The Tomahawk., 1919-10-02

ord success and tho night for the per
Torrance arrived.
Behind the footlights in the town
hall Harry was excited and his nerves
were strung to the highest pitch. 1t
was the first hme he had been at
fected that way.
The many wonderful surprises were
responsible for it, he thought.
To begin with, Ruth's presence and
assistance with the directing had made
the Dramatic society's talent" come
out to an amazing degree. Why. the
coaching she had given Harry made
him feel almost like a professional !!
There was one thing that puzzled him
She was a. remarkable coach, but her
own acting could be improved upon In
many places, he thought. Sometimes
she had showed some of the fire she
instilled in the others, but on the
whole she kept her talent. If she did
possess any, in restraint. Then there
had been the scenery-real city scenery
that arrived in time for the last re-
hearsal, surprise arranged by Ruth.
Was there ever such a girl as she7
Harry was quite convinced there never
was.
They were into the first act almost
before Harry realized it. After the
first line or two he forgot himself en-
tirely. forgot everything but the part
+ he was playing and the people that
were acting around him. The roar of
applause that followed the fall of the
curtain brought him to himself. Would
the applause never cease?
'They are calling US before the cur
tain." It was Ruth, flushed and ex-
had been acting as he had never seen
her act before. Together they had
made triumph.
But the first act was nothing to what
followed. Curtain call after curtain
call heralded their efforts a great sue
cess.
When it was all over. Harry found
himself in his dressing room. dazed by
the wonder of it all. A light laugh at
the door, and Ruth's voice brought his
nerves back in place. Ruth entered,
followed by a portly gentleman.
my manager, Mr.. Cuthbertson,"
Harry heard her say, as If it were in
q dream. Suddenly it dawned upon
him. Ruth was a real actress-a
Broadway favorite, he could read it in
her eyes.
OF course she was Mr.. Cuthbertson
soon let that out.
"This play you both handled so won
derfully tonight is the one Miss He'd
ley is to open the season in next
month";" Cuthbertson said, "and we
want you to play opposite her. I have
a blank contract here for your sigma
ture."
It was Harry's opportunity. A. great
blaze of light struck him between the
temples, he felt himself wavering, and
there was choking sensation in his
throat. Out into the air he rushed;
he could not stand it any longer.
Ruth found him sitting in the open
rear doorway. painting and deathly
white.
"Can't you see what q glorious thing
1t is for you?" she said-'the success
you have dreamed of. everything you
want In the world"
"But It isn't" Harry had risen and
was facing her with a sort Of wild
stare. 1T is you that have meant more
to me than anything, and now !. see
that I cannot live without you. have
learned to love you as just Ruth He'd.
ley, the minister's wife's college chum.
1 would not dare to love so grand a
person as Ruth Hedley, the Broadway
star"
"And why not? Can't Broadway
stars be loved? Can't they love in re.
turn?' There was a light in Ruth's
eyes that brought back Harry's cour-
age. - -
His world had opened to him-most
Of it was in his arms.