Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-02-27
CHAPTER X-continued.

Miss Kemble went forward t.
Daphne and took her hand and petteC
it and said: "I'm so glad to see you
You must meet my aunt, Mrs. Vining
She won't object to your playing hel
parts, I'm sure"
Mrs. Vining, who had played all
manner of roles for half a century
and was now established as famous
player of hateful old grandes DANES
spared Daphne her ready vinegar and
chose to mother her.
Mr.. Reben had come down from his
office to make up his own mind. He
smiled with kind of challenging cor
diality and murmured: $50 our little
business woman is going to open the
to deliver the goods and I'll buy 'em
at your own price,"
Patterson raped on the kitchen
table that stood on the apron of the
stage under a naked bunch of light
of glaring brilliance.
''Places, please, for the entrance.
Ready? All right, Eldonw
The noble matinee idol put his hat
on the table, walked on, sat down on
a divan composed of two broken
chairs and read an imaginary news
paper.
Patterson said "Doorbelli Buzz-z."
A well-dressed young man, whom
Daphne recognized as the elderly but
Ter, walked across and opened an
Imaginary door between two chairs.
This was the cue for Miss Kemble's
famous "How do you dO?"
Everybody waited and watched for
the newcomer to make her debut in
the new world. Then was a silence.
Daphne stood with heels screwed to
the floor and tongue glued to the roof
of her mouth.
''All right, Miss Kip" said Patterson
with ominous patience. "Come on,
come on, please"
Another silence, then Daphne
laughed and choked. "I'm awfully stu
pid. I've forgotten the line"
Patterson CRASHED his unlighted ci
gar and growled: "Howjado! How
jadow
"Oh, yes! Thank you. I'm so
sorryw said Daphne and walked on
at the wrong side of the chairs.
Everybody shuddered to realize that |
she had entered through a solid wall. |
This miracle was ignored but there !
was no ignoring the peculiarly inelO- |
quent note she struck when she bowed |
10 h,,f c,to
allow are you"
A sigh went through the vast pro-
found and void of the empty theater. |
Instinct told even the echoes that |
Daphne did not belong and never could
belong. Patterson groaned, tragically.
"Not to the butler, please! Don't
say How are your to the butler.
Don't say How are you?' to anybody,
please. Script says 'Howjado? Say
'Howjado?' to Mr.. Eldon there. Say
.Howjado' to Mr.. Eldon there"
"How do you do?" said Daphne,
bowling to Eldon and speaking with a
of a squeezed doll.
Eldon rose, folded up his imaginary
paper, and came forward with pity
ing desire to help her. He hoped that
the scared little Kip woman would win
through the same bitter trials to the
same perilous and always endangered
success. But he had n fear.
He delivered her his line with be-
nevolent gentleness. He waited, then
gave her her line with exquisite tact.
She did not repeat it after him. He
said to her:
"Dont be afraid; you're all right"
He gave her the line again and she
parroted II after him. She leaped
hen to speech several minutes far
her on. He drew her back to the cue
"Pardon me, but think have line
before that"
The rehearsal blundered on. II was |
lot Daphne's fright that disturbed {
he rest. II was her co,nplete failure
o suggest the character, or any char /,
lcter.
But Patterson found nothing to $
muse him, :Ed Reben tasted that $
lust and ashes of disappointment v
With which theatrical managers are 4
% familiar when they bite on the
Dead sea fruit Of beauty without dra- s
matte talent &