Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-06-17
Continued.


dark, handsome man whom she had
so often seen watching her while on
the steamship. Her mind was filled
with thoughts of her ambition and
the proximity of attaining it, if she
did well. The manager had been
pleased but yet there was the public
those gay Parisians.
The play in which she was to ap-
pear, pictured the early feudalism and
in it she played the role of prin-
cess.
AS Lorimer sat in box at the
theatre that evening awaiting the
ascent of the curtain he wondered
how that quiet, dignified woman in
whom he had been so interested,
would appear as the naughty prin-
cess. She surely was great ac-
tress even to mask her real self like
that.
The curtain rose, at first she did
not appear. Soon, loud storm of
applause burst and there stood his
ideal who had seemed to him differ
ent from the other women he had
met She was attired as French
princess of the eleventh century,
heightening her beauty to rare per-
fection. Underneath all he could
distinguish that same manner which
had at first attracted him. Then he
heard her voice, that of rich con-
tralto, and after that he was an at
tentive listener. Once, he so entire
ly forgot himself when she was be-
throthed to German baron, that he
leaned so far forward that he excit-
ed the temper of a little Frenchman.
Some one else, also, preceived his
attentive attitude and that one was
Frances, and late that night, when
she was alone, satisfied with her
great triumph, she thought of him
and wondered who he really was.
She could not deny that she was in
terested in him.
After this, one engagement rap
idly followed another for Nile. Clay
ton was a great favorite. Lorimer
was noticeable figure at many of
her plays and Frances had grown ac-
customed to look for him in the aud
ience.
Once when she was singing he
caught her eye, only for a moment,
but it was enough and he sat writing
until morning. His book was pro-
crossing finely, she was urging him
on.
One day he read in newspaper
that Mile. Clayton was going away.
Thereupon he threw down the paper,
thinking, 81 will not read where, for
fear l will neglect my work. For,
what do l care? My book is near
ly completed. She has helped me
wonderfully, no denying that. Next
month it goes to the publishers. l
wonder if she will ever read it.
Once, and only once before, has any
person influenced my writing so much
and that was the me l once thought
/ loved SO dearly, Little Frances,
even as l sometimes think l love
Katherine Clayton. But, Frances
was only school-boy's love,-a mis-
take. Sometimes, however, this
Mile. Clayton seems part of my
very existence, but will soon for
get her."
So thought Lorimer and for the
next year he tried to drown all
thoughts of her among the Alps and
among the ruins of Rome.
His book was out for the public;
every day letters of congratulations
showered in upon him and he knew
that the novel had been great sue
cess. When he returned to London,
late the next fall, receptions were
rendered him, while every day pleas
came, calling for the dramatization
of the book. At first, Lorimer would
not hear of it. Finally, however, he
consented but charged the playwright
to keep as closely to the original as
possible. By Christmas, the play
was completed entirely to Lorimer's
satisfaction. 1t was the playwright's
hope to make the play success of
the season and he had said that in
order to do this someone must be
found who could play the heroine's
role perfectly, and exactly cores
pond with the descriptions. Various
stars were called in, but none salts
fled the playwright, they played the
part we'll, still it seemed stiff and
awkard to him. Still, McFarley, the
playwright, would not give up, "she
must be found" he said. AT last, it
was laid over another season. at
matters little" McFarley said to
Lorimer, "many have not, as yet,