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

Daphne's Joy turned to lead.
Reben added: "But we don't pay by
performances. I'll pay you twenty
five week. You wanted money.
There's little Of 1t for a start. Do
you want it,"
"Will 1t lead to anything betterr'
"It might"
"Am I to understudy Miss Kemblef 7"
"Yes. and all the other women
roles"
And when 10 you suppose I'll get a
chance to play Miss Kemble's part I
Soonf"
"Never. 1 hope"
That's encouraging!
IF Miss Kemble fell Ill we'd ordi-
narily refund the money. because she's
the star. But sometimes we might
have to give performance at short
notice. Chances in the other parts
might come any day"
"And you'll give me better chance
when you can2"
Indeed l Will. II you have the gift,
the sooner find 1t out and the harder
1 work 1t the more money l make.
The more you earn the more / make.
I'd like to pay you ten thousand a
week"
"Td like to have you. All right,
I'll try"
He pressed a button on his desk
once, then twice. The office boy ap-
peared. followed by the stenographer.
Reben said to the boy: "Is Mr.. Bat
terson here? Send him to me-" To
the stcnographer he said: "Rill out a
contract for Miss Kip-Miss- What's
the first name7 Miss Daphne Kip.
Salary, twenty-five. Make 1t a three
year contract"
Reben motioned her absently to her
chair and said, rather for Duaue's
sake than for hers. she felt: "Sit
down, won't you, till the contracts
conner and pardon me IL L"
He finished the phrase by the deed.
The Office routine went on and Daphne
might have been the chair she sat in
for all the attention he paid her. She
felt rather ungallantly ignored. Still,
she had asked to be treated on q
business basis. He was taking her
at her word
Before tie contracts were ready
Mr.. Patterson appeared He was one
of Reben's stage managers a worried,
emotional little man, worn to shreds
with his task of stimulating and cor
recting the emotions by which others
earned their wages and fame.
Reben introduced him to Daphne
and explained her new office. Batter.
son seemed none too well pleased with
the YER, that Daphne wnS ignorant
OF stage work to The last degree. He
had found 1t hard enough To make the
experienced actors read their lines as
they must he raad and keep on read
ing them so. To teach this dramatic
infant how to walk and talk was an
unwelcome labor.
He took Daphne into his office and
pulled out set of parts. When she
stumbled over them he cast his eyes
heavenward in his swift impntienCe.
He explained them with vinegnry
gentlcness. He talked to her of the
Canons of Interpretation. He walked
through her scenes and spoke her lines
for her again and again and yet again.
Ibul SDlll'Ilo" Ilt fOlllu nov Itifh lltT.
He tried everything but beating
her. He fattercd her, whcedlcri her
parOdied, satiriZed, rebuked her. and
occasionally he cursed her. She did
not rebel even against his profanity
because she had no confidence In her.
self To support her resistance. She
felt that she was far worse than he
- hn ha ..,iI -,
worst She used all her funds of res
Olution In keeping from throwing dowr
the part and running away in tears
She had none left for asserting hel
right to pOlitencSs.
Once Daphne was out In the stree
again and released from the ordeal o.
pleasing Patterson, youth and ambi
tion brought hope back again. Broad
way at twilight was athrOb with en-
thuslasm and she caught zest from tn
crowds. She was going home to study
carrying her little set of textbooks lik
u schoolgirl. But she felt the wing
of conquest Hedging at her ankles o
the wheel of fortune spinning unde
her toes.
Her very first effort had succeeded
She was woman with a salary. Sh
would be no longer a parasite on an
man. She had II career and II bushes
as well ms the best Of them.
Her mother was at home alOn,
Leila had gone from that tea part
to another 30 which Mrs. Kip was NJ
invited. Daphne's mother greeted he
with relief She told her news with
gush Of enthusiasm. 1t left Mrs. Kl
cold, very cold.
She was pious, Church-going won