The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1920-05-06


went up amid murmurs Of pleasure
ana expectancy, glanced across the
rows or heads. The half-turned face
Of man three rows I'm front of me
suddenly caught my attention. There
was something curiously familiar I'm
his outlines and the gesture with
which, at the moment, he was drawing
his handkerchief across his forehead.
1t was MOntani-beyOnd any question
Montani-and 1 instinctively shrank I'm
my seat and lifted my program as
he turned round and swiftly surveyed
the rows behind him. =
l watched his black head intently
until remembered the superstition
that by staring at n person I'm a pub.
lie place you can make him look at
YOU. MOntani knew great many
things 1 wanted to know, but I must
have time to ndjust myself to the
shock of his propinquity.
The house now took note Of a stir
ring In the boxes. There was an ex-
cited buzz as the tall form and un-
mistakable features Of Cecil Arrow
smith. the English actor, were recog-
nlZed. I had read that day Of his
arrival I'm New York. With him were
two women. My breath came hard and
l clutched the iron frame of the seat
In front of me so violently that its
occupant turned and glared.
The trio settled into their places
quickly, but not before had satisfied
myself that ArrOwsmith's companions
nd NI,.. t..
they fell into animated talk saw that
Alice was In her gayest humor. The
distinguished trugedian seemed greatly
amused by what she was saying to
him.
Must he members OF Arrowsmith's
company one of my neighbors re.
marked. "They open in two weeks
In ShakespcarLin repertoire"
Montnni had half risen, the better
to focus an opera glass on the box.
The gong solcmnly announced the sec
ond act, and Alice moved her chair
to face the stage. Once more Mon
tani scanned the party with his glass.
AS the lights faded Alice, with the
pretty languorOus gesture so well re-
membered, opened her fan-the fan
OF ostrich plumes, that became blur
OF white that held my eye through the
dusk after the curtain rose.
Alice, Montanl, and the fan! To this
combination | had now to add the new
element introduced into the situation
by the apparent familiar acquaintance
OF Alice and Mrs. Farnsworth with
Cecil Arrowsmith. And yet, as the
play proceeded on It's Swift-moying
course. reasoned that there was moth
ing extraordinary in their knowing the
eminent actor. He had long beer
parsonage In England and had late.
ly been knighted. Their appearance,
with him at the theater really dis
posed Of the idea that they might be
impOsters. The presence of Arrow
smith had put zest into the company,
and / hadn't seen better perform
ance of Searles' play. The trio in
the box joined In the prolonged ap-
plause at the end OF the act
AS they resumed their talk Alice. II
seemed. was relating something OF mo.
ment for ArrOwsmith's benefit, refer
ring now and then to Mrs. Farnsworth
as though for cOrrObOrntiOn. The
scene In the box was almost as in.
tercsting as any In the play, and the
audience watched with deep absorb.
ton. Alice, the least self-cOnscious
Of mortals. was, I knew, utterly un-
aware of the curious gaze OF the
house; whatever she was saying with
an occasional gesture Of her gloved
hand or shrug OF her shoulders
possessed her completely. thought
she might be telling ArrOwsmith of
her adventures at Barton; but the
length OF her narrative was against
this. and ArrOwsmith's attitude wns
more tho. Of critic appealed To
for a. ~.,nion than of polite listener
to a story. He nodded his head sew.
era! times, und finally, as Alice. with
slight dip Of the head ana an out,
ward movement Of her arms. settled
back In her chair, he patted his hands
apprOvingly.
In my absorption I had forgotten
MOntanrS existence. but MS the third
act began i saw that lie had gone
Whether / should put myself In Alice's
way as she left the theater was still
an undetermined question when the
play ended. With MOntani hanging
about i felt certain obligation to
warn har that he had been watching
her. was among the first to leave,
and In the foyer ! met Forsythe. the
house manager, who knew me as
friend of Searles.
You notice that we're still turn
ing 'em away he remarked 1--WE
don't have to worry about this piece;
everybody who sees It sends his friends
the next day. Searles hasn't looked In
for some time; hope he's writing
new playf"
He's West visiting his folks. Don't
know when he'll be back" / answered
Il must write him that Sir Cecil Ar
rowsmith enjoyed who Killed Cock
RobinT just as much as common NOR
tails"
Forsythe had paused at the box
nftpn nd In