The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-04-25
CHAPTER x-continued.
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Miss Kemble went forward Il
Daphne and took her hand and pettet
Il and said: 'Tm so glad to see you
You must meet my aunt, Mrs. Vining
She won't object to your playing be
parts, I'm sure"
Mrs. Vining, who had played al
manner Of roles for half a century
and was now established as famous
player Of hateful old grandes danes
spared Daphne her ready vinegar ant
chose to mother her.
Mr.. Reben had come down from his
office to make up his own mind. HI
smiled with kind of challenging cor
diality and murmured: $50 our little
business woman is going to open the
shop. Well, all you've got to do Is
to 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 giarlng ordnance.
Places, please, for the entrance
ReadyI All right, Eldonl"
The noble matinee idol put his hat
on the table, walked on, sat down on
a divan composed of two broken
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 an
imaginary door between two chairs.
This was the cue for Miss Kemble's
famous "How do you do?"
Everybody waited and watched for
the newcomer to make her debut in
the new wcrld. Then was a silence.
Daphne stood with heels screwed to
the floor and tongue glued to the roof
of her mouth.
"All right, MISS Kip" said Patterson
with ominous patience. "Come on,
come on, pleased"
Another silence, then Daphne
laughed and choked. "rm awfully stu
pid. I've forgotten the line"
Patterson CRASHED his unlighted CT
gar and growled: "Howjadol How
jadow
"Oh, yesi Thank you. Tn so
sorry" said Daphne, and walked on
at the wrong side Of the chairs.
Everybody shuddered to realize that
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
TO the butler and stammered:
"How are Jour"
A sigh went through the vast pro-
found and void Of the empty theater.
Instinct told even the echoes that
Daphne did not belong and never could
belong. Patterson groaned, tragically.
mot to the butler, pleased Don't
say How are your to the butler.
Don't say How are your to anybody,
please. Script says 'HowjadoY Say
Howjador to Mr.. Eldon there. Say
'Howjado' to Mr.. Eldon there"
How do you dor" said Daphne,
bowling to Eldon and speaking with a
soullessness Of a squeezed doll.
Eldon rose, folded up his imaginary
paper, and came forward with n pity
ing desire to help her. He hoped that
the scared little Kip woman would win
through the same bitter trials to the
same pefilous and always endangered
success. But he had fear.
He delivered her his line with be-
neyolent gentleness. He waited, then
gave hep her line with exquisite tact.
She did not repeat II after him. He
said to her:
Don't Be afraid: you're all right
He gave her the line again and she
parroted II after him. She leaped
then TO q speech several minutes far
ther on. he drew her back to the cue:
Pardon me. but I think I have a line
before that
The rehearsal Numbered on. II was
net Daphne's fright that disturbed !
tn resi. II was her complete failure
10 suggest the character. or any char |
sctsr.
But Patterson found nothing to |
amuse him. eEd Rehen tasted that
dust ana ashes Of disappointment
with which theatrical managers are
70 familiar when they bite On the
lad sea fruit q beauty without ara
,nxtie saianG