The Dolores star., 1919-07-04


Daphne's Joy turned to lead.
Reben added: But we don't pay by
performances. I'll pay you twenty
five week. You wanted money.
There's a little Of it for start. Do
you want it,"
"will 1t lead to anything better?"
at might"
"Am l to understudy Miss Kemble?'
ayes, 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 Ill we'd ordi-
narily refund the money. because she's
the star. But sometimes we might
have to give 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 I find 1t out and the harder
l work 1t the more money l make.
The more you earn the more I make.
I'd like to pay you ten thousand n
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 here? Send him to me-" To
the stenographer he said: "Flll out a
contract for Miss Kip-Miss- What's
the first name? Miss Daphne Kip.
Salary, twenty-five. Make It a 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
ut 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
Nv, It,l, ,xI,
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 1t 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 impatience
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 tiattered her, wheedled her
parodied. satirlzed. rebuked her, ant
occasionally he cursed her. She die
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
olutton In keeping from throwing dowr
the part and running away in tears
She had none left for asserting hel
right to politeness.
Once Daphne was out in the stree,
again and released from the ordeal O,
pleasing Patterson, youth and ambi
tion brought hope back again. Broad
way at twilight was athrob with en-
thusiasm and she caught zest from tn,
crowds. She was going home to study
carrying her little set of textbooks lik,
schoolgirl. But she felt the wing,
Of conquest Hedging at her ankles OF
the wheel of fortune spinning undel
her toes.
Her very first effort had succeeded
She was a woman with salary. Sh,
would be no longer a parasite on an,
man. She had a career and a business
as well as the best of them.
Her mother was at home alone
Leila had gone from that tea part,
to another to which Mrs. Kip was no
Invited. Daphne's mother greeted he
with relief. She told her news with
gush Of enthusiasm. It left Mrs, XII,
cold. very cold.
She was pious, church going WON
an, Mrs. Kip. She had always locke,
upon the theater as q training schoo
for the still lower regions. She wen
to plays occasionally, but usually wit
feeling Of dissipation and worldlJ
ness. Besides 1t was one thing to se
!