The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-12-25
Rehearsing the Love
Scene
By JANE OSBORN


In the play for the benefit because she
wis so amazingly pretty. one ana.
teur was as good us anOther--Or rath
er. as the professional coach they EN-
ployed thought, as bad as another
And Rodney Britton had been chosen
because he looked the part. But Mr.
Erltton WAS stupid. thought The coach
--no temperament-no Imagination
To be- sure he learned his part letter
perfect. which was more than most
amateurs seemed To be able to do.
But when II came 10 putting feeling
into his part II seemed as II he had q
hear ~ wood In the second act
where he held Daphne--tbat was
iLcy's role--in lis arms and told her
II his insane love for her. he might as
well have been embracing his own
grandmother or "A lamp-post and talk
ins about the weather. And when II
came TO those kisses In the third act
they we're mere pecks. Like a robin
pccking at a green apple" said the
coach. Rodney grew a little annoyed
AZ the coacl's criticisms He didn't
see. he said. why they had chosen
such fool play anyway-moreover
he had taken the part only because
the coach insisted--and as far rs kiss
Ing went. since he had had no expert
ence In the gentle art. he naturally
muffed II.
Lucy who stood during the peek
In ordeal with her pretty mouth held
tiSht and her eyes shut. seemed 10 be
as inexperienced rs Rodney. The
coach suggested that he go through
the part with Lucy-just to give Rod
ney an idea Of how the thing NIGH be
done. hut Lucy protested. They had
all laughed about the matter al yes
tegday's rehearsal but afterward the
coach took them aside and told them
that II wasn't any laughing matter
Tie play was 10 come or In another
week II would bc Hat failure un
less Lucy and Rodney popped ny the
love scenes. They'd got to rehearse
those kisses. lie told them, practical
~ ordered them. TO spend the next
Saturday afternoon at I.ucy's house
where she would feel quite AT home
,'ehearsing the love scenes--and the
kisses They might do it before q
mirror. Professionals sometimes did
that. They must try TO put feeling
INFO It. TRY to imagine that you are
In love with Miss Badger" he told
Rodney: that YOU are dying ~ love
for her: that you cannot eat nor sleel,
tor love ~ her Imagination is all
you need
Lucy and Rodney laughed. but they
promised to rehearse their part to
geiher the following Saturday. Luc.
had arranged To- have the library of
the living room all ~ themselves FOR
the afternoOn She had carried \ long
pier glass from upstairs into the room
so that they could work before Il And
now. for some reason or other Luc,
fe,i herself more agilaied than 81"
had ever been before I'm her life
The next morning Rodney arrived
They stood before the mirror In III,
library and went through their parts
right To the point whore Rodney haa
TO take Lucy In his arms Th"re he
stopped "You know more about ;hls
business than | do" he said inlay
he you'd better show me how 10 do II
I couldn't hear having that greats,
coach kiss you--ilat's why ! cori>cE,
ed ~ having this rehearsal alone No~
come on have To hold You in m,
ar,ns--like this. Is that the way
ought Ia ho it?"
How should I know" asked I.rr>
finding II rrther pleasant stand;n
there within l;odnny'S strong emh ace
II don't know any more about His
this love business than you do"
That's a tib." said Rodney. hold'n
her q little closer than before. II
felt an unexpected thrill Of pleasur,
as her soft hair brushed against hi
cheek ~ never held Il girl like thi,
In my life before. And really don
believe I ever kissed II girl
~ know ! never. NJ ar let anyon
kiss me-" said Lucy "But don
believe II will he very hard You cai
Just imagine you really love me-
"Yes-that's what I've boon tryin.
to do find that helps puts you /,
the right mood" Rodney held vi
arms very tightly around I.ucy's >len
der young body. 'It's moi so had
he whispered. and then bending d"v'
his head. pressed his own lips ag;,inS;
Lucys.
Lucy looked ut him with misty eye
and cheeks ahame. "But Rodncy. lh.
kiss doesn't come in this act" sh
said
At last came the evening OF III
finnl rehearsal. ITS going to "
hard" Rodney told Lucy-"no, harG
the way II used to be--only hard I,
forget that that greasy little cn,c
and all the cast are looking or"
AT the end ~ the second ari tn.
coach rushed forward with 80,
stretched hand to Rodney. "St perl,
magnificent" he cried. as h. shoot
Rodney's hand. AT the end ~ the
third act he would have embraced
un.Inav ~ nnJney bu,I ,.t b.,