The morning call., 1893-06-05
ONLY AN ACTRESS
Why Miss Helen Byron
Was Rejected.
How Great Wealth Has Caused Two
Fond Hearts to Be Broken
ASunder.

A few years ago here in the city of San
Francisco a handsome lao and a pretty
lass became sweethearts and plighted
their truth. Like all young lovers, they
spent hours together building air-castles
and planning of the happy time they
would have when they were firmly united
in the bonds of matrimony and their two
hearts beat as one.
No matter what might happen they. like
all lovers. were going to be true to each
other. They were constant for years. but
true love does not always run smooth, it
is said. and sometimes it runs off the track
like it has in this case.
To give the history of the lovemaking
of young sweethearts is simply telling an
old story that is repeated every day in the
year and will be for all time to come. But
in this case there is a second chapter and
therein is related an Interesting romance.
The two young sweethearts of this story
have now grown to maturity. The pretty
lass is now beautiful woman, and the
soubrette of the George Thatcher Com
pany. known to her friends as Miss Helen
Byron. The lad is Louis c. Buck,
wealthy young man residing in Oakland.
About three years ago Miss Helen, who
possesses an Independent spirit determined
to secure some employment and relieve
her parents of the expense of her main
tenance. Having considerable talent for
the dramatic stage she made application
and secured "a position. making her first
appearance with the Nellie McHenry Com
pany.
During all this time Louis remained
true, and at each stopping place on her
travels Miss Helen would find letter
from him telling of his great and ever
increasing love. Even after the death of
his father, which caused Louis to become
the pOssessor OF valuable estate. he still
remained true, and it looked very much as
if their dreams would be realized.
But about five months ago a change came
over Louis. He no longer sat up nights
penning long and loving letters TO his dis
tant sweetheart. Some one had whispered
in his ear that young man of twenty-three
years possessed of great wealth should n ot
throw himself away by marrying an &C
tress. He should marry some lady of high
social rank and take the station in the
social world that his fortune demanded. q
The tempter won. Louis love began to
grow cold. and finally it took wings aud
disappeared. When the fair Helen ar
rived a few days ago there was meeting
MOI he kind they had looked forward to
with longing hearts, but cold and en-
barassing affair.
Louis, in tragic tones, informed Miss
Helen that they must part. His great
wealth, he said, would compel him to seek
bride in higher circles than those of the
mimic stage.
Miss Helen did not go into Mysteries and
threaten to throw herself into the bay, but
quickly consented to grant Louis his free
dom, and the once fond lovers were parted
forever.
When CALL representative was ush-
cred into the presence of the little SOU
brette at the Russ House yesterday, she
was found not grieving over her lost LOUIS
but in very happy humor, her face radiant
with smiles and her blue eyes sparkling
with vivacity.
Yes, it is quite true" she said, "that
Louis Buck and were engaged to be mar
lied, although the fact has not trou bled
me very much. When / left to go upon
the stage three years ago | was a little
| girl in short dresses and Louis was a big
| boy. i used to look up TO him as some
thing great, but when | came back and
found that he was not any bigger or mora
manly looking than he used to be / was
| disappointed, andabecame impressed with
| the thought that the engagement ought to
be broken.
81 had the idea that l could boss him,
and If there is any one thing | detest it is
henpecked husband. / am sure | would
despise man who did every thing | told
him to do and would let me control every
thing.
Louis could hardly keep back the tears
| when he told me that We could never be
man and wife, at least he said not for the
| present. | could scarcely help laughing
at him, it was so very absurd. The idea
that he was too rich 10 marry me seemed
80 ridiculous. l quickly informed him
| that l was never more pleased in all my
| life, and that if every hair in his head was
a diamond / would not have him.
"Wiil | bring breach of promise suit !?
/ would not bring 1t If he was worth ten
millions. Before | went on the stage / did
| look forward to our union, but now-wel
| an actress is bothered and annoyed so
much that she really begins to hate the
men; and then / want man whom I can
| look up to and say i will abide by your
sweet will
when I was in Buffalo, N Y, was
greatly annoyed. Herman Keyser, a
young man worth half million dollars
aad heir to three times that amount, sought
| to marry me. but / was not aware that he
was in love with me for some time. He
used to come behind the scenes and talk
with other members of the company, but
| seldom directly to me.
| And all this time what do you think he
was doing? He was asking the others if
they thought l would consent to be his
wife"
Eyes. and l used to. call out, 'Keyser.
| Keyser. come along, Keyser,' whenever |
found him following us from the theater, -
spoke up Mrs Henrietta Byron, the
ssoubrette's sister, who was listening with
interest to the conversation.
Suddenly he proposed" continued Miss
Helen. land when l refused to marry him
he was terribly taken back. Still he pur-
sued me, until l told him that had never
encouraged him, and commanded him to
cease his prosecutions. The next day be
got drunk for the first time in his life.
Il had stack of letters that would fill
0rdtnaFv-eiyaH bh,,
| have destroyed them ALL | was g2eatlv
amused at the way Louis did. A few
! months ago. when his love began to cool,