The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1918-03-20
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} MINISTER'S CHUM
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BY VINCENT G. PERRY.
lCopyright, 1917, by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndcate)
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the rest. She had built so much on
the success of her first attempt ut
directing an amateur theatrical pro-
ductlon ana now she was faced with
lallure. 1t was the night of the sec
ond rchcarsnl-so wretched an affair
that she was sure she would have 70
| give up.
She was reused from her thoughts
oE the sound of the outer door open.
ing. A man stood in the doorw:y.
Am l late for the rehearsal, Miss
M"'ntoSh?" he asked as he stopped in
SIDE. 1t was Mr.. Sterling, the minis
terS college chum, who was spending
a few weeks ut the rcctory.
Il am sorry, it is all over. You
promised to come and see that things
got along all right, Mr.. Sterling"
"Did thcy?"
"I hoped it would be better" She
said.
"rhat is too bad" he consolcd. GLOW
would it be if l helped you in earnest.
| had little experience in amateur
thchtricalS when l went to college"
"Why didn't I think Of it bcforc?"
she exclaimed. "Will you play the
i''''iHS IGtIl
"l'll have to hear the play before I
conS"nt-SuppoSc you read it to me
now"
They found q scat close to the stage
nnh Ellie commenced reading. His
eyes never loft her face for an instant
nut she was so cngroSScd in the lines
that she did not notice him. After nm
hour of steady reading Ellie closed
the book. Sterling watched her closely
for moment and then exclaimed car
n"Stly, Cad young lady, YOU have tai
chi :"
"rhanl YOU" EGic laughed "Will
You play tn" part of Rnntlolph?"
81 don't like the play" he announced.
VI have copy Of Il much finer one
In my trunk. If ycu will change to
1T | will be glad to take the leading
role and there is q splendid part in it
for you'll part 20 fit your talent more
than the ono in this play"
The play was better than Enic had
imagined Il play could be. Tho part
Just suited her but she feared she
could not do ii Justice Sterling
brushed the fears aside ana week
later r"hcarsals were well on the way
for tn" now play.
Ac ,bo data .nt r,r ,no ,rc
drrv nc,r I,m,,c o,nGI,,, :.
wns roin. tn no hi.. succn,,, mora
wos liiiIc douh, or ,n,, N, c,I;,,,
had worked untringly with her and
Tho others IN m,l;n l;r, ,,, nnnr,,,.
,ppror in thn Iin,. Sho lr,u, ~.
criticisms yrrr ,ivnn h,., u.hnr, nav
wore needed ana il bc,nrd bcr !, m,l,n
hrr Dort what ebn know n cboulJho
IIr wont thrnurb his oun n,,, III, @
he had couldn', Gnd q n,,co ,n ,ho
stage what homo wos thrrc for bnr
Enic often wondered.
The aIl-inpor;nnt night arrived.
1Inic'S preparations made her arrival
late. Whcn she entered nj the rear
door and emerged on the stage she was
greeted With II big surprise. The
stage was set with bright new scenery
aud two stage carpenters were put
Ting on the finishing touches Mr..
Sterling was responsible for il all, she
knew, and FASTENED to find him, but
u" seemed to b" cvadlng her and she
h;'d |" give up TO dress Tor the first
act.
IN" curtain went up on full house.
Eille had time TO see that before she
WAS lost III h"r part. Inc man who
was acting beside her was not the Mr..
Steering with whom she had re-
hrars"d; he was iii" character of tn"