The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-05-19
and talked about her all the time.

and talked about her all the time.
81 wish you wouldn't" | said one
day. II know she's beautiful, and
can act like a dream, and all that;
but you needn't rub it in
How about you raving over Gun
ningham all the time?" he retorted
sulkily; which was so absurd that
went back to the hotel without speak
Ing to him again.
And then the most awful thing hap
pened You know the scene at the
beginning of the last act-when we
are all at breakfast and the wife
sweeps In In rage? Well, it starts
with grapefruit, and l have a line
when l taste it and say-to Mr. Cum
bingham:
It's as bitter as-as you have been
to me, this last week."
Well, put that stuff in my mouth,
and at once the most dreadful pain
began just in front of my ears and
seemed to go all over me. My tongue
drew up and my jaws locked perfect
ly tight! | tried to swallow and
couldn't, and there | sat, while Mr..
Cunningham looked at me and waited
for his cue.
AT last he went on without my
speaking, which caused q litter and
made him wild However, the rest Of
the act went we'll In the farewell
scene, where he goes to Africa to
the war, tried to warn him to kiss
me on top of my head, because by
that time | knew that | had the
humps and | was In fever Of fright;
but Mr.. Cunningham's big scene al
ways carries him off his feet, and that
night, to my horror, he kissed me
twice
Hopper, the stage manager, nearly
went crazy when | told him.
Now I'll get it," he groaned mo,
not the humps, but the devil! You'll
have to go on-that's all. Wear q
p-anything-but don't put
Cunningham up against new ingenue
when he's up in the air with new
play"
Then you'll have to cut out the
grapefruit" | said with a shudder.
ut will have to be bananas, and |
can wear big null ties to my garden
hat In the last act and feather boa
in the second
So we fixed it. was not very ILL.,
and after all, Mr.. Cunningham took
the news like lamb, even sending
me some jelly his chef had made.
But a week later Baldwin stopped
suddenly and made an awful face over
his lemonade In the tennis scene
knew then what had happened; and
when he came to rehearsal the next
morning with his neck-line entirely
obliterated. and with a silk handker
chief instead of collar, we all knew
He was quite shiny in spots-I wal
never like that, thank goodness! Hop
per had to take his place, and Mr.
Cunningham looked like a thunder
cloud
Then he sent for me- | went II
fear and trembling. He was in from
Of his dressing mirror. CRAVING his
hair on top. 1t Is naturally little
gray over his ears. When | csme II
he got up very courteously and drew
out chair.
"Will you wait just moment7'
he said, and finished what he wa
doing.
The dressing-room was q Hitter, o
course, and right at the bottom o
the mirror was picture In a silve
frame. II was a girl In black gown
and 1t was exquisite-the picture. no
the gown. l thought that very hkel
It was the girl he was In love with
for, of course. he would be tn Low
with some one
| knew what was coming before b
| said II. | clasped my hands tight u
gether to keep me from crying. an
my feet felt numb and cold. wa
, horribly, awfully afraid Of him, an
yet l had the most dreadful inclini
ton to pat down his hair where b
{ had rumpled 1t up in the back.
Now, Miss Eleanor" he said, turf
, ing round and facing me, IN tell 20
h why l want to talk to you. You al
). looking i'll and tired; what would Ii
e little mother say to me?"
' That was the worst thing he coul
a have said. l choked up In a minui
5 and put my head down on the back
/, my chair.
h 'I-k-know | can't act!" l sobbe
;. But it's mean to put 1t of on mot
y err"
4 You can act" he said very gent
I That's the trouble In fairness