Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-12-23
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What the devil are you up to? by thunder,
I'll make you pay for this
She smiling, looking into the black void
of the house. Her lips moved, answering him:
eyes, afterwards . . l don't mind paying
then"
From that moment she took the play into her
hands and made 1t what it was meant to be. The
members tof the company, inspired by er revolt
and latent dislike of the Big Man, supported her
loyalty With the vigor of the big scene restored
to 1t the play took on a new and convincing as
pect Even the impotence Of the Big Man could
not arrest it progress The inspiration of the
Leading Woman carried 1t on the flood 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 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 civilized world, but the veneer of civilization
lies very thin 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 were forgotten In the ecstacy that
drove her pen over the paper.
81 hay6. seen you l knew you My heart has
shaken hands with you and oh If you would
call to me- how gladly would l come"
The next evening she pleaded she was too I'LL
to play. She really was. But the Big Man
laughed She had reverted to the original script
She would play it so every night, and pay
for 1t after
The Man In Front there.
He was 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
On the third night, at the end of the perform
ance as she was preparing to go home, the tele-
nj ne bell In her dressing rang. She picked
up the receiver.
Eyes? I'm the leading woman,
To whom am l speakingW
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 are full Of you.
wasn't able to be present, although seats were
sent, I was there in spirit, think. 1t meant
so much to me-"
voice within her asked q question. what
seat-did they give your
1.-THE middle of the front row of the stalls
Number ten"
Her voice grew staccato. "You weren't there?
You sent no substituteT
mo. I can't even drive round and thank you
The doctor won't let me out"
Words dried In ner tnroat' one sOI InelA Jul
harshly.
"shall come to your The addressf When
will 1? Nowl"
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"
oDid you let anybody else have 1t in his abb
sence?"
mo, 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 a room she dismissed the belboy.
Alone in the long corridor she paused for a
moment her knuckles poised over the door panel
What was the opening Of that door going to mean
to her the shutting OF anotherf 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.
II was the man she had seen in the theater-
in the seat that had been empty all along Wait
inc for her convalescent after long Illness, he
had fallen asleep.
Standing there her eyes took their fill OF him.
Her senses swan with the joy of looking upon
him while he was unconscious Of her presence
Her eyes loved him.
The room was untdy. inhosptable as a hotel
apartment always is. 1t needed womans touch
There was a writing-table by his side with pa
pers on Il and womans photograph hers
The grate was full Of ashes, the fire low. Silent.
" she stepped across the room and knelt by the
CRATE.
The man. reused out Of a Htful slumber. awoke
70 see the woman tidying up his hearth.
And thus, early in the year, q new happiness
was dawning.