New Britain herald., 1927-01-04

l 1Clty lOOhSu GSttill ct AiVA uiiNlS and, reading encouragement in his quick look and nod, assented. T suppose" she said to Freddie, T might take one lesson to see if l could qualify"
 "Fine," the young genius ex- claimed with large enthusiasm. T can already visualize you as com- ing star of the silver screen" | A languid looking youth named Phillips volunteered his help. He | began to push back the chairs. And what" he asked, "are you going to name the picture, Freddie? From Switchboard to Fame?"
 Freddie. ignored him. NOW" he said to Betty when he had his stage all set to suit himself, 'just imagine that the audience here represents the cameras eye. But you must forget, you know, that the camera has an eye. although you've got to remember that every little move ment you make has a meaning of its own when projected on the screen.'
 "Why, Freddie, you don't say!" exclaimed Phillips. Z" Every Little Movement Has a Meaning All It's own'." he hummed
 Very carefully Freddie Lawrence adjusted the slant of Betty's chin, with the most painstaking atten- ton to elevation and position.
 "There," he announced finally 1 when he had everything just right and himself properly focused in the camera eye" Now we get ready for action. And don't forget to register. We will suppose, for in- stance, that you have just got word that someone who is dear to you has died. Remember, now, to portray deep feeling. You've got to act, you know; make 1t realistic. All set? All right, ready for action now!" Bettys eyes suddenly clouded with pain, and Mollie and Rusty, who were looking on. both winced.
 "Marvelous!" exclaimed Freddie Lawrence.
 Mollie who was standing close to Prof and John Clayton, watched the ridiculous performance with fast growing nervousness.
 "ICor goodness sakc," Mollie ex- claimed as Freddie, with his left arm laid across Betty's shoulder and his right hand tilting her chin, bent hls face closer to his pupils. Il hope Betty isn't going to let that man kiss her." :,
 'I don't think you need worry, advised John Clayton, although ms own eyes were now narrowed with displeasure at the scene before them. "The young whippersnapper" he growled. "It's my conviction" ne whispered to Prof, That Freddie IS going to get something administered to him pretty quick that will 'ar him."
 "Ready for action now,' repeated Freddie, beginning to hend his heaa' .'-This is the big scene.' Across ms face had spread a simperinG grill "Camera" he shouted.
 Rusty, looking on with eyes that were now frankly disappearing, clenched her fists and started tor ward.
 And then, just at the psychological moment for the amateur director, something slipped.
 Mollie laughed. She was worrylne' she said, about Freddie Lawrence's nose. You see," she explained at Clayton's laugh, you don't under stand the training those girls have had. You never heard, l suppose. about the time that Rusty laid out a prizefighter with a croquet ball.
 Clayton hadn't. "1'd have given a thousand dollars to see it. Tell me-" Mollied did, and her voice grew very soft when she mentioned Jim-gay- hearted, laughing Jim, who lay somewhere in grave in France.
 The end of that week brought the first separation of the girls lives from Prof and Mollie.
 The Elwells were compelled to go back, they told John Clayton, be- cause of work Prof. had contracted for. They left, however, with the Understanding that Rusty and Betty should come to Camdenville the fol- lowing Friday for the weekend.
 They returned to the home where Jim and the girls had been born with heavy hearts, bowed down with 0 new loneliness. The mantle of sorrow that seemed to hang over the place was doubly oppressive | now that the girls no longer were | with them. Every chair, every | article of furniture seemed to bring | back poignant memories of the days when the voices of Jim and his pals had rung through the house.
 The evening was even worse. Both, with their chairs drawn close ! to each other, sat at the table in the | sitting room for an hour. trying to read. It was a dismal failure. De- | pression clutched at their hearts | with a hand like ice, and finally Mollie could stand it no longer.
 "Oh. Prof, dear" she walled, "how | are we ever going to stand it? l | can hear my boys voice calling me, 1 calling all the time. Oh, my boy, 1 my boy, your mothers heart is DIedhlllS.
 Prof blinked rapidly and swallow 1 ed hard to force down the lump that | had come up in his throat, and then leaning forward he took her two hands in his own.
 Its tough. Mollie girl" he said with an effort. mighty tough. But dear, you know there are thousands of other parents who have lost their boys"
 They must remember, he said, that for more than twenty-four years God had given them a joy and happiness that only a few are given. Into all lives, you know. Aollie, some grief must come; some days must be dark and dreary. Sometime somewhere, perhaps. we'll meet up