The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-02-21

Daphne's joy turned to lead.
Reben added: "But we don't pay by
performances. I'll pay you twenty
five a week. You wanted money.
There's a little of it for start Do
you want it?"
"WilI it lead to anything betterT
ut might"
cam to understudy Miss Kemble?"
"Yes, and all the other women
roles"
"And when do you suppose I'll get a
chance to play Miss Kemble's part?
Soon?"
"Never, hope"
"That's encouraging
"If Miss Kemble fell i'll we'd ordi-
narily refund the money, because she's
| the star. But sometimes we might
have to give a performance at short
notice. Chances in the other parts
might come any day."
Sand you'll give me better chance
when you CAM"
Indeed wilL If you have the gift,
the sooner find it out and the harder
work it the more money make.
The more you earn the more make.
I'd like to pay you ten thousand a
week."
I'D like to have you. All right,
I'll try"
| He pressed button on his desk
once, then twice. The office boy ap-
peared, followed by the stenographer.
Reben said to the boy: SIS Mr.. Bat
terson here? Send him to me-" To
the stenographer he said: 'Fill out a
contract for Miss Kip-Miss- What's
the first name? Miss Daphne Kip.
Salary, twenty-five. Make it three
year contract"
| Reben motioned her absently to her
chair and said, rather for Duane's
sake than for hers, she felt: "Sit
down, won't you, till the contracts
come? and pardon me if T."
| He finished the phrase by the deed.
The office routine went on and Daphne
might have been the chair she sat in,
for all the attention he paid her. She
felt rather ungallantly ignored. Still,
she had asked to be treated on a
business basis. He was taking her
at her word.
Before the contracts were ready
Mr.. Patterson appeared. He was one
of Reben's stage managers, a worried,
| emotional little man. worn to shreds
with his task of stimulating and cor
recting the emotions by which others
earned their wages and fame.
Reben introduced him to Daphne
and explained her new Office. Batter
son seemed none too well pleased with
the news that Daphne was ignorant
of stage work to the last degree. He
had found it hard enough to make the
experienced actors read their lines as
they must be read and keep on read
ing them so. To teach this dramatic
uhwelcome labor.
He took Daphne into his Office and
pulled out a set Of parts. When she
stumbled over them he cast his eyes
heavenward in his swift impatience.
He explained them with vinegary
/
canons of Interpretation. He walked
through her scenes and spoke her lines
for her again and again and yet again.
But somehow he could not teach her.
He tried everything but beating
her. He flattered her, wheedled her,
parodied, satirized, rebuked her, and
| occasionally he cursed her. She did
not rebel even against his profanity,
because she had no confidence in her.
self to support her resistance. She
felt that she was far worse than he
said she was when he said she was
worst. She used all her funds of res
Olution in keeping from throwing down
the part and running away in tears
She had none left for asserting her
right to politeness.
Once Daphne was out in the street
again and released from the ordeal of
pleasing Patterson, youth and ambi-
ton brought hope back again. Broad
way at twilight was athrob with en-
thusiasm and she caught zest from the
crowds. She was going home to study,
| carrying her little set of textbooks like
a schoolgirl. But she felt the wings
Of conquest Hedging at her ankles or
the wheel of fortune spinning under
her toes.
Her very first effort had succeeded.
She was woman with salary. She
would be no longer a parasite on any
man. She had career and business
| n uya11 tho hast of %har1
Her mother was at home alone.
Leila had gone from that tea party
to another to which Mrs. Kip was not
invited. Daphne's mother greeted her
with relief. She told her news with
gush of enthusiasm. 1t left Mrs. Kip
cold, very cold.
She was pious, church-going wom-
an, Mrs. Kip. She had always looked
upon the theater as training school
for the still lower regions. She went
to plays occasionally, but usually with
fooI;rr of 1icSfnaf iov, oud upnr1dls.