Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Mystery fiction; Young women -- Juvenile fiction
"It was in that climbing scene. You know she climbs the sheer precipice
of rock. There are hidden spikes driven into the rock for her feet, of
course, but she missed one, and fell."
"I'll be as careful as I can, but I may miss it, too."
"In that case, we'll have to get some one else," said Mr. Bixby,
coolly. "Are you ready for work?"
"Oh, yes," and then Azalea was shown to the dressing-rooms.
This was her secret. For years she had wanted to be a moving-picture
actress, and she had hoped before she left Arizona for New York that she
might get an opportunity to take up the work. She had expected to begin
with minor parts, and hoped by her skill and earnest efforts to attain
eminence.
On the train, coming East, she had formed an acquaintance with Mr. Bixby
and his wife, who were in the business. As their studio was not far from
the Farnsworth home, Azalea had made plans with them to engage in the
work.
She had carried out these plans, and had been over to the studios
several times, taking parts in which they needed a substitute.
She had done so well and had shown such promise that Mr. Bixby urged her
to become a regular actress in his company.
But Azalea was so uncertain as to how Patty and Bill would regard such a
move on her part, that she had so far kept the matter to herself.
Then, when the star actress had met with an accident, and the management
had concluded to offer Azalea her place, it was a great chance for the
girl.
She had come over this morning to give it a trial, entirely at sea as to
her subsequent attitude toward the Farnsworths.
She thought she would be guided by circumstances as to whether she would
confide all to them, or whether she would continue her secrecy as to her
movements.
Mrs. Bixby attended to her in the dressing-room. All of Miss Frawley's
costumes, it was found, could be altered to fit Azalea.
As one in a dream, the girl stood to be fitted, while seamstresses and
modistes hovered about her.
Then she was informed that the work that day would be only rehearsing
and the pictures would not actually be taken until her costumes were
ready.
Submissively she did exactly as she was told, and so well did she act
the parts assigned her, that Mr. Bixby expressed hearty approval.
Azalea was there nearly all day, and when at last she turned her face
homeward, a great dismay seized her.
"What's the matter, child?" asked kindly Mrs. Bixby, who was saying
good-bye.
"Oh, I don't know what to do!" Azalea was tempted to tell the
director's wife all her troubles.
But Mrs. Bixby was a busy lady, and she said, "Not now, dearie. You
skittle home, and to-morrow maybe I can take a couple hours off to hear
your tale of woe. You know you've already told me your swagger relatives
would throw a fit if they knew what you were up to. Well, I guess it's
about fit time!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account