The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-11-06
Opportunity
"
By VINCENT c. PERRY

tcopyright. 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper syndicats)
Harry was just like thousands Of
other young men scattered about the
world-he was full OF ambition and
longings. with n whole lot OF ability
that every one save himself failed to
recognize. aud even he had no idea
OF Its extent. The ambition to be an
actor had grown on Harry from the
ing out with schoolboy recitations and
ending up with college dramatics he
had cultivated the taste for stage life.
But there he wa5 in Bloomstend. q
clerk In the drug store. his small sal
ary going every week for the neces-
stiles OF life There did not seem to
be chance In the world for him to
get away from there. yet. somehow
he did not give way to that thought.
II have just got to get on the stnge."
he told himself more than Once q day.
that's where | belong"
OF course like every other helpless
young man with such ambitions, he
wrote to every play producer he ever
heard OF. and poured out his story.
| Some of them answered him. more of
them did not. The answers were all
about the same. Forget IT," wus the
underlying thought. Though they went
nj II in kindly fashion. enlarging on
the discouragements the theatrical pro-
fesslon offered TO the novice. None of
them did as he hoped; that IL, write
and say Come right along. We will
give yon chance TO make good and
we will pay you enough to keep you
from starving and to buy your ticket
home again II you don't suit" They
looked on him ns just ''moon-eyed
rube." They forgot the days when
they were longing for that chance,
when helping hand would have put
them on their feet. That's what Harry
thought. anyway.
However. Harry was not going to be
denied all the pleasure of footlights
and applause. Amateur drnmatics Of
fered n little soothing to his longings.
As leading man and director OF the
Bloomstead Dramatic society he was
filling In all his spare time. The sec
ond rehearsal of "The Romance OF
Lillian" was scheduled for that night
at the town hall. and Harry wns los
!. ing no time In getting there. He had
big hopes for his play. II gave him an
!. opportunity for some real acting In
the last act. and there was vague
hope that some one of influence In the
dramatic world might hear Of his sue
cess In It.
, Rut Mt the town hall disappointment
was lurking. Clorene Colbert. thu
chosen leading lady. baked at the kiss
ing scene. Papa says II ] am to b'
/ kissed In this play can't be In t.
! Clorene told Harry with rural tart
, pess.
my mother thinks II would be awfu
/ To have kissing In IT," one OF the othe
: girls In the case agreed. Right there
, an argument started that ended II
I Clorene's leaving In tears. The re
I hearsal was upset for the evening. an,
4 further rehearsals were postpone,
. until new heroine could be secured
/ Poor Harryl He had never been s,
4 disgusted as he was that night. Wha
!. did these rubes know about art. any
, way. he asked himself. The idea o
|. Clorene baking at the kissing scene
= As II stage kiss meant anything
Where could he get another heroine
All the girls with any ability at al
were In the cast already. But no
There was that new arrival. the youn
lady from the city who was visitin
) the minister's wife. Would she TAX
!. the part7 There was only one wa
to find out. and Harry started out I
I. put that one way into operation.
= Ruth Hedley listened to Harry's pie
!, and smiled kindly. The ambition G
the young man before her could nc
|, help making its impression.
!, Let me read your play" she sal
a when Harry had finished. The youn
a leader OF the dramatic society hande
= over the manuscript smillngly. A
: Ruth sat and read Harry watched h,
J. face. He had not noticed before no
= very beautiful she was. When st
= smiled she was simply glorious. VIII,
ClOrene was not In II with her
Ruth finished the manuscript "Rea
that last act to me-" She handed n
play over to Harry for compliance.
Harry started to read. his voice an
/. expression gathering strength as III
net proceeded. II was not stron
;, play. but Harry certainly made ii
. : best OF II.
: 'SpIendId" Ruth applauded whe
he had finished. "Mr. Thomas. you al
: born actor"
a AZ last some one had recognized h
ability. Harry bushed radlantly an
blurted out his thanks. Somehow tn
charming young lady had left him b
reft Of words.
"Why not get stronger pay--or
with more life In II and that will gi,
-. ~