The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-02
CHAPTER

For nearly a fortnight the ring of
hammers had resounded through the
halls of Willoughby house. A small
army Of workmen trailed their dusty
footprints from the front door to the
third floor, where walls fell beneath
their tools and new ones lin what
had once been four small rooms n
were now one) were smoothed be-
meath the pasterer's hands.
Busy with the tasks assigned to
her, Fabienne listened to the actlV'
ity above with the thrill Of a Gre
ator.
The theater-her theater-was be-
ing made.
On her desk lay the plans, the
blueprints and the water color
sketches. In her file were letters
from friends on whom she had cali
ed for help. A letter from MIGUEL
Latrobe, the young artist whose
show was a sensation a few months
before. Miguel promised to do two
figures-tragedy and comedy at
either side of the stage. And a let
ter from Nicky saying that he'd
gladly pay for the stage curtains.
There was also a letter from Andrew
Hardy offering an additional thou
sand dollars for Fabienne's project.
She opened the telephone book and
ran her finger down the page OF
BIS. There it was Benson and Halo
way. Godfrey Benson, stage di-
-+z. &c +Lrca IF tho cla cnn'G hits
was one of her mothers satalites. II
Godfrey would offer to direct one
play, she could draw other influen-
tial people of the theater down to
Willoughby house. Who knew but
some day Rose Riccio's dream might
come true; that Fabienne Seymour's
first gesture of sacrifice might BIOS
som into full flower? Rose had ald
that prizefighters and great artists
had got their start in classes at the
settlement house.
At that point Fabienne envisioned
the Hayes and the Cornells OF tomor
row coming out of this new hobby
of hers.
For the theater was her hobby -
and her escape. She worked tire.
lessIy to get others to help, to per-
feet the plans. No detail, be it the
width Of the movable seats or the
hue and texture of the red velvet
curtain, or the gold letters: THE
WILLOUGHBY PLAYERS PRE-
SENT-was too small for her to de-
bate, consider, decide upon.
Ellen, directress of Willoughby
house, sensing without knowing the
need of responsibility in her most
indefatigable worker, gave her full
rein. The theater was entirely Fa-
bienne's project.
1t was good to have that work,
and all the extra work involved,
during those two weeks after Nicky
went home. 1t was good to be so
tired that a yawn was not forced,
that her II must get to bed; I'm
dead tired" was true when Bill and
Ellen and she were gathered in the
living room Of Ellen's apartment.
For she scarcely ever gave her
self more time with them than po-
. likeness required. She lived with
Ellen, but she would not intrude
upon her.
On those occasions when she plead
ed fatigue as ar excuse to get away,
Bill nodded sagely and said that was
the right thing to do.
Bill saw the thinning Of her
cheeks, the fading of her glow, the
darkness that often encircled her
eyes 1t was Bill, the physician, who
spoke, but she didn't know that.
And so she avoided seeing him at
the apartment, and arranged her
hours at the settlement house SO
that she saw him seldom there,
Then one afternoon when Ken
had hastily summoned her to the
third floor to see the progress that
had been made, Bill came looking
for her.
She was sitting on a stepladder,
rapt in the scene before her.
The stage was up!
Ken stood in it's exact center
with one foot on a box and mourn
fully intoned, ITO be or not to be!
IIldI ID IilC auCSllOI. w llSil YOU Pun
on "Hamlet," how about my doing
the Great Dane?"
"Great idea, Ken, but you'll have
to play it in the dog house."
LOUSY joke" Ken retorted.
"Best I can do" she answered
bending her head over the plans ir
her lap. "Think I have a cold com
ing on. Look, darling, I can't fine
the sketches Of the units Paul is go
ing to do"
Ken cleared the place where foot
lights would soon be fixed and came
to her side, looking over her Shout
der. II just remembered. They
aren't there. Paul hadn't finished
them. + told him we'd meet hin
somewhere for dinner tonight ant
we can get them then"
Bill spoke from the doorway. mo
tonight" he said pleasantly. "I hav,
other plans for Miss Seymour"
Both Fabienne and Ken stared a
him-for different reasons.
Fabienne said, Come in, Doctor
You know Mr.. Heminway?' The,
nodded to each other. IT want tt
show you something. Look, tn,
stage!"
Bill walked in, gazed with polit,
intent at the rude wooden platform
and nodded as if he were deeply i'm
pressed.
"Of course that's just the begin
ming. It's going to be like all prope
stages, with footlights and a hand
some curtain and beautiful glas
cbande1iers aft each side. Oh, can