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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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He went over in memory the names of a number of women he knew, and finally fixed on one, largely because of the convenient location of her home on the West Side, and promised himself that as he came out that evening he would see her. When, however, he started west on the car he forgot, and was only reminded of his delinquency by an item in the "Evening News"- a small three-line affair under the head of Secret Society Notes-which stated the Custer Lodge of the Order of Elks would give a theatrical performance in Avery Hall on the 16th, when "Under the Gaslight" would be produced. "George!" exclaimed Drouet, "I forgot that." "What?" inquired Carrie. They were at their little table in the room which might have been used for a kitchen, where Carrie occasionally served a meal. To- night the fancy had caught her, and the little table was spread with a pleasing repast. "Why, my lodge entertainment. They’re going to give a play, and they wanted me to get them some young lady to take a part." "What is it they’re going to play?" "’Under the Gaslight.’" "When?" "On the 16th." "Well, why don’t you?" asked Carrie. "I don’t know any one," he replied. Suddenly he looked up. "Say," he said, "how would you like to take the part?" "Me?" said Carrie. "I can’t act." "How do you know?" questioned Drouet reflectively. "Because," answered Carrie, "I never did." Nevertheless, she was pleased to think he would ask. Her eyes brightened, for if there was anything that enlisted her sympathies it was the art of the stage. True to his nature, Drouet clung to this idea as an easy way out. "That’s nothing. You can act all you have to down there." "No, I can’t," said Carrie weakly, very much drawn toward the proposition and yet fearful. "Yes, you can. Now, why don’t you do it? They need some one, and it will be lots of fun for you." "Oh, no, it won’t," said Carrie seriously. "You’d like that. I know you would. I’ve seen you dancing around here and giving imitations and that’s why I asked you. You’re clever enough, all right." "No, I’m not," said Carrie shyly. "Now, I’ll tell you what you do. You go down and see about it. It’ll be fun for you. The rest of the company isn’t going to be any good. They haven’t any experience. What do they know about theatricals?" He frowned as he thought of their ignorance. "Hand me the coffee," he added. "I don’t believe I could act, Charlie," Carrie went on pettishly. "You don’t think I could, do you?" "Sure. Out o’ sight. I bet you make a hit. Now you want to go, I know you do. I knew it when I came home. That’s why I asked you." "What is the play, did you say?" "’Under the Gaslight.’" "What part would they want me to take?" "Oh, one of the heroines-I don’t know." "What sort of a play is it?" |
