Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-12-23

Once, he had taught her In her ignorance she
had married him so that he might teach her. Now
she had got beyond his teaching and he did not
know 1t. In his vanity he thought he had made"
her He lived, fattened that, thrived on the
reflected glory of her art, and ghOul-like on the
woman herself
There escape for her from his exactions
of this piece. The author was abroad, in i'll
health, so he could not be present at rehearsals
Moreover, because this was his first play, the Big
Man took liberties with it as might theatrical
celebrity
This one rehearsed his wife with the assidu-
fty of an animal trainer, bullying her before the
whole company until they Uttered and then grew
silent with sympathy
' The Big Man came into the room noIsily. He
was always called the Big Man. The name fitted
him. He big in physique and in self-suhi-
cheney. His face still showed signs of exaspera-
ton.
Rotten Simply rotten !" he threw at her. strid-
ing up and down. give years of drilling things
into you, and you're dense when married
you You queer the business you slur your lines
You-you haven't an ounce of the real stuff In you
Don't look at with that martyred expression
I'D get rid of you If we didn't have to open
New Years Eve. Now, look here, We'll go through
that business in Act II again, right here now until
you get it right-my way-see? What's the cue?
can't ask you to sacrifice yourself. :. (He
takes her in his arms). Come ont"
The Big Mans temper smarting under
recent newspaper criticism in which it sug-
gested that in his next production he should give
premier place to his wife. He specially resented
the advice because the writer limited that the
Big Man, dramatically speaking, did not count.
Come on" he repeated.
mo"
He stared at her. She had never disobeyed him
before. 1t nearly staggered him.
I'm too tired tonight. Besides, don't agree
that the scene should be played your way. That
was not the authors intention"
He took her by the wrist "By gad you'll be
saying the play written for you next"
1t had been. The author had seen her on the
stage once. He had purposely written his play
round her. because her personality had impressed
him. The Leading Woman did not know this.
Neither did the Big Man.
you've got to do what tell you. If you're
tired, what about meW
Rather than argue she gave in. 1t wasn't
worth it-arguing with man who could only rea-
son like woman. The worst of it was, she could
see through him now She knew he jealous.
She knew he took perverse pleasure in trying
TO queer her business" She was perfectly well
aware that could he have dispensed with her, he
would have done so only boX-otfice receipts had
been so good since he had starred her. After he had
gone the Leading Woman turned the key in the
lock There was always way by which she
could secure oblivion Of her mental suferings Not
by morphla drink, but by letters. score OF
Them written by her. sealed but not addressed,
Law In a locked drawer of her escritoire. She did
not even know the man who, In them she In
voked. Her eyes had never seen him. To write
thus was one Of those queer feminine impulses
that women who suffer give way to In order to
save their hearts from breaking. They were the
only loye-letters she had ever written to man.
She took up her pen now, striving for camness
while writing to her Unknown:
ooh my DEAR l terribly sad, and am
oIt a ,tarY In
the dark 1t can't go on. l can't bear 1t
much longer Sometimes In my agony have told
myself to do as other do, to be worldly
venal to laugh and console myself with the first
likely man who comes my way. Pride stops me,
and my deep regard for you, Unknown Shall
ever see your Will you ever become real, my
ideal2 Shall never know what love Is? For now
roy heart Is virgin.
"Think Of 1t, Half-of- M Soul wherever you arel
T am a wife And have never known what 1t Is
TO love- except intangibly, love you. That Is
my punishment for having married without re-
Election Beloved was such child, and thought
nothing mattered except my art.
"Sometimes when first began to write to you
Unknown | used to ask myself what would hap
men should ever meet you? know as know
still that | should recognize you and at once
7 used IN think of myself as ever bent to the Big
Mans WILL But know now that this would not
he right He has so long forfeited my loyalty All
that Is best In me belongs to you, whoever ana
wherever you are. l could not keep away II you
needed me- And | am religious woman.
"AlI this life / am living is wrong unnatural.
Surev Il can't go on. l am twenty-sx-oh, dear
est. only twenty-six and there is nothing left to
me but work And in work cannot forget
bccause It is emotional
~ nm going to write little prayer here nave
nroved Il waking and in my dreams. send It
now on the wings of my spirit, this petition OF
my soul, that somewhere and sometime l may see
crowd" -.
She was strung up and she covered pages CIV
snp her emotions full play. To woman OF acute
senslblllty there is something very convincing 10
the idea of a soumate 1t was that Leading
Womau's consolation and her beacon OF nope.
During the following weeks while the new play