Fiction: The Romance of the Stage: By “Jemmy” The Prompter: It was very recently, sir, that I read the story of a peculiarly blighted life. A young woman, a dressmaker by trade, and maudlin of temperament, was shown by the paragraph in question to have come to an “over the water” theatre in London, and there to have fallen right over head and ears in love with one of the actors. Unfortunately, the newspaper details did not give any clue as to the character the too-fascinating Thespian was enacting when he made havoc with the affections of his unknown admirer. It is impossible, therefore, to judge whether his vivid portraiture of “the heavy man’s” villainies excited within her breast a fatal combination of awe and admiration; whether he played “first juveniles,” and won his way to her heart by a picture of manly constancy, oppressed by the machinations of an unscrupulous rival; whether he captivated her sensitive mind by the display of a capacity for strong ” character ” parts; or whether he enforced an adoration by an irresistible fund of drollery … (continues) … I could not avoid saying to Bob, “I did not know you had a sister.” “I suppose I forgot to mention it,” he said, with what I felt to be heathenish indifference. I am afraid I paid little heed to kindly compliments paid to me by Mr. Sharland and his son, and — though to a modified degree — by Miss Pinsent, the housekeeper, and Miss Sharland’s “companion.” I had before heard that Mr. Sharland was a widower, and it was evident that the grim old maid before me was designed to compensate in some degree to the young people for the want of a mother’s care and guardianship. I was unable to take my eyes away from the younger lady of the group, and I almost fear I betrayed too emphatic a readiness to acquiesce in some rather vaguely expressed dramatic criticism emanating from the same quarter. … I was delighted with the opportunity thus given me of improving my acquaintance with Miss Sharland, in whose handsome, intelligent face I felt my interest deeply set. I called very frequently, and was always well received. Often — always when my visits were made in the daytime — Mr. Sharland would be engaged at the office, so that my object was speedily attained. Miss Pinsent was not the most rigid of chaperones, and so a tete-a-tete with Miss Ellinor was a privilege of frequent enjoyment. … We had also arranged that, with a view to prevent suspicion, Ellinor should retire at an earlier hour than usual, upon a plea of indisposition and should seize the first opportunity of giving Miss Pinsent the slip and repairing to our unromantic trysting place …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.