The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-02-11

MrS. NlnlnR, VINO naQ played al
manner of roles for half century
Ind was now esl, ,blished as famous
player Of hateful old grandes danes
Ipared Daphne her ready vinegar ant
hose to mother her.
Mr.. Reben had come down from hit
office to make up his own mind. He
smiled with a kind Of challenging cor,
1iality and murmured: $50 our little
business woman Is going to open the
shop. Well, all you've got to do IL
10 deliver the goods and I'll buy 'em
at your own price,"
Patterson raped on the kitchen
table that stood on the apron OF the
stage under naked bunch Of light
Of glaring brillIance.
"Places. please, for the entrance
Ready7 All right, Eldonl"
The noble matinee idol put his hat
on the table. walked on, sat down or
q divan composed Of two broker
chairs and read an imaginary news
paper.
Patterson said: "Doorbelll Buzz-z.'
A well-dressed young man, whom
Daphne recognized as the elderly but
Ter, walked across and opened ar
imaginary door between two chairs
This was the cue for Miss Kemble't
famous "How do you do7"
Everybody waited and watched FOL
the newcomer to make her debut IL
the new world. Then was a silence
Daphne stood with heels screwed tt
the floor and tongue glued to the rool
of her mouth.
"All right. Miss Kip" said Battersor
with ominOus patience. "Come on
come on, please"
Another silence, then Daphn,
laughed and choked. "I'm awfully stu
pid. I've forgotten the line"
Patterson CRASHED his unlighted CT
gar and growled: "Howjadol How
jadO"
"Oh. yes! Thank you. I'm sc
sorry said Daphne, and walked Oh
at the wrong side of the chairs.
Everybody shuddered to realize thai
she had entered through a solid wall
This miracle was ignored, but there
was no ignoring the peculiarly inelo
Quent note she struck when she bowed
How are your
A sigh went through the vast pro
found and void OF the empty theater
Instinct told even the echoes tha
Daphne did not belong and never could
belong. Patterson groaned. tragically
"Not to the butler. plcasel Dom
say How are your 20 the butler
Don't say How are your to anybody
please. Script says 'Howjadof Sa,
'HowjadoT to Mr.. Eldon there. Say
'Howjndo' to Mr.. Eldon there"
"HOw do you do?" said Daphne
bowling to Eldon and speaking with {
soullessne.'s of squeezed doll.
Eidon rose, folded up his imaginary
paper. and came forward with n pity
ing desire to help her. He hoped tha
the scared little Kip woman would VIII
through the same bitter trials TO tn,
same perllous and always endangered
success. But he had fear.
He delivered her his line with be
nevolent gentleness. He waited. theI
gave her her line with exquisite tact
said to her:
Don't he afraid; you're all right
He gave her the line again and sh,
parroted ii after him. She lcape,
then to speech several minutes far
ther on He drew her back to the cue
Pardon me. but think I have lin
before that"
The rehearsal blundered on. 1t wa
mob Dnphnc's fright that dsturbe,
the rest. II was her complete failur
to suggest tn, character. or any char
actt-
But Patterson found nothing 4
amuse him, and Reben tasted tha
iust and ashes OF disappointment
With which theatrical managers are
20 familiar when they bite on the
Dead sea fruit OF beauty without dra-
matte talent.
Miss Kemble tried to help. She
asked Daphne to step aside and watch
while she went through the scene. But
she was so unnerved that she forgot
ler own lines and had to refer to the
manuscript. while EldOn waited In
acute distress and Daphne. looking on
said: "Oh, i see. I think understand
L now" Then she forgot 1t all agair
at the repetition. Somehow the re
hearsal was worried through to the
end and Patterson dismissed the com
pany with sarcastic thanks. Then h,
went to Reben to demand substi
tute.
Daphne went home. drending he
fate but not knowing what the verdic
was. She felt sure that II would b.
not guilty Of dramatic ability. Sh
was worn out with the exposure OF he
own faults and uncertain which sh
feared the more-tO be dismissed O
10 be ncCenIed The Inter meant nn