Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-05-27

thought and thought of this strange
little incident, and especially Of the
mischievous CLEAN in those blue eyes,
and l wondered If had been tricked.
Had she been lying there laughing
under that Tam-o-shanter at my mad
race?
Well, the explanation of it all came
a few days later.
Staying in the same clearinghouse
as myself was a pretty little girl with
whom l had become rather chummy
"a fellow is apt to do so at these
times-and one day when l was with
her she received letter from
friend of hers who was staying in
Milton, saying that she was taking
part in some amateur theatricals to
be given in a public hall for the bene-
fit of some local charity. She en-
closed some tickets.
My companion, of course, explained
1t all to me, and-naturally enough,
perhaps-we went.
1t was rather poor show. The
amateurs had made singular selec-
ton, for the piece was an old-fashion-
ed lurid melodrama crammed with
incident. But my companions friend,
a Miss Nora Payton,' according to
the programme, had big part. and
was really good in it.
Gradually the plot was worked up,
and in due time the third act was
reached. Here we were evidently in
for something supremely sensational,
for the programme gave the scene
as:
"Night-on a lonely moor"
Up went the curtain and on came
my companions friend, f1urried and
frightened looking. few rumina-
tive sentences-not remarkable for
their originality-were uttered, and
then a man entered, young and
heroic-looking.
Voluble talking followed, at first
passionately loving, then passionately
angry. And then came this astonish-
ing incident
The girl threw up her hands tragi.
cally. The man stepped back and
put his hand into the breast of his
coat.
Murder! Murder! Murder!" the
girl shrieked. "Oh, he is going tc
kill me!"-and her shrill voice echoed
back from the end of the room.
The man raised his hand above his
head and plunged stiietto into the
breast of the girl, who dropped in.
stantly at his feet.
1t was exactly the scene that l had
witnessed from Hunton's Cliff.
What happened after this point in
the play l haven't the least idea, and
never had. The only things l remem
ber are the uproarious applause that
| greeted the conclusion, a pair OF
| laughing, mischievous eyes looking al
me over the footlights, and my com
panion saying:
II must stay and speak to Nora and
congratulate her! Isn't she clever?'
was not loath to remain, and sc
in due course l was introduced tc
Miss Payton" and her fiance-"Mr
Lugard-the horrid murderer"
Miss Payton gave no sign of recog
milton, and the two girls chatted on.
you did that murder scene JUS
splendidly, Moral"
Did 1? Well. so we ought to hav,
done, for Jack and l have rehearset
it no end. Do you know, we actually
got up at five-five! one morning wher
Jack had to go to Machiaas on bust
ness, and rehearsed it in lonely spo
near Hunton's Cliff. And l shrieket
'Murder!' so loudly that really be
lieve l could have been heard a
Milton"
Once again the mischievous CLEAN
was in the blue eyes as they met mine
l laughed-rather uneasily. Jacl
Lugard laughed also.
you have a penetrating voice
Miss Payton," l said 81 hope yo,
will allow me to congratulate you OF
your performance. l think I cal
honestly say that I have never befor
met lady in private life with sucl
marked histrionic ability!"