Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-09-10
UNAWARE
BY AGNES a. RRoeAN.


wen as manager OF various depart
ments connected with that work. Hi
ambition was to present a new anC
truly great actress In one Of his orig
inal plays. That desire gave M prom
Use of fulfillment Mntter-of-fact af
fairs continually claimed his time.
Here, among the litter, we're pitifu
letters, begging work Of almost every
kind-those of confident would-bt
"stars" he found 1t necessary to ig
more. The city seemed to be filed witt
inexperienced girls certain of their OWL
histrionic ability.
Here was one, from a young WON
al who had at first written In the en-
thusiasm of sure success. asking for o
certain part in n Of his prominent
plays. Though she was unfamiliar
with theatrical work." she frankly
confessed, "she knew that she could
portray his character of Normand
faithfully" Her request for a. per
sonal Interview and trial had been ig'
nored.
The second letter which came from
the aspirant was decidedly humble
she would be glad Of "a few speaking
lines"
The next appeal was for ar inter
view only. and the last, which claimed
Allan Barris' amused attention, was
for Office work Of any kind which he
could give her. She had suffered
''strange misfortune" she wrote, and
her need was great"
The appeal touched him, not 80
much by its pathos as by its cheerful
persistence. He wrote the girl, ask
ing her to call upon the following day,
and he had almost forgotten his indul-
gence when she was announced.
In his mind, Barris pictured his
frank applicant as a glowing creature
CARRIED in popularity approved fashion.
Instead, 1t was a small gray-clad fig
ure which awaited difidently his invi-
tation from the doorway. The gray
dress was softly clinging, with a quaint
kerchief about her shoulders, and 1t
was the girls shy, glancing purple eyes
which first impressed him.
She had spoken advisedly, she was
unusually good looking"-"unusual"
was the word.
"Can you do stenography and type
writing?" he asked.
The girl sadly shook her head.
IF you could give me other things
at first, I would learn that later" she
spoke In a sort of soft eagerness.
Heretofore, I had no opportunity
Of learning. Ny life was-all ease"
She caught her breath TREMENDOUSLY and
threw out her hands In a hopeless
gesture. The wistful eyes were misty
with tears.
Everything changed for me In one
moment. That was the strange, hard
part of It."
Quickly she brushed the tears from
her eyes and leaned toward Barris.
"Can you believe me-" she asked,
THAT ! have now between me and
starvation Just twenty-five centsT"
At his ~astonished stare, she smiled
suddenly, very brayely, Barris thought.
"If you will give me some work to
DC at once that part Of the trouble will
soon be disposed Of" she told him.
The busy man. whose sympathy and
anxiety were usually bound up In his
own intricate work, found himself
moved now as he had never been
moved to pity and admiration. The
girls sincerity could not be doubted /;
her plucky willingness to work herself
out Of a dlscouraging situation won
his immediate championship.
"You might begin" he suggested, "by
answering that irritating telephone ;
s your Judgment as to whether re-
Spouse upon my part is imperative, or
may be postponed. I'm maddeningly
busy"
The girl, her hat swiftly removed,
was already at the telephone.
Barris noted approvingly the soft ar
rangement Of her hair, In keeping some
way with the trim gray frock and Sc
rious Dyes. For a time he was not
disturbed by the telephone, continuing
his dictation to an observant young
woman typist. Subconsciously, at last,
he sensed the strangers troubled gaze
in his direction. Mutely, she seemed
to be signaling his help.
Barris abruptly dismissed his stenog-
rapher and turned to answer the girls
silent appeal. Her eyes, as he looked
down upon her, were darkly tragic.
IT must 60" she said. breathlessly.
II must leave you and, oh, ! did SO
want to stay-my irst chance-and the
crying need for money" Her voice
broke in Its despair.
Again Barris was moved, deeply ;
the secret, the mystery Of her unwill-
ingly gripped him.
Explain yourself" he said terse1y.
"Are you, after all, an impostor. or an
innocent mistakenly enduring some
troubleT'
He was surprised at his W emo
lions.
81 ask, because / honestly wish to
help you," he added gently.
The little gray figure anne close.
The girl held out implorlng hands. Into
the purple eyes came q laughing CLEAN
OF triumph.
Thanks" she said. "Your own be-
lief In my acting is the surest proof Of
its success. I told you that / could do
It, For the past hour l have been
your .Normand.' and you have forgot
ten her In me-"
And so 1t happened that Allen Bar
rls realized his dream, presenting a
new and truly great actress in one Of
HIS original plays,