Evening star., 1935-05-26
THIS WEEK

When Payne stole into London, he
hunted out lodgings in an obscure
street with convenient exits in case
of bailiffs. Then he called on his
theatrical customers, informed them
that he was reopening shop under the
name -. Howard" and cautioned
them not to betray his presence in
town. He tried to pass himself off as
stranger to Mary. but the moment she
saw him she cried:
GO back to Paris this minute!
He should have taken this as a
proof of affection, but he was merely
disheartened. Seeing that her desk
was covered with papers, ne said:
Forgive me for interrupting your
work. I'll 60"
Mot on that account. but your
own. Hurry! No. Stop! You must
stay here till dark. You're not safe out
of doors. I'll make you pot ofhysonv'
There was luxury for him in her
terror. While she busted herself brew
ing him tea, she simmered like a
kettle; bubbling with news about her
poverty, about the harsh refusal of
Shelley's father even to see her or his
grandson. for whose support he con-
sented to pay only a hundred pounds
a year, and that on condition that
Mary should never publish line
about Shelley.
Think of it," she said. while
Shelley was boy. his father did his
utmost to keep him from writing, and
now that his son is dead, he tries to
smother his genius in the grave. But
he shan't succeed. Nothing shall stop
me from publishing his work. Mean
while must earn money somehow, to
keep my son and my poor father from
starving"
She was outraging the respectables
once more; for the career of a woman
novelist was thought hardly better
then than a still older profession.
Women were not supposed to support
themselves, and Payne was crushed
with the humiliation of being un-
able to offer his idol security from
either disgrace or hunger.
II was never so ashamed of my
poverty" he groaned. "All can
offer you is - free theatre tickets"
''Splendid"she cried They're bet
ter than bread to a starved soul like
mine. want to know the theatre.
Shelly always urged me to write plays.
Have you seen the dramatization of
my poor novel 'Frankenstein'? What
they didn't do to it,"
If she had not dragged in Shelley,
Payne would have said Let's write
for the theatre together"
But there was Shelley in the way.
And across the Channel was Irving.
Between the ghost and the clown
what chance had he? He could not
realize that Mary clung to him just be-
cause he was neither ghost nor clown.
Helpless to help her, Payne plunged
into the theatre market and tried to
wrest a fortune from it. But he could
extract only pittances in cash. though
free tickets we're always at his dis
posal. He lavished these on her in
lieu of flowers and jewels. But he
drove her frantic with his meekness
and humility.
Sometimes he lost self-control and
stormed her with all the magnetic
power that had once swayed thou
sands. She would thrill to the belief
that she had found in him one who
would make life beautiful. But just
as she was about to yield. he would
take fright at his own presumption,
and apologize. How could he take her
to church and marry her, when his
very name would send him back to
prison?
He had proof enough of this one
day when he was returning to his
lodgings to dress for a theatre party
he was to attend with her. Perhaps
she would 90 f0 France with him