The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-09-19
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MINISTER'S CHUM |
e99~3ae9
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.
per syndlcate.)

II WIS JUST announcer or Zines ulSap
pOintments, but IL seemed harder thai
the rest. She had built so much OF
the success Of her first attempt a
directing an amateur theatrical pro
duction and now she was faced viii
fnilure. 1t was the night of the sec
ond rehcarsal--so wretchcd an affail
that she was sure she would have t
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
MclntoshT he asked as he stepped In.
side. 1t was Mr.. Sterling. the minis.
ter's college chum, who was spending
o Few weeks ut the rectory.
Il am sorry, II IL all over. You
promised to come and see that things
got along all right, Mr.. Sterling"
IBID they" -~~~Sssaas-
81 hoped It would be better" She
said. HEsEnn~
That Is too bad" he consoled. How
would 1t be II helped you In earnest.
] had n little experience In amateur
theatricals when went to college,"
"Why didn't I think of Il before?"
she exclaimed. xviii you play the
leading partN
It'll have to hear the play before I
consent--suppose you read it to me
now"
They found a seat close to the stage
and Efhe commenced reading. His
eyes never left her fnce for an Instant
but she was no engrossed in the lines
that she did not notice him. After nm
hour Of steady reading Enie closed
the book. Sterling watched her closely
FOR moment and then exclaimed ear.
nestiy, "Gad, young lady, you have tai
entS.~-SN1HssMSursssA>---
"Thank you Efie laughed. evil
you play the part of Randolph?"
II don't like the play" he announced.
i have a copy Of much finer one
In my trunk. II you will change to
1t will be glad to take the leading
role and there Is q splendid part In Il
for you--a part to At your talent more
than the one in this play"
The play was better than EfYie had
Imagined a 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, Effie's confidence grew. II
was going to be a big success, there
was little doubt Of that. Mr.. Sterling
had worked untirlngly with hef 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 II should be.
He went through his own part like a
professional. II man with talent like
he had couldn't find a place on the
stage what hope was there for her,
Efiie often wondered.
The all.importnnt night arrived.
Efie'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 carpenters were bot
ting on the finishing touches. Mr..
was responsible for 1t nll, she
knew, and FASTENED to find him. but
he seemed to be evading her aud she
had to give up to dress for the FIRST
net.
The curtain went up ON a full house.
Effie had time to see that before she
was lost In her part. The man who
wns acting beside her was not the Mr..
with whom she had re-
hearsed; he was the character of the
play. His acting was wonderful: she
realized that and It spurred her to
greater effort. The applause that re-
sounded through the hall at the con-
rlusion of the net told her her efforts
we're appreciated and the play was a
success. Curtain call after curtain cali |
Sterling and she had to respond to.
After 1t was all over and Ellie had /
nartly awakened from the spell II had |
,ast over her. she sought out Sterling,
He did not eyade her this time.
He did not give her chance TO
speak. "You did wonderfully. little
siri. That last scene was one of the
,rettiest pieces of work l have ever
'een. Ii made me wish was max.
mr. love to you In real earnest" he
aid. /
isn't that strange-- your acting af-
ected me In the same way" she
flushed. "You were SD wonderful
10 like real actor"
Then you wouldn't mind my maxi
ng love To you-Gsking you to marry
ne In real earnestg' he asked. taking
Ter hand.
'Oh, hut you wouidn't-you are not 1
n earnest" she stammered.
II was never mere In earnest In INV I
life. love you and I want you TO GO Il
'ack TO New York with me as my wife II
nd open the season with me in the
art you played tonight"
New York--open the season. Then
'ou are n real actor-you are Fred.
rick Sterling. the famous starr Oh.
INV didn't vop f.rl r,.> h.fo-a.