Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-05-22
J MINISTER'S CHUM (
e~@%S%@S z
BY VINCENT G. PERRY. {
TT u ITV NIINI
per Syndicate.)

uutllon anu now Snt was luttu Win
failure. II was the night of the sec
ond rehearsal-so wretched an affair
that she was sure she would have 10
give up.
She was reused from her thoughts
by the sound of the outer door open
Ing. A man stood in the doorway.
Am | late for the rehearsal. Miss
McIntoshI" he asked as he stepped in
side. II was Mr.. Sterling. the minis
ter's college chum, who was spending
a few weeks az the rectory
81 am sorry. II is all over Nou
promised TO come and see that thing.
got along all right. Mr. Sterling"
"Did they?'
81 hoped it would be better" She
said.
THAT is too bad" he consoled. How
would it be if helped YOU in earnest
! had a little experiencesin amateur
thcatricalS when | went To college"
"Why didn't | think of II before"
she exclaimed. "Will YOU play the
leading partf'
"I'n have 70 hear the play before 7
c0nsent-SuppoSe you read il 10 me
now"
They found Il seat close to the stage
and Efie commenced reading His
eyes never left her face for an instant
hut she was So engroSSed in the lines
that she did not notice him. After an
hour OF steady reading Ehie closed
the book Sterling watched her closely
for a moment and then exclaimed err
Mostly. Cad. Young lady. you have tai
EN- ,"
THANK Won" Fife laughed. "Will
Won play the part Of Randoph?"
II don't like the play" he announced
Il have copy of much finer one
Ia my trunk II you will change to
II | will b. glad Ia take the leading
role and there is n splendid part In II
for you-a part 10 M your talent more
than the one i'm this play"
The play was better than Fife had
imagined play could be. The part
Just suited her hut she feared she
could not DE- II Justice. Sterling
brushed the fears aside and week
later rehearsaIS We're well on the way
for the new play,
A. The date set for the performance
drew near. Elites confidence grew. II
WAS going to be- big success Their
was little donht Of that. Mr.. Sterling
h1d worked untiringly with her and
the others 70 make life and energy
aupear In the lines. She knew his
criticisms were given just where they
were needed and it helped her to make
her part what she knew n should b..
lie went through his own part like p
professional. If n man with talent lik@
hc had couldn't find Il place on the
stvCe what hope WAS there FOR her.
Efiie often wondered.
The al-importuni night arrived
Efie's preparations made her arrival
late. When She entered al the rear
door and emerged ON the stage She was
erected with 81 biz surprise. The
lage was SGT with bright new ~ceRrry
and TWO stage carpenters were put
ting on the finishing touches. Mr..
Surllug was responsible for 10 all she
aucv. and haeieuvd tu iind him. but
u, seemed 20 Dee eyading her and She
Aad 10 give UP 20 dress Tor the first
ac,.
she curtain went up CO.'S ful house.
'.rr he'd tmc to ~ce that before She
- lost ia hcr part. Tho man ~ho
acting hrede her wu~ NOT The Mr.
src with whom She had r'-
'..rscd he was thr character of tha
ula-. Ills acting was wonderful; $50.
c1lzci thar and il spurred her ga
.r,a3cr effort. Tho applause THAT To-
lunded through The hail al fhr con
c,I .oa of the act told her her efforts
we're appreciated and The play Was q
SUCCESS. Curiuin cali after curtain cail
sterling and she had TO respond to-
Nrer it WIS an over and Bile ha,
partly awakened from tho spoil il ha'
,.~i over her. she sought out Sterling
lie did not evade her this time.
He did not give her "a chance e
speak. you did wonderfully. litti'
.lrl. That last scene was one Of tn
prcttiest pieces of work have eNeI
~ccn II made me wish | was max
mg love 10 you i'm real earnest ~
said.
Isn't that strangc-yuur acting af
fcctcd me i'm the same way. sh
blpshed. You were so wonderful
So like real actor.
Then YOU wouldn't mind my max
ing love to you-aSkinc YOU 10 MARI
me in real earncst?" he asked. takin
her hand.
"Oh but you wouldn't-you are no
In earnest" she stammered
II was never more In earnest In IN
ufe. love you and ! want YOU 10 z
back to New York with me a. my VIII
and open the season with mo In IN
l-part You played tonight
"New York-opcn the season? The
YOU are real actor--you are Fred
erick Sterling. the famous starr 81
why didn't YOU tell mo before?'
Because YOU never asked me dea
/ thought YOU would like me just n
Fred Sterling. the ministers colleg
chum. Are YOU not angryl
NO. not hit. ann glad YOU III
not tell me for 7 would never hay
dared TO learn 10 love Frederick Ste
ling md have learned To love yol
Fred" she answered with smile q
she raised hcr Hips FOR the first rel
kiss.