The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-04-18
By
RUPERT HUGHES


performances. I'll pay you twenty
FIVE a week. You wanted money.
There's a little of it for a start. Do
you want it,"
"Wlll 1t lead to anything betterT
"It might"
Gam l to understudy Miss Kembier
"Yes, and all the other women
roles"
"And when do you suppose I'll get
chance to play Miss Kemble's partf
SoOn?"
"Neyer, hope"
"That's encouragingr
"If Miss Kemble fell III we'd ordl-
narlly refund the money. because she's
the star. But sometimes we might
have to give a performance at short
notice. Chances in the other parts
might come any day."
sand you'll give me better chance
when you CAM"
Indeed / will. If you have the gift,
the sooner I find 1t out and the harder
l work 1t the more money make.
The more you earn the more make.
I'd like to pay you ten thousand
week."
ard like to have you. All right,
I'll try"
He pressed button on his desk
once, then twice. The Office boy ap-
peared, followed by the stenographer.
Reben said to the boy: as Mr.. Bat
terson here? Send Tim to me-" To
the stenographer he said: 'Fill out
contract for Miss Kip-Miss-- What's
the first manner Miss Daphne Kip.
Salary, twenty-five. Make 1t a three
year contract"
Reben motioned her absently to her
chair and said, rather for Duane's
sake than for hers, she felt: "Sit
down, won't you, till the contracts
come? and pardon me If L"
He finished the phrase by the deed.
The Office routine went on and Daphne
might have beeh the chair she sat In,
for oil the attention he paid her. She
felt rather ungAlantly ignored. Still,
she had asked to be treated on a
business basis. He was taking her
at her word.
Before the contracts were ready
Mr.. Patterson appeared. He was one
Of Reben's stage managers, 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 news that Daphne was ignorant
Of stage work to the last degree. he
had found 1t hard enough to make the
experienced actors read thelr lines as
they must be read 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 q set Of parts. When she
stumbled over them he cast his eyes
heavenward In his swift Impotence,
He explained them with vinegary
gentleness. 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
But somehow he could not teach her
He tried everything but beating
her. He fiattered her, wheedled her,
parodled. 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
said she was when he said she was
| worst. She used oil her funds Of res
olution in keeping from throwing down
the part and running away in tears
She had none left for asserting her
right to pollteness.
| Once Daphne was out In the street
again and released from the ordeal Of
pleasing Patterson. youth and ambi
ton brought hope back again. Broad
way at twilight was athrob with en-
thusiasm and she caught zest from the
crowds. She was going home TO study
carrying her little set Of textbooks like
schoolgirl. But she felt the wings
Of conquest Hedging at her ankles Of
the wheel of fortune spinning under
her toes.
Her very first effort had succeeded
She was a woman with salary. Sh'
would be no longer a parasite on an,
man. She had career and business
as well as the best Of them.
Her mother was at home alone
Leila he'd gone from that tea part,
TO another to which Mrs. Kip was no
! invited. Daphne's mother greeted he
with relief. She told her news with {
! gush Of enthusiasm. Il eft Mrs. XII
, cold, very cold.
She was q plous. church-golng won
an, Mrs. Kip. She had always lookcS
upon the theater as a training schoo
: for the still lower regions. She wen
: TO plays occasionally. but usually viii
! a feeling Of dissipation and worldll
ness. Besides II was one thing 70 se'
: plays and another to act them.
J Daphne tried to reason her mothe