The Washington times., 1934-08-25

lOOklnB dL IlCl ldGAASl COlnly'
Thinks 1 shouldn't take time
off to rest" she told herself and
plunged back into her selling
campaign with nervous zeal,
leaving dAlhues, on whom
Laura Ingram smiled now that
he was alone.
Chairs were arranged in rows
on the semicircular terrace fac
ing the stage-a smooth stretch
of lawn, backed by frs. A line
of dwarf sunflowers simulated
footlights.
DebutanteS, who had studied
eurythmics, trooped off after
dancing in Greek tunicS that re-
vealed their sun-broWned, shape
ly limbs. Two small boys, pages,
appeared with placardS an
nouncing the last number, a
oneact Skit in which Airline
Martin was to play the lead.
Seward sat on the edge of his
seat, trembling, hardly able to
breathe. This was the moment
for which he had been waiting.
His mother, one seat to the left
in the row in front Of him,
turned and said:
Wasn't that perfectly charm
ing, Seward? AS graceful as the
Albertina Rasch girls, weren't
they?"
"YeS, mother. Corking," he
said, dutifully.
And wasn't Millicent Sweet?"
She smiled meaningly. To d'Al.
hueS, sitting beside her, she add
ed, explanatorily, That lovely
girl in green-you must have no
ticed her - Bishop HinShaW'S
daughter"
No matter what his mother
thought, Seward had scarcely
seen Millicent. The dancers had
been a mere rainbow mist be-
fore his eyes, inWard-turned,
holding his last vision of Airline.
Exaggerating her nervousness,
she had given him her cold
hands to feel before she went
off to "dreSS. Her eyes were
wide and her lips quivering; he
had wanted terribly to kiss
them-and had only been able
to stammer encouragement.
Seward felt his face getting hot
with nervous anticipation. In"
gram, who had walked out on
the eurhythmics in order TO sign
his letters, strOlled up.
Airline, acting with great
spirit, looked ravishing and
showed no nervousness. The
other members of the cast, lack
ing talent, made her work all
the more conspicuous. She had
the VerVe and stage presence
that enables a player to carry a
piece alone.
There was a love scene that
she made glamorouS, followed
by thrilling moments and a
climax that was Startlingly
dramatic. The applause that
burst forth was all her heart
could desire, and Stewards
frantic clapping was lost in the
general clamor.
He continued beating his
palms together, however, until
his mother stood up to mark
the end of the program, and
the audience broke into chat
tering groups or crowded onto
the stage to congratulate the
actors. Then he made for Ar.
line.
"You were great" he told her
in voice that shook. You
were marvellous. You were alb
soluteIy magnificent"
Sweet of you" she mur'
INJURED abSently.
Just Pawn
Her eyes were rowing over
the breaking ranks OF the
crowd. She hadn't dare look at
it before, for fear of getting
out of her part. Who was
here that mattered, that was
what she wanted to find out
and what had he thought OF
her work? In the audience she
could see no one whose face
meant anything to her.
She felt terribly let down, dis
appointed. She had built high
hopes on this afternoons per-
formance, worked hard-had it
all gone for nothing? Then she
saw Jasper Ingram deliberately
making his way toward her.
Instantly a lovely dewy smile
of surprised delight transformed
her face.
why, I'm only a little begin
ner." she said modestly to Sew.
ards ba billing praise. "Ot
course, do feel my parts. I
nearly forgot, just now, that I
was airline Martin"
She had carefully timed this
artless little speech and had
hardly ended it when Seward
said, Il want to introduce my
father" There was just touch
of confusion in her manner as
she looked up at the only man
at Grangefields who could fur
ther her ambitions.
May I tell you how much l
like your work, Miss Martln?'
Jasper Ingram said.
Airline spoke a little breath
lessly. "Oh, Mr.. Ingram, did
you really think it-promising?
Please tell me. I should be SO
grateful for your sincere crltl-
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