Janice Meredith   By: Paul Leicester Ford (1865-1902)

Janice Meredith

Paul Leicester Ford

Wallack's Theatre 100th Performance

Mary Mannering as Janice Meredith

February 15th 1901

Janice Meredith

Volume I.

Books by Mr. Ford

The Honorable Peter Stirling The Great K & A Train Robbery The Story of an Untold Love The True George Washington Tattle Tales of Cupid The Many Sided Franklin The New England Primer

[Illustration: Janice Meredith (Miniature in color)]

Janice Meredith A Story of the American Revolution by Paul Leicester Ford Author of "The Honorable Peter Stirling"

With a Miniature by Lillie V. O'Ryan and numerous Scenes from the Play

Mary Mannering Edition

To George W. Vanderbilt

My dear George: Into the warp and woof of every book an author weaves much that even the subtlest readers cannot suspect, far less discern. To them it is but a cross and pile of threads interlaced to form a pattern which may please or displease their taste. But to the writer every filament has its own association: How each bit of silk or wool, flax or tow, was laboriously gathered, or was blown to him; when each was spun by the wheel of his fancy into yarns; the colour and tint his imagination gave to each skein; and where each was finally woven into the fabric by the shuttle of his pen. No thread ever quite detaches itself from its growth and spinning, dyeing and weaving, and each draws him back to hours and places seemingly unrelated to the work. And so, as I have read the proofs of this book I have found more than once that the pages have faded out of sight and in their stead I have seen Mount Pisgah and the French Broad River, or the ramp and terrace of Biltmore House, just as I saw them when writing the words which served to recall them to me. With the visions, too, has come a recurrence to our long talks, our work among the books, our games of chess, our cups of tea, our walks, our rides, and our drives. It is therefore a pleasure to me that the book so naturally gravitates to you, and that I may make it a remembrance of those past weeks of companionship, and an earnest of the present affection of PAUL LEICESTER FORD

ILLUSTRATIONS

Volume I. Janice Meredith (Miniature in color) "'T is sunrise at Greenwood" "Nay, give me the churn" "The British ran" "It flatters thee" "You set me free" "The prisoner is gone "Here's to the prettiest damsel" "I'm the prisoner" "Trenton is unguarded. Advance" "He'd make a proper husband" "Stay and take his place, Colonel" "Thou art my soldier" "'T is to rescue thee, Janice" Volume II. George Washington (In color) "There's no safety for thee" "The despatch!" "Who are you?" "Art comfortable, Janice?" "Where is that paper?" "Victory" "Washington has crossed the Delaware!" "I love you for your honesty, Janice" "Don't move!" "Have I won?" "Where are you going?"

JANICE MEREDITH A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION

VOLUME I

A HEROINE OF MANY POSSIBILITIES

"Alonzo now once more found himself upon an element that had twice proved destructive to his happiness, but Neptune was propitious, and with gentle breezes wafted him toward his haven of bliss, toward Amaryllis. Alas, when but one day from happiness, a Moorish zebec "

"Janice!" called a voice.

The effect on the reader and her listener, both of whom were sitting on the floor, was instantaneous. Each started and sat rigidly intent for a moment; then, as the sound of approaching footsteps became audible, one girl hastily slipped a little volume under the counterpane of the bed, while the other sprang to her feet, and in a hurried, flustered way pretended to be getting something out of a tall wardrobe.

Before the one who hid the book had time to rise, a woman of fifty entered the room, and after a glance, cried

"Janice Meredith! How often have I told thee that it is ungenteel for a female to repose on the floor?"