The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-06
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Opportunity.,

BY INVENT q, PERRY.
"fcopyright, 1918 by tho Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

other young men scattered about
Tie wofld-he was full OF ampl-
:, eion and longings, with whole iot %
abiiity that every one save niu s.d
,sed to recognize, and even ne nav ~
"a idea OF rs extent. The ampltlon ~
"a actor had grown on Harry from tne
dsy he had seen his first play. starr,
ne ont with school boy recitations anu
sndine up with college dramatics ne
5adscnltiYated the taste for stage me-
mt there he was in Bloomstead, q
eierj, in the drug store, his small SAL
an going every week for the necesEl-
ties Of life. There did not seem 70 DC
4 chance in the world for him 70 ges
swav from there, yet, anyhow he did
fiot give way to that thought.
nave iust got to get on the stage" he
toId himself more than once day,
ethat's where belong"
of course like every other helpless
yonng man with such ambitions. ne
Wrote TO every play producer he ever
heard of. and poured out his story
Some Of them answered him, most OF
them did not. The answers were all
ahout the same. Forget 1t" was the
nnderlying thought, though they went
A. It in kindly fashion, enlargmg on
the discouragements the theatrieals
profession offered to the novice. None
# tl,em did as he hoped; that is, write
and saw "Come right along. We wiz
tive you a chancse to make good ana
p. An nav vou enough to keep you
from starving and to buy your ticket
home again If you don't sui" They
looked on him as just a "moon-eyea
rube". They forgot the days when
khey were longing for that chance
when a helping hand would have put
HEM on their feet That's what Harry
( thought, anyway.
However, Harry was not going to be
denied all the. pleasure Of footlignts
and applause. Amateur dramatics Of
fered little soothing ointment to his
longings. AS leading man and, direc-
tro OF the Bloomstead Dramatic Socie-
he was filling in all his spare time.
The second rehearsal for the 1.-THE Ro-
nance of Lillian was scheduled for
that night at the town hall, and Harry
WIS lonsing no time in getting there.
he had big hopes for this play 1t
gave him an opportunity for some real
acting in the last act, and there was
vague hope that some one OF intlu-
ence IN the dramatic world might near
Of his success init.
But at the town hall disappointment
was lurking. Clarence Colbert, chos-
sn leading lady, baked at the kissing
scene. Papa says if am to be kiss
ed in this play cant be in It," Clor-
sne told Harry with rural tartness.
my mother thinks it would be aw-
full to have kissing in it." one OF theI
other girls in the case agreed. Right
there an argument started that ended
In Clorene's leaving in tears. The re-
hearsal was upset for the evening, and
further rehearsals were postponed un-
til a new heroine could be secured.
Poor Harry! He had never been sol
disguested as he was that night. What
aid these rubes know about art, any
way, he asked himself. The idea Of
Clorene baking at the kissing scene!
AS If a stage kiss meant anything!
Where could he get another heroine?l
All the girls with any ability at all
were In the cast already. But no!
There was that new arrival, the young
lady from the city who was visiting
the minister's wife. Would she take
the? There was only one way to find
put, and Harry started out to put that
ma Way into operation.
Ruth HedIey listened to Harry'sI
plea and smiled kindly. The ambition
Of the young man before her could not
help making its impression.
let me read your play" she said
when Harry had finished. The young
leader Of the dramatic society handed
over the manuscript willingly. AS Ruth
sat and read Harry watched her IA
He had not noticed before how very
beautiful she was. When she smiled
she was simply glorious. Why Clor-
enc was not in 1t with her!
Ruth finished the manuscript. Read
that last act to me-" She handed the
play over to Harry for compliance.
Harry started to read, his voice and
expression gathering strength as the
act proceeded. 1t was not a strong
play, but Harry certainly made the
best Of It.
Splendid" Ruth applauded when
he had finished. Mr.. Thomas you
are q born actor"
AZ last some one had recognized hist
ability. Harry blushed radiantly and
biurted out his thanks. Somehow this
charming young lady left him bereft
pi words.
Why not get stronger play-one
With more life in it and that will give
you a chance to act?" Miss Hedley
suggested II have the manuscript Of
one in my trunk that will be the very
Thing. ] would be pleased to play the
leading part in IT," /:
But 1t takes so long to write quit
the parts for the Others" Harry de-
INJURED,
al can have typed manuscripts here!
from the, city in less than week"
Ruth told him. Are you ONT"
~ sure ami" he declared. Wen
make these people sit up"
The people OF Bloomstead certainly
aid sit up. Never had there Been such
iruffle in their midst as the Drama
.ic Society made that fall. The rehear
sails for the new play went off with
record success and the night for the
performance arrived.
Behind the footlights in the town /,
hall Harry was excited and his nerves /
we're strung TO the highest pitch. III
- . fhn Rifst TINA he had hnan nfRank /