The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-02
Chapter II
Horrible Thoughts

Horrible Thoughts
ITO somethingl Please! Get DR..
~ Heaton! Clarabelle. let me
have that gargle!"
Noel wrung Ter hands hys-
terically, as the rasping whispered
words came from her throat
Douglas Swanstrom looked at he1
helplessly for a moment and then
he told her quietly:
"You can't 60 on, Noel-that's
out Of the question:" He turned to
the maid. "You'd better take Miss
Marchand home and telephone fol-
the doctor" He was out of the
room in a rush. Noel knew he was
summoning Rita, her understudy
Harsh sobs broke from Noels
throat. She permitted Clarabelle
to take off the white gown and help
her on with her street dress. Pm
too i'll to move" she protested and
the maid said, "They'd better get
the doctor here then" She called
one of the stage hands. gave the
message to be telephoned. Outside
NoePs door, several of the troupe
had gathered. Already the news
of the leading lady's collapse had
spread backstage.
I'm sorry" Gerald said dashing
in for a moment and patting her
hand alphabetically.
Swanstrom was holding the
curtain a few minutes while Rita
got ready. The young girl. trem-
bling. excited, passed by NoePs
door as Foster went out. She
heSitated a moment:
"Im sorry you're i'll, Miss Mar
ehand," then went into the wings
to take NoePs place. You're not
sorry-Noel thought-how could
you be? This is the chance you've
been waiting for. She couldn't
blame her understudy-one had to
fight for ones self in this game.
you've got to get me fixed up
for tonight" Noel pleaded with
DR.. Heaton when he arrived. The
physician shook his head en-
phatically. you're going home to
bed and stay there, until tell you
to come back" he insisted. You've
got bad case of laryngitis and it's
nothing to fool with"
Clarabelle took Noel to her
hotel in a cab.
"Dr. Heaton, how long will
il take?" Noel wanted to know
after he painted her throat and d.
rected Clarabelle with the ban
daging.
"That depends entirely on you,
Miss Marchand-we'll know more
tomorrow"
The very thought of being away
from the evening performance
brought beads of agonized per-
spiration on Noel's forehead. She
lay there impatiently. berating her
bad luck just when the play was
going so we'll. She tried to relax,
to do what the doctor had told her.
but ii was difficult.
David insisted on a nurse when
he came and telephoned DR..
Heaton to have one sent right over.
He was worried and helpless
feeling Noel's forehead. murmur-
ing endearing words.
Darling. don't worry"
That's what everyone says"
Noel interrupted aLglily. How
can 1 help it," Then she remem-
bered she mustn't talk much and
lay there silently. tuning.
Lying on the bed, Noel was
thinking-supposing she never got
her voice back again-supposing
this were a long illness? But she
mustn't believe that, she had to
get well quickly. She tried to put
the horrible thoughts away but
they persisted. like a dreaded
nightmare that took in her whole
future.
Not Far Off
THE Sunday papers carried a
i paragraph about Noeps illness
and her temporary absence from
the play. Anita SwaAstr0m came
to see her and the living-room was
filed with flowers, some from
people she scarcely knew:
Mrs. Marchand came into New
York as soon as she heard about
Noe. She was more comforting
than all the otherS--She wouldn't
let Noel talk, just sat by the bed
and held her hand, made her drink
the fruit juices DR.. Heaton had
ordered and treated her like sick
little baby.
Noel loved this kind friend fol
herself. She knew. though, Mrs
Marchand was even dearer to heI
because she was Adams mother.
Waking hours alone. however
were long and passed slowly. They
gave Noel time to think OF the
future in a different way than ever
before.
''What would happen to me !
there were no more stage roleS?'
she said to herself several times
It had happened to other, better
known actresses than she. David
doomed more Importantly than
ever.
at could learn to love him-he's
so kind and good" she said over
and over, knowing full well that
Allan had taken her love back to
Chile. He didn't know 1t, thank
God. And she couldn't have Allan
BY Tuesday the rasping harsh
ness had gone out Of her voice. DR.
Heaton allowed her to sit up in the
living room for the afternoon but
vehemently put his foot down
when she suggested going to the
.theater for the evening perform
ance.