The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-04

siderable before they'd let him in
THE place would be a morgue, with
! him fl tightening the patients -;
No kidding, hasn't he been here
When at last Miss Holmes left,
Malcia lay without sleeping
There Was warmth in her heart
for Bruce McDougall'S concern as,
woman-like, her intuition reached
out and brought back the lnowl-
edge that. after all, in some pccu-
liar way, he cared. ,,
Somewhere there was an aCSurd
little explanation for his staying
away. II didn't matter; she knew
what she wanted to know,
Mrs. Reid Henderson, the dircc.
tor of "Half-Acre in Eden, had
spent a frantic fortnight worrying
over the necessity for poStponing
the show or finding substitute
for Marcia. when, with the per-
Torrance only week ahcad, a
simple solution was presented.
Both Marcia and her father had
been allowed to leave the hospl-
tai, the doctors finding no further
in iuries and no evidence Of the
effects of shock. Helen Waddel
and several other girls in the show
visited Marcia on her first after
noon at home. Discussing u post
ponement of the play or the Ito
them) impossible alternative OF
finding q substitute for the lead
inc lady, they proposed, simply,
that Marcia should take part on
the scheduled date. regardless OF
having her arm in q cast.
Mrs. Henderson, when the Sug,,
pestion was carried TO her, agreed
without much reluctance. Marcia'S
accident was common knowledge;
every member of the audience
have seen her about town with a
disabled arm. Therefore, said Mrs
Henderson. the show would go on
and everyone, cast and audience,
could Just ignore the arm.
After all. many an audience IN
the professional theater had been
compelled to excuse far more on
the part of certain leading ladies';
Rehearsals, therefore, continued
with increasing excitement, due TO
the approach of the actual per-
Torrance. The east met each
night of the last week, with dress
rehearsal scheduled for the night
before the Prosecution.
Midway in the week, Mrs. Hem
derson sought TO spur her COM
pany toward final perfection with
the stimulus of a mysterious an
nouncement. 80, -,
"You are all doing splendidly,"
she told the group, assembled on
the stage of the auditorium. I'm
proud OF you. The few rough spots
left will be corrected easily, /
know.
"Now, there is something ] want
to tell you--in part. | can't give,
YOU the whole story; | promised
TO keep it a secret.
"Rut can tell you that on the
night of the show there IS to be
a SURPRISE for you. For the whole
town. in fact. Something that, ac-
tualiy, all Of us will feel we have
a share in. even ii we can't all
benefit directly. 1t is something
that should make the Stagecraft
Gmld-Aand particularly this cast
very. very proud. Now, work
hard and deserve it.
She refused all entreaties to say
more. . e..
Bruce McDougall was linking in
4 sketch. The pencil job had salts
fled him, but now it was all wrong.
He knew what was lacking, but he
seemed unable to draw the lines
he wanted. lie frowned at the,
work on his drawing board, and
frowned at his pen, the oldest and
most faithful among his store.
Disgustedly, he tossed the pen
down and pushed the drawing
board aside. As in the case OF tne
sketch, ne knew his trouble, but
could not apply the remedy;
If only someone, else had been
handy on the. night of the wreck
to pick up Marcia Garfield! ihen
he would not have held her IN ms
arms, would not now be Knocked
bv his once level-headed decision
TO nut the dream Of her aside!
IL starad ont the window. Nc