Produced by Annie McGuire. This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print archive. [Illustration: Book Cover] A PASTEBOARD CROWN [Illustration: "I will place the crown upon your head," said the actor-manager; "only promise not to reproach me when you find for yourself that it is only pasteboard!"] A PASTEBOARD CROWN _A Story of the New York Stage_ BY CLARA MORRIS _Author of "Life on the Stage," etc._ _WITH A FRONTISPIECE FROM A DRAWING BY HOWARD CHANDLER CHRISTY_ [Illustration] CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK 1902 Copyright, 1902, by Clara Morris Harriott CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE LAWTONS ARRIVE 1 II. A POWERFUL NEIGHBOR 12 III. SHOPPING UNDER DIFFICULTIES 23 IV. AN ACQUAINTANCE RENEWED 32 V. "THE WOMAN OF FATE" 44 VI. A RECOGNITION AND A DINNER 53 VII. A PRAYER AND A PROMISE 64 VIII. "TELL HER YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION" 73 IX. THE ACCIDENT--A FRIEND IN NEED 85 X. CALLING ON THE MANAGER 97 XI. THE DOUBLE BIRTHDAY 113 XII. THE PROMISED CROWN 129 XIII. THE FORMING OF THE CHRYSALIS 143 XIV. THE RETURN FROM THE WEST 152 XV. MRS. LAWTON LAYS PLANS 163 XVI. A STRANGE BETROTHAL 171 XVII. THE COSTUMING OF JULIET 188 XVIII. A LOVER'S PLEA 204 XIX. A FAMILY SCENE 219 XX. A PROFESSIONAL LESSON 228 XXI. SEEKING REFUGE FROM THE STORM 243 XXII. PREPARING THE PIT 265 XXIII. THE WOMAN IN THE BOX 279 XXIV. "I WILL NOT DIVORCE YOU" 294 XXV. "TO LOVE IS TO FORGIVE" 309 XXVI. THE OPAL 325 XXVII. THE FALL OF THE CURTAIN 344 XXVIII. "THOU KNOWEST!" 359 A PASTEBOARD CROWN CHAPTER I THE LAWTONS ARRIVE