Manchester Democrat., 1921-04-20

4 they trooped wearily in from the
wings and down the stage once more.
This was the ninth time they had
been ordered ''for the luva Mike, try
it again, in the rasping voice of that
beetle-browed Cummings.
where's the glamour of the stage,
Jim?" Dick asked the question Of the
second violin on his right.
"Search me-" returned the other
At that moment the bit Of 'busi-
ness" which had been going wrong
was called for.
Letter perfect as to the score, Dick
let his thoughts run on. What attrac-
ton for girls did this "being on the
stage" possess? Only in such rare
cases as to be negligible did it offer
other than hard, grilling work and
living wage.
The Empire Stock company was in
terspersing its repertoire of unadul-
terated drama with an occasional mu-
sical comedy, which demanded an
augmented cast. That accounted for
Elsie PaEker's being able, through the
friend of friend, to get the chance
Of holding down an occasional minor
part.
Today Elsie let her eyes rest on
+, the face of the first violin, dimly WIS.,
ible beyond the rim Of the stage. 1t
held no particular personality for her,
yet she sometimes fancied it's eyes
were tired.
And then one day she discovered the
face belonged to very real and live
person.
On the very last night Of 'Take
Care, Tracy" the youth who was
Elsie's vis-a-vis in the goblet dance
didn't appear. And Cummings, tearing
his hair, sent for Heaton, said he'd
heard he'd done amateur stuff and
would he, for the luva Mike, this one
night take the regular guys place? It
was easier to get along without one
of the violins than the sixth member
ofsa sextet.
And, incidentally, Elsie Parker found
him much more interesting than her
former partner.
During the "aside," supposed to con-
vey to the audience desperate flirta-
tion, Heaton asked curiously: "Where
do you come from?"
"vermont," said Elsie simply, but
not forgetting the smile demanded in
the by-play.
"Thar SOP" said Heaton. $50 do 1!
Anywhere near Doaneg"
''Why, I'm from Bemis, only ten
miles away"
And then came the cue for exit rear
left.
Three weeks later Dick sat In his
nine by twelve bedroom, his chair
with its one weak leg, tipped back
against the once white-enameled rail
Of his bed. Near him, on the painted
"wash stand" insufficiently covered
with dingy scarf, lay an open let
ter. He picked it up and read its
brief contents again.
"Dear Richard-We have got to sell
the farm. Your father is getting too
old to work it. And there's nobody
else unless you come home. 1t seems
too bad to let the old place 60. But 1t
can't be helped. The lilacs are all in
bloom today. Lovingly, MOTHER"
That night Cunning called for re-
hearsal at 10 AS, Immediately after
the evenings performance. And be-
cause he had had row with the lead
ing lady, he took it out on the rest,
and eventually landed on the least Of
fensive of them all-Elsie.
"What the devil dye mean by chew
ing your words like they was so much
sphagetti Y-and he went on with in
finitely more biting sarcasms. Elsie
alternately flushed and paled, and en-
deavored to keep back the foolish
tears.
Suddenly, from somewhere behind
Cunning, came a tense dangerously |
quiet voice: LET up on Miss Parker,
you internal slave driverH
The man turned as If shot. ''Who
the--Youw and certainly never before
had Dick appeared other than mildly
placid. But tonight it was a new
Dick, a Dick who had been patiently |
waiting for the rehearsal's end to ask |
a tender query Of the girl whom he |
had discovered to be, under the grease |
paint, not homely little thing, but a
quantity pretty girl with appealing |
eyes under softly curling lashes.
Suddenly Cummings anger culmin-
ated in one last explosion. "For the |
luva Mike-the both Of yer-yOu're |
fired!"
Dick looked him over-then turned
on his heel.
A few minutes later Elsie, her face
delicately, naturally flushed, emerged
from the stage door with Dick into |
the quiet coolness of the starlit night.
A block beyond the theater he drew
in a deep breath and gently tucked
her arm into his. 1--WE haven't known
each other long," he began, "but it has
been quite long enough for me to
know what I want most on earth. /
am going back home to take over the
old farm. But ! don't want to go
alone. VIII you Gomez"
Dicks heart sank as Elsie didn't
answer. He couldn't know that in
that instant slipped away-unregret-
ted-the girls dreams of superb act
ress in an ermine-bordered gown sway
ing the emotions Of vast audience.
He thought she didn't care.
.sIt's a 'sweeter, greener land visit
fully urged the man, who in moments
of stress was given to quoting Kip
ling, and even Omar Khayyam.
uOh IL is-it iS ~ hraathp Tia p;rl