Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-11-26

am sure she was HOI AA IAAc ASoSe
interested.
Standing on the hearth-rug,
with a tall candle set on the man.
tel to light my manuscript, be-
gan to read. Now and then, when
a sentence was obscure, lifted
the candle. l was perfectly con-
scious of the picturesqueness of
nv pose. I was conscious, too, of
nv skill as a reader. l had in
herited my fathers gifts of a good
voice and an impassioned manner.
I felt that when Mimi heard that
speech in the third act she would
see me with new eyes. And the
others would see me.
1 knew the speech almost by
heart, and when I came to it, ]
gave it with all the power and
passion in me. I was aware that
Stiles Sanderson's gray eyes were
shining, behind his glasses; that
Katherine Merrill was poised like
hawk ready to pounce. Andy
Fuller did not look at me; he lay
motionless on the rug at Minis
feet. Bernice and Lionel sat side
by side on an oak settle, and her
hand was in his. And Mimi, still
as G c-~-c.-;:c. hcr lips parted, leaned
forward with intent face-isten-
ing.
When finished, there was ap-
plause, and Stiles Sanderson said:
ct is very well DONE"
"How are you going to end it ?"
Bernice asked.
"Oh, Of course the cobbler will
get the girl" Katherine Merrill
said, in her clear, high voice.
people must have a happy end
ing"
And then Mimi flung out: "Oh,
I don't want him to get her. It
sounds all right in a play, but do
you think a girl would be happy
without any Of the luxuries she
loves? What could he give her
that would make up for them?"
And 1 flung back at her: 1.-THE
question is, what could she give
him? Love doesn't ask-it givesw
Andy Fuller sat up. IT agree
with Mimi. Your man is a cad;
and he is asking everything"
We faced each other-two tall,
young cockerels. Real life isn't
like that" Andy went on. Gwen
if she had married him, do you
think she would have loved him
when she had to wash his dishes
and cook his food? The thing is
preposterous!"
For the first time, hearing it set
forth in his scornful voice, it
seemed preposterous to me.
IT told Jerry it wasn't real life, +"
Lionel said, "but it seems to me
pretty fine."
Stiles Sanderson agreed with
him heartily. cit is fine. And
what, after all, is real life? 2"
"Oh, things that really happen,
Stiles" said Katherine. "You
know that"
Things can happen to our souls
as well as to our bodies," Stiles
said. ut seems to me that Chan
dler has stripped his man and
woman Of all that is tawdry. He
has found the truth"
They discussed it holly after
that, but I took no part in it.
was feeling a reaction from my
high moment. The cobbler's plea
had fallen on dull ears. Mimi had
not been touched by it. She had
ranged herself on the other side of
the argument, and Andy was her
advocate. They stood, as it were,
together.
Stiles was insisting: chandler
has done big thing: you'll all
see it some day. The world needs
more poets. It is the dreams of
poets which are, after all, the
prophecies"
I saw Mimi glance at me and
look away again. And her voice
came with an edge Of WEAKNESS.
II wonder If the rest Of you are as
tired as I am"
Olga's voice, heavy with sleep,
said, "Do you know what time it
is?"
IT know I'm starved" Lionel
said.
ssVEIo1 %haro,c o@,or,,tS,;xn. q. Tho