The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-12-31


What the devil are you up to? BY thunder,
I'll make you pay for this"
She was smiling looking into the black void
OF the house. Her lips moved, answering him
Eyes, afterwards . don't mind paying
then"
From that moment she took the play into her
hands and made it what 1t was meant to be- The
members Of the company, inspired by err revolt
and latent dislike Of the Big Man, supported her
loyalty. With the vigor of the big scene restored
to 1t the play took new and convincing as
pect- Even the impotence of the Big Man could
not arrest 1t progress The inspiration of the
Leading Woman carried 1t on the food tide to
success. The emasculated first act was forgotten
Finally the curtain descended on play made.
At the end, the call for the author grew vehe-
ment. The author WAS not In the house. Then
they called for the Leading Woman again, and she.
coming forward bowed to the Man In
Front and then she trembled and grew weak,
because he looked straight back at her and smiled.
The Big Man made her pay when they got home
that night Exactly how does not matter This
is a civilized world. but the veneer Of civilization
lies very thin on natures such as his.
She sat up all night writing to the Unknown
whom she had seen at last. Bodily pain and men
tai anguish forgotten in the ecstacy that
drove her pen over the paper.
Il have seen you l knew you My heart has
shaken hands with you d. and oh If you would
call to me, how gladly would come"
The next evening she pleaded she too Ill
to play. She really But the Big Man
laughed She had reverted to the original script.
She would play it every night, and pay
for IT after.
The Man In Front was there.
He there the next night.
And each night the Big Man made her pay
so terribly that the last shred Of her allegiance
to him slipped from her.
ance, as she was preparing to go home, the tele-
phone bell In her dressing rang. She picked
up the receiver.
eyes? I'm the leading woman .
To whom am speakingY'
1.-The author Of the piece" was the answer she
received promptly.
She grew faint at the sound Of the voice.
81 want to thank you for what you have done
for my play The papers full Of you.
wasn't able to be present, although seats were
sent I there in spirit, think. 1t meant
much to me-"
A voice within her asked a question. "What
seat-dd they give your"
1.-THE middle of the front Of the stalls.
Number ten"
Her voice grew staccatO. you weren't there
You sent no substitute7'
mo. I can't drive round and thank you.
The doctor won't let out"
Words dried in her throat. She got them out
harshly
"Shall come to your The address? When
will I? Now!"
Before she left the theater, she questioned the
man in the box office
Number ten, front row of the stalls. Who had
it?"
Nobody madame. 1t was reserved for the
author"
"Did you let anybody else have 1t in his alb
sence?
NO. madame 1t has been empty each night"
The cab stopped at the hotel. She got out. The
elevator took her to an upper floor At the
door to room she dismissed the bellboy
Alone IN the long corridor she paused for a
moment her knuckles poised the door panel
What was the opening of that door going to mean
to her &. the shutting of another? She knocked
softly There was no answer. She went In, clos
ing the door quietly behind her, her eyes going
instantly to the still figure In the armchair
1t the man she had seen in the theater-
In the seat that had been empty all along Wait
ing for her, convalescent after long Illness ne
had fallen asleep.
: Standing there, her eyes took their fill of him
Her senses swan with the joy of looking upor
him while he was unconscious of her presence
Her eyes loved him.
The untdy. inhospItable as hote
There writing-tabe by his side with pa
pers on 1t and womans photograph hers
The CRATE was full of ashes, the fire low Silent
ly she stepped across the room and knet by the
CRATE.
The man, reused out OF a ftful slumber awoke
to see the woman tidying up his hearth.
And thus, early in the year, a new happiness
dawning.