The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-11-01
MINISTER'S CHUM (
eS3:@19ss (
BY VINCENT G. PERRY. (

polnlmenlS, out IL seemed n;lruer IMAM
the rest. She had built SO much on
the success of her first attempt at
directing an amateur theatrical pro-
duction and now she was faced with
failure. 1t was the night of the sec
ond reheursal-so wretched an affair
that she was sure she vould 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 l 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
a few weeks ut the rectory.
81 am sorry. 1t is all over. You
promised to come and see that things
got along all right Mr.. Sterling"
ibid they?"
81 hoped it would be better" She
said.
''That is too bad" he consoled. "How
would it be If / helped you in earnest.
! had little experience In amateur
theatrlcals when ! went to college"
"Why didn't l think of 1t before?"
she exclaimed. 'Will you play the
leading part?'
"I'll have to hear the play before l
consent-suppose you read it to me
now"
They found seat close to the stage
and Ellie 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 Efiie closed
the book. Sterling watched her closely
for moment and then exclaimed ear
nestly, "Gad young lady, you have tai
emil"
"Thank YOU" Enie 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
it / viii be glad to take the leading
role and there Is a splendid part in it
for you-a part to fit your talent more
than the one in this play"
The play was better than Eflie 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 week
later rehearsals were well on the way
for the new play.
AS the date set for the performance
drew near, Effies confidence grew. 1t
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
were needed and it helped her to make
her part what she knew it should be.
He went through his own part like a
professional. If man with talent like
he had couldn't find q place on the
stage what hope was there for her,
. Effie often wondered.
The all-important night arrived
Efiie's preparations made her arrival
: late. When she entered at the rear
Il door and emerged ON the stage she was
: greeted with big surprise. The
u stage was set with bright new scenery
and two stage carpenters were put
4 ting on the finishing touches. Mr.
: Sterling was responsible for it all, she
{; knew, and FASTENED to find him, bu
y he seemed to be eyading her and SHE
had to give up to dress for the frs
u act.
q The curtain went up on full house
3 Ellie had time to see that before sh
was lost in her part. The man VIII
10 was acting beside her was not the MI
y Sterling with whom she had re
- | ha, no J,n oh rf Of
play. His acting was wonderful sh
y, realized that and it spurred her
&. greater effort. The applause that n
n sounded through the hall at the cor
I. clusion of the act told her her effort
IL were appreciated and the play was
success. Curtain call after curtain ca
re Sterling and she had to respond to.
y After it was all over and Efiie ha
70 partly awakened from the spell it ha
II cast over her, she sought ont Sterling
He did not evade her this time.
se He did not give her a chance t
10 speak. "You did wonderfully, lttl
r girl. That last scene was one of tn
" prettiest pieces of work l have eve
10 seen. 1t made me wish / was mai
:, ing love to you in real earnest" h
:. said.
an isn't that strange-your acting a
fected me in the same way" sh
t. blushed. "You were so wonderful
a. so like real actor
"Then you wouldn't mind my NAL
49, ing love to you-asking you to MARI
:, me in real earnest?" he asked, takir
-, her hand.
nv "Oh, but you wouldn't-you are m
cd In earnest" she stammered.
ri 81 was never more in earnest in n
n, life. l love you and | want you to s
M back to New York with me as my wi
n and open the season with me in Il
ed part YOU played tonight"
ho "New York-open the season? TIL,
ra you are a real actor-you are Ere
erick Sterling the famous star? O
why didn't you tell me before?"
Because you never asked me. dea
I Thought Won would ike me inst .