The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-03-30

.
per Syndicate.)
1t was just another of Enie's dIsap.
| pOintments, but II seemed harder than
the rest. She had built so much on
the success of her first attempt al
directing IN amateur theatrical pro.
duciiOn and now she was faced with
failure. 1t was tile 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 late for the rehearsal. Miss
McIntosh?" he asked as he stepped in
side. 1t was Mr.. Sterling, the minis
ter's coll. = chum, who was spending
q few weeks at the rectory.
II am sorry, II is all over. You
promised to come and see that things
got along all right, Mr.. Sterllng."
"Dld they"
II hoped Il would be better" She
said.
THAT IS too bad" he consoled. "How
would 1t be IL helped you In earnest.
I had little experience in amateur
tleatricals when went to College"
"Why didn't think of 1t .beforeT
she exclaimed. evil you play the
leading part?"
I'll have to hear the play before
consent--suppose you read It to me
now"
They found seat close TO the stage
and Effic commenced reading. His
eyes never left her face for an instant
but she was so engrusse,l in the lines
that she did not notice him. After an
hour If steady reading Fife closed
the book. Sterling watched her closely
for moment and then exclaimed car.
nestly, cad, young lady. you have tai
ent ~
"Thank YOU" Effic laughed. 'Nvili
you play the part of RANDOLPH"
II don't like the play" he announced
II have copy of much finer one
In my trunk. If you will change to
1t will be glad to take the leading
role and there Is splendid part in II
for you--a part to fit your talent more
than the one in this play"
The play WINS better than Efiie had
imagined play could be. The part
just suited her but she feared she
could not do 1t 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, Efie's confidence grew. It
was going to be 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 1t helped her to make
her part what she knew It should be.
tie went through his own part like a
professional. If q 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.
EHe's preparations made her arrival
late. When she entered at the rear
door and emerged on the stage she was.
greeted with big surprise. The
stage was set with bright new scenery
and two stage carpentersy-w put
ting on the finishing touches. Mr..
Sterling was responsible for it all, she
knew, and fastened to find him, but
he seemed to be evadlng her and she
hn1 IN srfva nm ~ slrocc fo,. tba Rrck
act.
The curtain went up on full house.
Fife had time to see that before she
was lost In her part. The man who
was acting beside her was not the Mr..
Sterling with whom she had re
hearsed; he was the character Of the
play. His acting was wonderful; she
realized that and 1t spurred her to |
greater effort. The applause that re-
through the hall at the con.
clusion of the act told her her efforts
were appreciated and the play was q
success. Curtain call after curtain crll
Sterling and she had TO respond to.
After 1t was all over and Effie had
partly awakened from the spell II had |
cast over her, she sought out Sterling.
He did not evade her this time.
He did not give her a chance to
speak. "You did wonderfully, little |
girl. That last scene was one Of the
prettiest pieces Of work / have ever
seen. 1t made me wish i was max
Ing love to you in real earnest" he
said.
isn't that strange-your acting af'
fected me In the same way" she
blushed. "You were so wonderful
30 like real actor"
'Then you wouldn't mind my max
Ing love to you-asking you to marry
me In real earnest?" he asked, taking
her hand.
"Oh, but you wouldn't-you are not
In earnest" she stammered.
81 was never more In earnest in my
life. I loye you apd I want you to 60
back to New York with. me as my wife.
and open the season with me in the
part you played tonight"