The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-19

pink ribbon, and she made It clear from
her first line that hers was the Char
acter'' part which was to furnish most Of
the comedy.
Then Mrs. Pcnkins entered, rather
pretty young woman. plainly frightened.
Her voice was high pitched and shrfu,
and she stood stiffly at the side Of the
stage with her handkerchief In her hand
during this scintillating bit Of dialogue
Mrs. Perkins-"Good morning, Texapa
see you have flowers on the table this
morning"
Tenana (bobbing and grinnine)-
'tMornin' Mis- Perkins. Yes. wanted
! to have things look purity. 1 reckon like
as not Mr.. Cliffordu come courtin' long
c. Miss Jean today"
Mrs. Perkins-"The idea! You shouldn't
get such notions. Texana."
Texana-"Can't help it, Mis- Perkins,
ma am. There's nothing in the world
| like love-sweet love-
| .'Oh, lord groaned Warren
Then Mr.. Perkins came ON In boots
ard riding breeches and they sat down to
breakfast.
Real Coffee.
why. that's real coffee" whispered
Helen, as Mrs. Perkins poured out the
coffee steaming hot.
Warren grinned. Guess they need
s,me sort of bracer to get through this
play"
4
Jean-'the girl from the East'-burst
| in. Apparently the Cinnamon Club had
not wanted to go to the expense of a
riding habit, SO they had faxed one out
of an old linen suit that Jean might
make her entry consistent with her
| speech.
! 1t was long speech, fun of flowery
Ir hrases about her glorious ride through
the hills and dales, the prairie breeze and
the sky dappled with clouds. She gave
l it as though it were commencement
recitation, and in the same high pitched
lvoice.
1 She's the girl that Max makes love
] tor nugged Warren.
Hardly had Tenana cleared the table
after the two-minute breakfast, when
there was a knock that shook the flimsy
door. and in came Jack Maxwell. wa--
rem dropped the program and clapped up
iroar:ously.
1 Don't, DON'T pleaded Helen. pulling
at his arm. AS no one else was clap
ping, the sound was startling.
/ But Wa len did not stop until Maxwell
glanced out and acknowledged the ap-
piause w tn a twitching grin under his
4 false ,nustache.
If Helen had not been so embarra ssed
at W-arren's conduct. she would have
been copvulsed at the strained why in
which: they all stood around the stage
and spouted tie speeches in the corn
menccment style of oratory.
| Maxwell was ts'i nd thin. with voice
surprisingly deep in contrast to the high
pitched tones OF the girls. He evident
! ly took his part most seriously. and
Helen thought that once or twice he
concealed chuckles
The play was undoubtedly written by
an aspiring playwright of the Cinnamon
Club. and its amateurish lines combined
with the amateur acting produced real
1 comedy.
But the redeeming feature Of 1t al
was jeans adorable prettiness and wher
in the last act Maxwell caught her IL
his arms. Warren muttered lucky dog
i Behind the Stage.
When the red curtain hitched to after
the final touching scene. Warren made
straight for the door beside the stage
Feeling that they had no right to intruds
behind the scenes Helen hung back, bn'
he beckened to her peremptorily. Re-
iuctantIy she followed. feeling self-con-
scious and very much out of place.
She looked for Maxwell to greet War
rem with effusive cordially. but now &c
her surprise he was quite cool. He had
taken off his false mustache and was
wiping off the grease paint with towel
He bowed formally to Helen wher
Warren introduced her. but he evinced
none of the hearty good-felIowship that
Helen had naturally expected.
A number of the audience had now
mao de their way back to congratulate :he
actors. And all sides were heard
gushing comments on how "splendidlJ
the pay ffac- gone off, and how beau
tifully'' everyone had acted.
Helen thought that of course Mr.. Max.
iwell would show them around and ex-
pain the various crude devices and they
walk with them to the station. But Iif
merely expressed his regret that they hat
had so had an evening to come UP, ana
asked II they were going back on ths
l1o:55.
They had intended taking a later trair
but now Warren looked at his watch
with a casual look.