid me $500
for play you had lost. Never mind
that now, dear; it's all In the family,
and I've made n good deal Of money
which you will share with me out Of
the play And now you can under
stand why laughed at you when you
told me OF ParklnsOn's accusation that
you were trying to get ahead OF him
He Is trying TO get me TO sign con.
tract for my new play. have been
holding of TIL could learn whether
you or he had better produce II. Hav-
ing made one success for me, he nat
urally feels entitled TO my second pro
ductlon He knew nothing about my
engagement to you and thought you
were coming TO see me with view to
getting my play"
Having finished her explanation. or.
rather, confession, she leaned back on
her chair and regarded me with an
amused expression, though there was
slight sign OF worry as to how !
would take IT, | sat thinking. and the
more / thought the more It was appnr
ent TO me that Miss Alice Woodruff
had held over me "A most beautiful nd
vantage Finally went to her and
took her In my arms.
"If you could play a part on the
stage" ! said, "as well MS you have
played me you would be the most re
markable actress on or on the boards
Let Parkinson have your new play
He Is entitled to II. and ! am not.
shall be content with your love; the
other fellows may have your plays"
II was this experience more than all
others that taught me that play Is n
lottery. My wife's second play was n
failure, and she never wrote another
one Parkinson lost on II what h.
had made on "A Sylvan Butterfly
and /, no far ~ my wife's plays were
concerned. came out with nothing LOST
or gained, but my profit came IN get
ting wife ! ndOre.