Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-10-25
BUT LOVE Is MORE ARDENT THAN FIRE.

fort to me to know that you are so near. 1
dare say you will think me very silly, but 1
never feel quite easy until Mr.. Lawrence
has stamped on that burning paper; my
dress is very fluffy and"
'"Have no more uneasiness, said, truth
fully. Il, too, dislike that business and 1
watch your dress as carefully as If l were
your maid'
! dared not say more nor speak in too ten.
der tone, for Lawrence had drawn near
and was scowling hercely at US. fancied
that he was not quite himself
"The second scene in our play was
hacknoyed one. Lawrence, the unsucccss-
full suitor, fourished before his lady's gaze
the will her father had made subsequent to
the only one found at his death; the one he
had Just found resembling the old mans be-
quest OF great wealth to his daughter, pro-
vided she marry Sir Harry Vaughn Iaw-
rence).
when she firmly and for the third time
refuses to marry him or any one but Jack
Leslie (myselD he tears the paper in his
rage, thrusts the two strips into lighted
candle, and, waving them before her, cries:
$50 vanishes all proof that your father
weakly changed his mind No one but you
and me knows that this will was ever made,
and as these flames flicker and spread you
see your ease, and luxury, and comfort dis
appear-disappear forever, unless you
marry mep
"Then he throws the burning ends of
the paper on the floor, and stamps on them,
crying:
"'Now, let us see what is before you'll
Comfort with me or starvation with your
plebeian suitor.'
"As the days had grown into months /
had seen very plainly that Lawrence and 1
spoke our respective lines from our hearts.
Did Mile. d'Esterrel How longed to knowl
Lawrence was o fascinating fellow, was
not; he had fairly good social position,
and was supposed to have none; he had
good income besides his salary, had
nothing.
"No one in our company knew my his-
tory, but will tell you the gist Of it now.
4 Though was billed as Max Osmyn my law
ful appellation was Henry Osmyn Maxwell;
my grandfather, who was very wealthy,
| had announced his intention OF making me
heir to most of his property, but after years
of kindness and indulgence he cut me off
without shilling because l refused fatty
to marry the granddaughter of one Of his
croaics, an old reprobate whom detested.
"Of course, Lawrence did not know it,
and the numberless ways in which the cad
tried to teach me my place, socially, were
very amusing. scorncd the fellow too
much to feel angered at him.
This night when Mile. d'Esterre had con-
fided her anxiety TO me / was even more
watchful than before. I imagined that
Lawrence was unusually excited Qlearned
afterward that she really had rejected him
in earnest that afternoon) and threw much
emphasis INTO his lines.
"He brandished the burning papers in q
wild manner and then cast them to the floor
in q reckless way. just what / feared
would happen some time now took place.
"a breath of wind, caused, perhaps, by q
sudden movement of Mile. d'Esterres trail
ing robe, fllcked one of the papers close to
her; the dying flame gave one last flicker,
bent forward, and seized o diaphanous frill
or flounce or something on her skirt, started
into new life, and was fain to clasp my dar-
ling In its fiery embrace.
"But love is more ardent than fire. In an
instant darted forward and crushed out
the flame with my hands.
Lawrence, who had not seen the fire
thought was improvising something 70
spoil his situation, l presume. for he
grasped me by the shoulder and swung me
forcibly into the flies. How the audience
hissed him Most of them had understood
the unexpected scene and many were
breathless with terror. The orchestra
leader whispered TO Mile. d'Esterre that II
was all right and she went on with hei
refusal.
"'ComJort, with q craven like you'll Soon
or would diei Sooner, u thousand times
sooner, would starve with my dear jack
and here he is, TO learn how love him ant
detest you,' were her lines.
sand how the audience applauded now
They Gid not seem TO notice the rather dis
hevelid condition OF dear Jack's' wig ant
collar md necktie, result Of his suddel
ana unlnteutlUnRl exit " Lawrence's hanus
and they certainly did not know that tn
hands Of dear jack 30 tenderly clasped b.
the heroine, were smarting and biisteredl
"Of course she know the condition Of m
paws, and It was when she insisted o
dressing and bandagng them for me that
found courage enough TO tell her how
loved her.
"sYou say YOU love me and want TO MAJ
ry me- she said, by and by, IN tone {
J surprise, yet you know nothing OF me, nc
J oven my name, for am not French
"I know that you arc sweet, nobl
soomon, be your name what II may ! mad
reply. But before insist on an answer
my question must tell you my story
(which ! did, accidentally omitting o
aames.