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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3762918" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-ninety-six, “Kate’s Escort to the Theater”, Friday, June 16th, 6:30 P.M. Kate doesn't have to wait long when the actor Edwin Booth arrives to escort her to the Lucky Lady. If the door between the kitchen and the schoolroom hadn't been open Kate might not have even heard the knock.  She hurried through the desks and opened the door. "Good evening, Mr. Booth," she said with a smile.  "I hope you've been having a pleasant stay.  I have to thank you again for coming to the school this afternoon, the students enjoyed it a great deal." "And I enjoyed meeting them, they are fine people," he replies. "Yes."  She smoothed her fine skirt and picked up her handbag.  "I hope I'm not inconveniencing you.  I hardly imagine your original plans for the night included me." Edwin Booth "Then you would be mistaken.   An evening with you provides me a chance to pick up our conversation where we left off.   I had requested that you contact me if you discovered evidence of a deception from the man claiming to be my son.  As you haven't sent anything I assume that nothing of that sort has crossed your path." "I have seen nothing to send you," Kate said honestly.  "I will admit, I've been wrapped up in my own troubles the past few weeks; this is a much more exciting town than you'd think.  We had our first argument, but that's all it was.  A disagreement about some choices I made.   On the good side, I can tell you he refused to play dishonestly in the tournament tomorrow.  His employer would have paid his entry fee if he had agreed to help another player.  And he's been very excited about this play.  Although he hasn't said it, I think it's also given him an opportunity to make friends of people he didn't have the chance to before." Edwin nods and says, "None of that changes anything regarding his possible relationship with me, although it does support the premise that he is a man of good character, so less likely to be perpetuating a deception unless a false personae is part of that deception." She replies, "You know what my beliefs are, but they're of no consequence.  I have a friend I could introduce you to, someone with the knowledge and wisdom to help shed light on the situation.  This man has become like family to me and just as protective.  As such he keeps a close eye on Conrad as well, I'm sure." Kate smiled and tried to lighten the atmosphere.  "And perhaps the play tonight will help settle your mind one way or the other." He replies, "I don't know but understand what you are getting at. I am one to appreciate the arts, let's go see if Pauline Markham's protégé can equal her performance of Juliet, which I have had the pleasure of seeing before." Kate replies, "My friend Ruby was supposed to play Juliet, but the recent death of a mutual friend unhinged her a bit. Not that alone of course, but she felt the need to leave town for a while and gather herself. She wants to be an actress; this would have been her debut." Kate slipped a pale wrap around her shoulders, secured the door and took Mr. Booth's arm. "I have to say, I'm just a bit disappointed that it's not my inestimable charms that bring you to my door," she said, teasing. Edwin Booth replies, "Ah but the night is young, you have many more hours to carry me away with your inestimable charms." She says, "I'll do my best to be a pleasant and entertaining companion for the evening. I'm afraid it's been quite some time since my society days in Boston, I've come to appreciate the real conversation and occasional bluntness of society here." "Bluntness has its time and place," is his subdued response. Kate turned her head to look at him. "It sounds as if you have had a run in with someone who didn't know that." He replies, "I've had a long and interesting life, with its ups and downs. Tonight I just want to sit, relax and enjoy a production in the company of other patrons of the arts. Have you been to very much theater before?" She replies, "My parents often took us to see plays as well as concerts. Before my late husband became ill we went often. After that there wasn't the energy or the money to go any longer." She was quiet for a moment. "Someday I'd like to be a true patron. For now I'll make sure my students are exposed to the arts as well as things like mathematics and geography." Booth says, "I know that my founding of the Player's Club has done much to promote the arts as I know it. I hope that what I have started still exists long after I have departed from the Earth." "I'm sure it will," Kate said. "It's a beautiful place, and there will always be those who devote themselves to the arts and want a chance to know others who do the same. I know I would value such a place." Booth replies, "I am hoping that a similar institution will soon arise here in the west. San Francisco would probably be the best location for such an establishment." She replies, "San Francisco? I admit, I know little about the cities in California. I've visited Los Angeles briefly but that's the extent of my knowledge. Is there someone there you think might start another artists group?" He replies, "No, and I’ve no specific location yet. Los Angeles has potential but isn't nearly as established as San Francisco, so I have a hard time picturing it as being a central place for the arts. My father used San Francisco as his base of operations for several years, you might say he founded the arts in that community, so it has a special passion for me." Kate replies, "I have reason to believe I'll be going to San Francisco fairly soon. A couple of months from now, most likely. I hope to take advantage of the arts there although I don't imagine I'll get to mingle with the artists there. My own skills aren't advanced enough to be considered artistry, but they give me great joy and that's all I ask." They continue to walk around town, taking a more roundabout way than the direct path to the Lucky Lady and he says, "San Francisco is a place I have longed to return to myself. I have many pleasant memories from when I was there before in my youth." She answers, "Then why not go back? You have the means and I'd guess the freedom to travel as you please. You might create some more memories there, meet some other artists, even plant the seed of another player's club there." He replies, "That is a good suggestion. For the last few years I have stayed close to New York to help make the Club a success, my only travels being to obtain new financial patrons or to acquire unique items such as the piano that you played on when you were there." She states, "That was a truly beautiful instrument. I don't think I'll ever play a finer. I'd like to do more traveling, although now that I have my ward Ginnie, the ranch, and a school it will be some time before I'm able. My father had planned to take me to Europe, but I met my husband and didn't want to leave." Booth replies, "Europe is overrated, I'll take New York instead." While they are walking a group comprised of two-dozen mounted cavalry soldiers ride into town heading west down Main Street in the direction of Drover's Livery and Corral. Kate sees that they are led by Lieutenant Gamble who she has met before. “What are they doing here?" Kate said, dismayed. "The man in charge is Lieutenant Gamble. Among his better qualities are arrogance, racism, and a well-developed sense of what's good for him. I wonder if the government has taken an interest in making sure Earp makes it to trial." Edwin Booth replies, "That would not surprise me. The New York papers mentioned that President Arthur was considering sending in troops to deal with the lawlessness taking place in the Arizona Territory. I believe that Earp's name was prominently mentioned in that news story." She says, "The time for that would have been a week ago. We've taken care of the problems now. Those hooded riders who destroyed buildings in town last weekend have been apprehended, as has Wyatt Earp. And the other troubles the soldiers would never believe, much less be capable of dealing with.” He replies, "Well, that wouldn't be the first instance of the government being a day late and a dollar short." She continues, “The government insists on being blind to certain things that if they would just accept they would be able to deal with Cochise county much more easily." Kate stopped suddenly and coughed, realizing how heated she was becoming. And about things she could not discuss with this man. He says, "I'm sure the newspapers will detail why the army is here, the Mirror seems to have a good grasp of the pulse of this town." She asks, “Have you met the Editor yet? I'd be very surprised if he wasn't running around this town all weekend trying to get interviews with all the visiting notables. Mr. Chumbley is an excellent editor and reporter. You should have seen the horrible rag we had before he came here." He replies, "I've seen a number of horrible rags in my day, most of which had unkind things to say about my performances." "A dead give-away to any theatre-goer that they were reading a substandard newspaper." Kate took one last look at the soldiers as they rode by. "I wish they weren't here. Gamble causes more trouble than he solves. Do reviews really bother you? You're an experienced actor, confident in your skill. What does it matter what a critic thinks?" He replies, "Every actor cares about reviews, it's part of the personality that comes with the job." Kate asks, "What kind of personality is that?" He states, "Boldly confident and outgoing in order to cover up a world of insecurities." "That sounds familiar," Kate said with a gentle smile. "I have many bold, confident friends who might be horrified to know I see through the facade. I tend to wear my own insecurities on my sleeve. That carries its own dangers, I suppose. Do you not find that acting bold and confident helps you feel that way?" He replies, "Yes, but I am also an older man now, my days of insecurity are mostly behind me now. One reason I don't act any more is that I no longer feel the need to be the center of attention. Although I did enjoy the attentions of your students this afternoon." With a smile on her face she replies, "There is something magical about children, perhaps because their demands are simple. And a little attention is never amiss. What lady doesn't like a compliment now and then? It's no different. There's something to be said for an older man. It must be confidence, as you say. So you don't miss acting? Did not the art itself bring you joy, beyond the attention?" He replies, "I miss the final curtain call and the applause. I don't miss the hustle and bustle lifestyle of going from town to town, the constant costume changes, dealing with novice actors who believe themselves far better than they actually are, the requirement of going out on stage even when unhealthy, having to make due with whatever hotel room the frugal theater company owner rented for you, and in my own case having to live down the stain on the family name caused by my brother." She says, "It sounds like a life for a young adventurous man who craves excitement. I can't imagine such a life." Kate was quiet for a moment. "I have seen Conrad dealing with the same stain, deserved or not. You will want to stay out of the Comique. One of the owners there started a rumor about Conrad cheating at poker after he told the owner he was distantly related to your brother. The owner asked him because of his name; and he's a hothead. I'm not sure your safety would be guaranteed there." Booth replies, "I dealt with worse but I will take your advice and avoid that establishment." She says, "I'm sure you have. I have never understood the compunction to lay blame for one person's actions on another close to them. I suppose anger with no legitimate target will find the nearest target it can." Kate was quiet for a moment. "But this is all terribly serious. Far too serious for people who barely know each other. So tell me, do you think you have a chance to win in the tournament, or are you just playing to see how well you can do?" Booth replies "I sincerely doubt I'll win, I'm a good player but nowhere near as good as most of the other entrants. I'll actually be very surprised if I am still in the tournament by the end of the evening on Saturday. But this journey has given me the undivided attentions of Assemblyman Roosevelt and Mr. Berwind on the long journey out here and will again on the trip back. I dare say that the pledges of donations to the Player's Club that I will solicit from those two during the trip will far outweigh any losses that I personally incur, probably ten-fold." "An investment," Kate nodded. "I have thought of trying to take advantage of all the notables and media attention here this weekend, but since my causes are votes for all races and genders and support for my school I don't think they fit. What will you do with yourself once you're finished playing? Stay and observe the rest of the tournament?" He replies, "Well yes, it will provide me with an unparalleled opportunity to see your Mr. Booth in his natural element, and if we're both eliminated by Saturday night or Sunday afternoon I will have a second or third opportunity to see him up on stage." "My Mr. Booth?" Kate said with a warm little smile. "I don't know that I'd call poker his natural element, but he certainly is good at it. I do think he'll enjoy the challenge of playing against strangers. I'm looking forward to seeing him onstage myself, I haven't seen him act either." He replies, "Perhaps....unless this has all been an elaborate ruse to win us both over." Seeing the expression that comment causes on Kate's face Booth adds, "But we will know soon one way or another." He looks around to make sure that nobody overhears and then says softly "I have obtained a magical device that will verify once and for all if the two of us are related, provided that your Mr. Booth is willing to participate." She immediately replies, "The chance to be certain of your relation is one he won't let pass by. I cannot imagine what it would be like to grow up without one of your parents. My Papa and Maman made me the person I am. Conrad wants to know. Although I'm not sure when a good time to bring it up would be. He needs his concentration most of the weekend. Perhaps after he finishes the tournament?" Edwin Booth replies, "Very well, I will wait until we are no longer playing to mention it to him. The item was not easy to obtain, I had to write to France for it and pull in several favors. It was originally created centuries ago to determine Paternity in situations regarding claims to the French crown." Kate states, "This is very important to you as well, isn't it? Not just for the purposes of protecting your daughter and your property. To you personally." He sighs and replies, "Yes, I just hope that we both won't turn out to be disappointed." Kate didn't answer, but took his arm more securely. "Come. If we don't reach the Lucky Lady soon, we'll be late for the play."</blockquote>

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