Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-02-14
Her Poems Of
Passion
By CLARA DELAFIELD
{.
%. 1922. Western Newspaper Union)

nat ROOu Stllh
Parr, head of the publishing house.
to Clarkson, who read the manu-
scripts and drew up the advertise
ments. yes, think that ought to
make stir. You've got the credit
of discovering Miss Lydia Field,
Clarkson. You'll go down in history
as the originator of this new literary
light"
Clarkson turned the banter easily
aside. Il guess Peterson was the first
to spot her." he said.
mo, no." protested Peterson
Credit where credit Is due You, my
dear Clarkson, were the first to see
something beyond the ordinary III
Miss Fields poems"
Anyway" said Parr, we've got
the united credit Of bringing out a
new American poetess."
Miss Lydia Fields poems had been
making quite a stir for several months
past. There was something about
them as original as they were deli
cate They were more than delicate;
they were impassioned, intimate;
faultless, judges described them. Parr
was bringing them out in book form.
But who was Lydia Field? No one
had ever seen her. 1t was with diff
Guilty that she had been persuaded to
come to conference with the firm
over her book.
(which of us is going to take Miss
Field out to lunch?' asked Parr.
II guess you're the lucky dog,
Parr." said Clarkson enviously.
mo, credit where credit is due"
said Parr. You, Clarkson, are the
dog"
~ wonder what she looks like"
suggested Peterson.
"A slim brunette" said Parr. with
languishing, dark eyes and ringlets
around her ears. A beautiful soul in
an exquisite body"
"Cut out the JOSH" said Peterson.
II picture a smart, sharp-featured
business-like young person, with"
Peterson, Peterson. where is your
those poems is a divine. dreamy-but
what do you say, Clarkson? You are
the original inventor Of the Great
Field Myth
Clarkson said nothing. But in his
heart vision of the divine feminine
had been slowly building. He pic
tured Lydia Field as girl Of about
twenty-four or five. a fair blonde.
with bobbed yellow hair and eyes of
divine blue, far-away look In chem.
as If Lydia Field had caught some of
the ineffable rapture Of the divine
and kept It,
Seriously" said Parr. III we all
take a shy. shrinking creature like
that out to dinner, she probably won't
open her mouth the whole time. Our
friend Clarkson is the diplomatist
and he must give the lady firstclass
lunch. with or without wine from the
teapot. as Miss Field may Indicate
probably without.
"He must get enough material out
OF her for a biographical sketch and
encourage her sufficiently to be able
to bring her back here in state
Of mind where she'll sign the con
tract without fainting"
The office hoy came up. Miss
Lydia Field" he said. Says she's
got an appointment"
"Show her in,' said Parr. and the
three men braced themselves. Parr
smoothed down his hair. Clarkson
frightened his tie Peterson looked
amiable.
A little, dried-up old spinster of
about sixty, with red nose, came up
mincingly. For an instant the three
remained silent in horror
"Ah my dear Miss Field. how do
you dot" exclaimed Parr. stepping
into the breach.
oval, you see" began the little
old lady
Parr was too embarrassed to let her
talk He was afraid of breaking down
under the shock. He presented her
hurriedly to his aides.
"Mr, Clarkson. Mr.. Peterson" he
said. "Now. Miss Parr-"
"Wal should tell you
81 was going to say that Mr.. Clark
son here is to take you to lunch"
wal. but see here"
you see," Parr went on hastily.
"this matter can best be discussed
with single member of our firm
l mean, er-just one member you
know. Mr. Clarkson will discuss the
whole matter with you in a more per.
sonal way than in this office, where
| there's so much-er, Interruption
Nov you Jest listen to me, young
! man. 7 amt Miss Field. I'm her
auntie, and Lydia's too timid to come
| in. She's stopped outside somewhere 3"
| She raised her voice Lydia Lydia !
| Come here and meet the gentlemen !"
Then-theD another woman entered
| the office A slender, willowy girl of
twenty-four. with bobbed yellow hair
| and eyes Of divine blue, with far.