Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-08-31
CHAPTER vi.

The great French dramatist, dark,
pale-faced and corpulent, stood upon
the extreme edge of the stage, BRAN
dishing his manuscript In his hand. He
banged the palm of his left hand with
the rolled-up manuscript and looked at
them all furlously.
"The only success / care for" he
Numbered, ais an artistic SUGGEST"
"With Miss Maurel playing your
leading part, NJ. Graillot," the actor
manager declared, mot to speak Of
company carefully selected to the best
Of my Judgment, think you may ven
ture to anticipate even that"
The dramatist bowed hurriedly to
Louise.
"You recall to me fact" he said
CALAMITY, (which almost reconciles me
to this dlabolical travesty Of some Of
my lines. Proceed, then-proceed
will be as patient as possible"
The stage manager shouted out some
directions from his box. A gentleman
in faultless morning clothes, who
seemed to have been thoroughly enjoy
ing the interlude, suddenly adopted the
puppetlike walk of footman. Other
actors, who had been whispering to-
gether In the wings, came back to their
places. Louise advanced alone, little
langudly, to the front of the stage. At
the first sound of her voice M. Grail
lot, nodding his head vigorously, was
soothed.
Her speech was long one. 1t
appeared that she had been arraigned
before company Of her relatives, as
sembled to comment upon her mis-
deeds. She wound up with passion
ate appeal to her husband, Mr.. Miles
Faraday, who had made an unexpected
appearance. NJ. Graillot's face, as she
concluded, was wreathed in smiles.
"Ah!" he cried. "You have lifted us
all up! Now I feel once more the In
splratlon. Mademoiselle, I kiss your
hand" he went on. ut Is you who still
redeem my play. You bring back the
spirit Of 1t to me. In you see the en-
bodIment of my Therese."
Louise made no movement. Her
eyes were fixed upon a certain
shadowy corner of the wings. Over
wrought as she had seemed, with the
emotional excitement Of her long
speech, there was now new and curl
Gus expression upon her face. She was
looking at tall, hesitating figure that
stood just off the stage. She forgot the
existence of the famous dramatist who
hung upon her words. Her feet no
longer trod the dusty boards Of the
theater. She was almost painfully
conscious OF the perfume of apple bios
som.
"You I" she exclaimed, stretching out
her hands. "Why do you not come and
speak to me? l am here"
John came out upon the stage. The
French dramatlst, with his hands be-
hind his back, made swift mental notes
of an interesting situation. He saw
the coming of man who stood like a
giant among them, sunburnt, buoyant
with health, his eyes bright with the
wonder of his unexpected surround
lngs; n man In whose presence every
one else seemed to represent an effete
and pallid type Of humanity.
Those first few sentences, spoken In
the midst of curious little crowd of
strangers, seemed to John, when he
thought of his long waiting, almost pit
eously inadequate. Louise, recognize
ing the difficulty of the situation, swift.
~ recovered her composure. She was
both tactful and gracious.
"Mr. Faraday," she said appeallngly
"Mr. Strangewey comes from the coun'
try-he is, In fact, the most complete
countryman / have ever met in my
life. He comes from Cumberland, and
he once-well, very nearly saved my
life. He knows nothing about the
alters, and he hasn't the least idea ot
the Importance of rehearsal. You
won't mind IL we put him somewhere
out Of the way till We have finished
will your"
"After such an introduction" Fara-
day said In q tone of resignation, "Ar