, 1923-12-19
By Katharine Newlin Burt
Copyright by Katharine N. Burt
CHAPTER
r v
Joan and Prosper

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self In hand, and. sitting a little far
ther back than before, he watched the
second act with a sufielency of out.
ware calm.
This part was the most severe test
Of his composure, for he had fash
ioned 1t almost in detail upon that
idyll In a canyon. There were even
speeches of JOan's that he had used.
To sit here and watch Joan herself
go through 1t, while he looked on.
was an exciting form of torment. The
setting was different, tropical instead
Of Northern. and the h%alf-native hero
Inc was more passionate. more emo
tional. more animal than Joan. Never
theless. the drama was a repetition.
AS Prosper had laid his trap for Joan,
silently, subtly undermining her whole
mental structure. using her loneliness.
play'hg upon the artist soul of her,
Sc did this Englishman lay his trap
for IONA. He was more cruel than
Prosper, rougher. necessarily more
dramatic. hut there was all the es-
sence of the original drama. the en-
snarement of a simple. direct mind
by a complex and skillfuI one. Joan's
surrender. Prosper's victory. were
there. He wondered now Joan could
act 1t, play the part in cold blood.
Now he vas condemned to live in his
own Imagination through Joan's trag-
edy. There was that first pitifulness
Of a tanned and brokep spirit; then
later. In London. the agony Of loneli-
ness. of separation. Of gradual awak-
ening to the change in her masters
heart. Prosper had written the words.
but II was loan who. with her voice,
the music of memory-shaken heart
strings. made the words alive and
meaningful. Others in the audience
might wonder over the girls ability
to interpret this unusual experience.
to make 1t natural. human, inevitable.
But Prosper did net wonder. He knew
hat simply she forced herself to re-
live this most painful part of her own
life and to relive II articulately. What,
In Gods name. had induced her to do
It? Necessity? Poverty? Moreno?
All at once he remembered Betty's
belief, that Joan was the managers
mistress-his wild. beautiful Joan.
Joan. the creation of his own wiz
ardry. This thought ave him such
| pain that he whitened.
prosper" murmured Betty. "you
must tell me what is wrong. Evident
ly your nerves are in bad shape. Is
the excitement too much for you?"
II believe It Is" he said. avoiding
her eyes and moving stiff. white lips;
"Tve never seer such acting. IL
her dressIng-room afterward. You see.
Betty. I'm badly shaken up"
"Ye-es." drawled Betty. n looked
at him through narrowed lids. and
she sat with this look on her face
and with her fingers locked, when
Prosper. not giving her further notice,
followed Moreno out.
"Jasper"-Prosper held his friend
hack In the middle Of a passage that
led to the dressing-rooms-"I want
very particularly to see Miss West
alone. I am very much moved by
her performance and / want to tell
her so. Also. : want her to express
herself naturally with no idea of my
being the author OF the play and with
out the presence of her manager. VIII
you just ask II she will see a friend
Of yours-alone?"
Jasper smiled his subtle smile. "Of
course. Prosper, It's all as clear as
daylight"
Prosper did not notice the Jews In
telligent expression. He was too much
absorbed In his own excitement. In a
moment he would be with Joan-Joan.
his love OF winter nights!
Moreno tapped upon a door. A
maid half-opencd II.
ASK Miss West. please. II she Will
see a friend Of Mr.. Morena's. Tell
her I particularly wish her to give
him a private Interview" He scrib-
bled a line on a card and the maid
took II In.
In Ave minutes, during which the
two men waited silently. she zane
back.
Miss West Will zee your friend.
SIR"
"Ahi Then I'll take myself OF.
Prosper. will you Join Betty and me
at supperT"
mo, thanks. I'll have my brief In
terview with Miss West and then go
home. II you'll forgive me-. I'm about
all In. New York's too much for a
man just home from the front"
jasper laid his hand for n moment
on Prospcr's shoulder. smiled.
shrugged. and turned away. Prosper
waited TIL his friend was out OF sight
and hearing. then knocked and was adj
mitted to the dr~esslng-room OF Miss
Jane West.
She had not changed from the eve
ming dress she had worn In the Inst
scene nor had she yet got rid OF her
makeup. She was sitting In n narrow.