Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-07-09

I'VE u week. LOU WduLeu money.
There's a little of it for start. Do
you want it?'
"Will it lead to anything better"
at might"
"Am to understudy Miss Kemble?"
"Yes, and all the other women
roles"
"And when do you suppose I'll get
chance to play Miss Kemble's part?
Soon?"
"Never, I hope"
THAT'S encouragingw
eff Miss Kemble fell i'll we'd ordl-
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."
"And you'll give me better chance
when you CAM"
Indeed will. If you have the gift,
the sooner find it out and the harder
l work it the more money / make.
The more you earn the more I make.
I'd like to pay you ten thousand a
week."
I'D like to have you. All right,
I'll try"
He pressed a button on his desk
once, then twice. The office boy ap-
peared followed by the stenographer.
Reben said to the boy: "Is Mr.. Bat
terson here2 Send him to me-" To
the stenographer he said: "Fill out O
contract for Miss Kip-Mss- 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 L"
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, 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 we'll 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
infant how to walk and talk was an
unwelcome labor.
He took Daphne into his office and
pulled out set Of parts. When she
stumbled over them he cast his eyes
heavenward in his swift impotence.
He explained them with a vinegary
gentleness. He talked to her of the
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 fiattered 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
tway 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
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 a woman with salary. She
would be no longer parasite on any
man. She had career and business
as well as the best of them.
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 a
gush of enthusiasm. 1t left Mrs. Kip
cold, very cold.
She was a pious, church-going wom-
an, Mrs. Kip. She had always looked
upon the theater as a training school
for the still lower regions. She went
to plays occasionally, but usually with
a feeling Of dissipation and worldli-
ness. Besides 1t was one thing to see
plays and another to act them.
Daphne tried to reason her mother
out Of her backwoods prejudices, but
she only frightened her the more. Mrs.
Kin retired to her room IN write an