The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-02-28
MINISTER'S CHUM !
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BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

duction and now she was faced with
failure. 1t was the night of the sec
ond rehearsal-so wretched an affair
that she was sure she would have to
give up.
She was reused from her thoughts
by the sound Of the outer door open
ing. A man stood in the doorway.
"Am I late for the rehearsal, Miss
Mcintosh" he asked as he stepped in
side. 1t was Mr.. Sterling, the minis
ter's college chum, who was spending
few weeks at the rectory.
81 am sorry, 1t Is all over. You
promised to come and see that things
got along all right, Mr.. Sterling"
"Did theyT
81 hoped it would be better" She
said.
THAT is too bad" he consoled. 'How
would 1t be If helped you in earnest.
I had little experience in amateur
theatricals when went to college"
"Why didn't I think of 1t before"
she exclaimed. "Will you play the
leading part?"
"Tll have to hear the play before
consent-suppose you read 1t to me
now"
They found q seat close to the stage
and Efie commenced reading. His
eyes never left her face for an instant
but she was so engrossed In the lines
that she did not notice him. After an
hour Of steady reading Effie closed
the book. Sterling watched her closely
for moment and then exclaimed ear
nestly, "Gad, young lady, you have tai
emit"
THANK you" Fife laughed. "Will
you play the part of Randolph"
81 don't like the play" he announced.
81 have a copy Of much finer one
In my trunk. If you will change to
1t I will be glad to take the leading
role and there is splendid part In 1t
for you-a part to fit your talent more
than the one in this play"
The play was better than Fife had
imagined a play could be. The part
: Just suited her but she feared she
could not do It justice. Sterling
brushed the fears aside and a week
later rehearsals were well on the way
for the new play.
As the date set for the performance
, drew near, Effie's confidence grew. II
was going to be a big success. there
, was little doubt Of that. Mr.. Sterling
! had worked untiringly with her and
, the others to make life and energy
: appear In the lines. She knew his
criticisms were given just where they
3 were needed and 1t helped her to make
= her part what she knew it should be.
: He went through his own part like q
professional. If man with talent like
he had couldn't find place on the
stage what hope was there for her
Efie often wondered.
The all,important night arrived
Efie's preparations made her arrival
late. When she entered at the real
door and emerged on the stage she was
greeted with big surprise. Tit
stage was set with bright new scener!
and two stage carpenters were put
ting on the finishing touches. Mr.
Sterling was responsible for 1t all, slit
knew, and FASTENED to find him, bu
he seemed to be evading her and sh'
had to give up to dress for the frs
act.
The curtain went up on full house
Efie had time to see that before sh
was lost In her part. The man VIII
was acting beside her was not the MI
Sterling with whom she had re
hearsed; he was the character Of tn
play. His acting was wonderful; sh
realized that and II spurred her t
greater effort. The applause that re
sounded through the hall at the con
clusion of the act told her her effort
were appreciated and the play was
success. Curtain call after curtain ca
Sterling and she had to respond to.
After it was all over and Effie ha
partly awakened from the spell 1t ha
cast over her, she sought out Sterling
He did not evade her this time.
lie He did not give her chance
rs speak. "You did wonderfully, littl
a girl. That last scene was one of tn
prettiest pieces Of work I have eve
~ seen. 1t made me wish I was NAL
ly ing love to you In real earnest"
IL said.
a isn't that strange-your acting a
ne fected me in the same way" ST
a blushed. you were SO wonderful
~ so like a real actor"
"Then you wouldn't mind my maj
- ing love to you-asklng you to mari
me in real earnest?' he asked, takir
- her hand.
: "Oh, but you wouldn't-you are n
In earnest" she stammered.
81 was never more In earnest In n
life. I love you and want you to ,
back to New York with me as my wi
and open the season with me in Il
part you played tonight"
"New York-open the season? Thu
you are a real actor-you are Ere
erick Sterling, the famous star? O
why didn't you tell me beforer
Because you never asked me. des
I thought you would like me Just
Fred Sterling, the minister's cole
chum. Are you not angryr
"No, not a bit. / am glad you d
not tell me for I would never ha
| dorod IN learn to love E,rodorick CIR