Evening star., 1922-06-25

ought to be doing q straight lead"
Kennard put his arm around her.
But they can't hold US back for
ever And all this Is valuable ex-
perience. anyway"
Yes" she said slowly. only
sometimes I wish We were getting 1t
in some other company"
Their eyes met, and he knew that
she was thinking about Hartney, the
| actor-manager.
Hartney was tho very pattern Of
what an actor ought not to be and
no gentlem an really is. He had made
himself peculiarly offensive to Violet.
and doubly Objectionable to Kennard.
Added to this. he was tho man who
had blocked their progress. To do
him justice, 1t was because ne had
put them down as waste material.
YES" said Kennard renectively.
sooner or later I'm going to have to
punch that man in the jaw"
She held tightly to him.
II can stand it-I can stand any
thins-as long as you're here. Prom
ise me- you'll keep your temper
please promise"
He promised faithfully to keep 1t,
but on the very morrow he. broke his
pledge.
THEY were rehearsing "secret.serv-
ice," and Hartney had badgered
the pair alternately, until Violet. with
tears in her eyes. had fed into the
wings to hide her wrath and chagrin.
Kennard was struggling for control
Of himself when Hartnsy addressed
him with his usual pompous inso-
| lence.
'Kennard," he said. you've got to
get over this hiEh-brow attitude of
yours. Oh, we all know you're a col
lego man. You've. advertised. It
enough! But you've got to learn to
read your lines the way do. Lose
yourself in the part! Forget it's a
play and let yourself CO."
Kennard. who had been staring un-
certainly after Violet, bit his lip.
But. Mr.. Hartney. II an actor
really did forget himself how could
he help forgetting tho audience, too.
and turning his back on It? How
could he help blending q lot of his
speeches and not giving other people
their cues? How could he lose HIM
self without losing his audience.
toor
Tho manager raised his hand.
Now then, ladies and gentlemen,
with your Kind permission, we'll have
a lecture ON tho art of acting by one
Of the seintiilatinK lights Of the pro-
fession. Pray 20 on. Mr.. 'Kennard-
we're all your pupils!" .-.-
Kennard flushed. ,-.--
i've heard plenty aof actors talk
about forgetting themselves, Mr..
Hartnsy. but never yet saw one Of
them fcrEet.where the middle Of the
stage ID, or the lime1isht, either"
Hartney glared at him.
Very smart: worry smart. indeed.
Got on with the scene. Where's your
little friend!"
It was the tone more than? the
words which brought. Kennard: to the
limit Of his endurance. He deliber-
atsly knocked the man. down.
Tho actor-manager got up slowly
and pulled himself together. He sur
veyed Keunard and spared . cynical
glance for Violet, who had hurried
back to the stage.
Both Of you can wash up-so,
good-tomorrow night!" he said. It'll
have your places filled by that time.
Now. because the girl was In love
and thought only Of the separation
which was now inevitable, she &C.
cused Ksnnard Of breaking; his prom.
ise to her. and they quarreled. In. the
course Of the quarrel they both made
various statements which they didn't
mean, and before they had = fail
chance to forgive each other they had
parted .. -. - -. - :
- ~ X,
| A WEEK later: Violet was playing
"A ingsnus parts in. Toronto and
Ksnnard was haunting sth4- New YofA
agencies. The news.-of Mis- behavior
however. had ..hs1ten him: TO- tts city
and It hsd arrived in. ons-stded form
Three mpntAs went by before hs
1 OAsS. ant M -hav