The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-07-20

We've been rehearsing this piece
two weeks" he said presently. looking
away from her when he began II talk,
"nnd / couldn't take anyone into the
chorus now whom I'd have 10 teach
the rudiments of dancing to. That's
why test was necessary. Also, |
couldn't take anybody who had come
down hcre-for lark
With that, Rose understood the
Whole thing. John Galbralth had elias
sified her. or thought lie had, as a
well-bred young girl who. Ia moment
Of pique or mischief, had decided 1t
would be fun 70 80 on the stage. The
test he had applied wasn't, from that
point of view, unnecessarily cruel. The
girl he had taken her for would, on be-
ing ordered TO repeat the grotesque bit
Of yulgarlty Of his, have drawn her
dignity about her like cloak and
gone back in chastened spirit TO the
world where she belonged.
A gorgeous apparltion came sweep
ing by them just now, on a line from
the dressing room TO the door--a fig
ure That. with regal elaboration, was
closing blue broadcloth coat, trimmed
with sable, over an authentic Cabot
frock. The georgette hat on top of
Il was one that Rose had last seen in
a Michigan avenue shop. 1t had found
It's proper buyer-fnlflled It's destiny.
"Oh, Grant," said John Galbralth.
The queenly creature stopped short
and Rose recognized her with a jump
as the sulky chorus girl.
Galbraith walked over to her. II
shnn't need you any more, Grant"
lie spoke In IA quiet. impersonai sort
of way, but his voice had. as always,
a good dcul OF carrying power. "Its
hardly worth your while trying ia
work. | suppose, when you're as pros.
porous as this. And 1t isn't worth my
while to have you soldering. You
needn't report again."
He nodded, not unamIably, and
, turned away. She glared after him
and called out In hoarse, throaty
voice, "faank my stars / don't have to
work for YOU"
He'd come back to Rose again by
. this time, and she saw him smile.
, when you do t." he said over his
! shoulder, 'thank them for me too"
Then to Rose: "She's valuable girl
I'm giving you her place because she
/, won't get down to business. I'D rather
have green recruit who Will. The
! next rehearsal Is at a quarter 10 eight
tonight. Give your name and address
! to MIR. Guam before you so. BY the
way, what is your manner"
Rose Stanton" she said. "But
!" She had TO follow him a
step or two because he had already
turned away. "But may | give some
other name than that 10 MIR. QuanT
He frowned little obviously and
asked her how old she was And
even when she told him twenty-five
\ he didn't look altogether treasured.
"That's the truth, is it2 l mean
there's nobody who can come down
: here about three days before we open
and call me kidnaper. and leat
you away by the carp"
NO" said Rose gravely, there's nj
one who'll do that"
VERY we'll" he said. Tell Quar-
! any name you like"
The name she did tell him was Dori,
Dane.
j At the appointed time for rehearsal
she was on hand She was one of tn,
first of the chorus to reach the hall
and she had nearly finished putting Of
her working clothes before the rest o
them came pelting in. But she didn'
get out quickly enough to miss the sen
sation that was exciting them all--th
news that Grant had been dropped.
few were indignant; the rest merel
curious.
Before she had been working fiftee
minutes, she had forgotten all abou
Grant. She'd even forgotten her resC
luton not 20 let John Galbraith r.
member she was a recruit.
She didn't know she was tired, pam
ing, wet all over with sweat. Sh
T. hadn't done anything so physically el
to acting as this for over year. BIZ
she had the illusion that she WASH
a doing anything now; that she wa
ar just passive, plastic thing tosse,
IT flung, swirled about by the drivin
u power of the directors will.
;e- She realized, when the rehearsal we
st, over, that it had gone well and that
I'M couldn't have goae SO if her own pa
w had been done Sadly. But she didn
Ict understand the look which he sci
after her as sh9 walked off-she didu