Evening star. [volume], January 03, 1915, Page 14, Image 38

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
glad to have you there, you know; but just at first,
while we go through the groundwork of stage directions,
that isn't so important. Your manuscript and author's
notes are always so clear. It's another little matter
that's bothering me."
Jermyn took up a cigarette and lit it. "If I can be
of any service?" he murmured.
"The nnrt of Vnr:i T.evenden nronounred. "is an
exceedingly difficult one."
"Surely not too difficult for Miss Cluley?" Jermyn
interposed, smiling.
"Not in the least," the manager assented hastily.
"Please don't misunderstand me. On the contrary, it
bids fair, so far as one can tell at present, to be one of
her greatest successes."
"Then what is the trouble?
"It is such a good part,"' Levenden continued, "and
it suits Miss Cluley so marvelously well, that I am at my
wits' end to find an understudy who could even speak
the lines, much more act them. So far, I may tell you.
on jcruiyu, 1 uavt-ii l lumc cttiudd cuiyunc wii-j ci l/c mc
slightest use, and without going to the 'stars' I scarcely
see where I am going to find her. Nora is Miss Cluley,
and Miss Cluley is Nora. Without her it would be
simply hopeless."
"Well?"
The manager moved uneasily in his chair. He was
always a little afraid of this strange young man, who
seemed to have wandered into theaterland from some
region that he, at any rate, knew nothing about. Jermyn's
face during the last few moments had grown
very austere. He had, perhaps, some premonition of
what was coming.
"The long and the short of it is. Sir Jermyn," Mr.
Levenden said at length, "that there's been a lot of talk
about that unfortunate affair down at Annerlev, and
uuniig me last lew uayb meic nave uccu perbibiem
rumors, rumors one can't afford altogether to neglect."
"Concerning whom?"
Jermyn's words were like drops of ice; but the manager
was not unduly sensitive. Besides, it was a matter
of business with him. "Concerning Miss Clulev. I
was told this morning by someone upon whose word I
can generally rely that Miss Cluley would be in prison
within a week "
JERMYN stood quite still. The fingers that held his
cigarette did not even tremble. "You can't believe
ci 10I1 mKKtcli oe tKic A f r T oi-onrloti " Via nrrvtnctiiiV
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"I don't want to believe it," Levenden retorted,
eagerly. "I am bound to face facts, though, and there
is this big, black, ugly one standing straight in front
of me, and that is that if this rumor should turn out to
be even founded upon the truth, then all the money I
put into the play will be lost. I can't afford to risk such
a situation. Sir Jermyn, and that's the truth. I've had
other losses."
"If this is how you are feeling, Mr. Levenden," Jermyn
said, "I am glad that you have sent for me. Let
me tell you, as one who should know something about
the facts, that your fears are entirely ridiculous. There
is no more chance of Miss Clulev's being arrested on
this charge than there is of my being called upon to
answer lor it myseil. t am surprised tnat you snould
have listened to such foolish rumors. It is absolutely
impossible to connect Miss Cluley with the death of
Lord Lakenham in any way whatsoever."
Though Levenden seemed somewhat relieved, he was
not wholly convinced. There s a great deal of talk,
he insisted, "and I don't see where it all comes from."
"It comes from people who know nothing whatever
about the matter," Jermvn declared. "Lord Lakenham
and Miss Sybil Cluley were, to my certain knowledge,
on the friendliest of terms. They had met only
the day before, and Lord Lakenham was already her
admirer."
The manager drummed with his fingers upon the desk
before which he was sitting. "There is a persistent
rumor. Sir Jermvn," he pointed out, "that such was
not the case. I have heard it stated most confidently
that Lord Lakenham had known Miss Cluley in her
less prosperous days, in the days before she came to
London."
"We can none of us fie responsible for rumors, Mr.
Levenden," Jermyn said coldly.
Levenden felt he was scarcely getting on; but the
thought of his closed theater acted as a stimulus. UI
can assure you, Sir Jermyn," he went on, "that I most
sincerely hope it is so. No one could have a greater
rcsjiect and regard for Miss Cluley than I have, and
her behavior at all times, both in the theater and out
of it, has been entirely and exceptionally irreproachable.
At the same time the police make mistakes sometimes,
and I cannot afford to put all my eggs into one
basket. I want to take this opportunity of asking
you, Sir Jermyn, how you would regard a proposition
to transfer Miss Cluley's part to Ida Hamilton;
provided, of course, we could induce Miss Hamilton
to accept it ?"*
"1 can answer you very briefly," Jermyn replied
without a moment's hesitation. "I would sooner put
the manuscript of my play upon the tire than have it
appear in such circumstances."
"Miss Hamilton has a large following," the manager
persisted. "She is, as you know, quite one of our most
brilliant actresses, and she has had experience. I bei:
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part."
"The question of Miss Hamilton's capacity does not
interest me," Jermyn remarked. "My play was written
for Miss Clulev, and she alone will play the part of
Nora. I trust that you have not hinted anything of
this to her?"
"I have not said a word," Levenden assured him
hastily. "Of course, if that is your feeling, there is no
more to say about it. We must hope for the best;
dllUUUgll X IIIUM dUIIIll L1 let L 1 ell I 1 UUMUUb.
"What would your loss be in the event of the theater
having to elose for the reason you suggest?" Jermyn
asked.
Levenden shrugged his shoulders. "Anything up to
four or five thousand pounds."
"I take the responsibility," Jermyn promised. "If
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duced through anything happening to Miss Cluley of
the nature you suggest, I take the losses upon my
shoulders. I will be content to accept a statement from
your accountant as to the amount."
Levenden drew a sigh of relief. "Sir Jermyn," he
said, "you are behaving like a prince. You have taken
a big load off my shoulders."
Jermyn rose to his feet. "You have been anticipating
trouble quite needlessly, Mr. Levenden," he declared
r?rvnfi?-lr?r?t1\r "Rv tllf> watr T nrrtnncp attonrlinn ro.
hearsals mvself next week. Will vou see that I get the
calls?"
"With pleasure, Sir Jermyn, with pleasure!" Levenden
assented, making a note upon a memorandum tablet.
"Mount street still, I suppose? I am only too
glad you are coming. To tell you the truth, you know,
that was another point that was exciting a little com
ment. Before her visit to Annerlev Court, this very unfortunate
visit, you and Miss Cluley were a great deal
together. Since this affair we have scarcely seen you
at the theater. I have heard it said that since that time
you have not been seen to speak to her."
Jermyn frowned. "I had no idea that such comments
would have been made," he said. "I have not been in
London very long. The reason I have perhaps seen less
of Miss Cluley is that I have recently become engaged
TOMMY'S CHRISTMAS P
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to the Duchessc de Savers. If sueh remarks as those to
which you allude have been made, however, I shall take
an early opportunity ot setting matters ngnt.
"I congratulate you, I am sure," Levenden ventured,
"congratulate you most heartily. Upon my word, it's
rather a relief to hear you so confident about Miss
Cluley. As nice a young lady as ever breathed, quiet
AYlH a rpal wnrlrpr Tt wrmlH ho a Imrrihlp cliamp tr? havp
her upset in any way."
Jermvn took up his hat. "If they haven't all gone,"
he remarked, "I should like, after what you have told
me, to see Miss Cluley for a few minutes."
"An excellent idea," Levenden agreed.
The two men walked out together.
' I 'HF. rphfarcal itcr>1f a-ac mw hut o\-ori-nni> trac
talking cheerfully together in a corner of the barely
lit stage. Sybil had just taken leave of the others and
was on her way out. Jermvn, with a word of farewell
to the manager and a wave of the hand to the rest of
the company, hurried after her.
"Miss Cluley?Sybil!"
She turned quickly and stood for a moment quite
still. In the gloom of the ill lit place, with its cavernous
shadows, she appeared to him to look like a ghost. He
realized in that moment something of the anguish
through which she had passed. They held hands for a
moment almost in silence. Then, conscious of the little
group at the farther end of the stage, they began to talk
banalities. In the narrow passage outside Jermyn felt
suddenly weak. The slight perfume of her hair, her
familiar clothes, her close presence, all affected him
powerfully. He took her hand and drew her unresistingly
toward him.
"Dear!'' he murmured. "Dear Sybil!"
Her eyes shone into his like stars. They were alone,
and he seemed caught up on the wings of a new passion,
A splendid recklessness possessed him. He held her
tightly to him and kissed her on the lips.
"Don't, dear Jermyn!" she implored. "Don't!"
He released her at once. She was making a piteous
little face at him; but somehow he felt the better for
that single wild moment. He felt too that at the bottom
of her heart she also was glad of it.
"I'm sorry," he said, "or rather I am not sorry. I
want to talk to you, Sybil. May I take vou home?"
She shook her head. "I am not going home," she
RESENT
By RAYMOND PERRY
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