The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-02-25

ttYes, ~ ropllod.
"& motto Just left for you sir, at the readIng-room
door. The bearer walts.''
/ tore il open witt, fevcrsh oagerncss although
guessed too well what Its contents were.
read II over with throbbing temples and burning
brain rhs was the rist Of it; "IIoase give bearer
any COPY You may have ready, n only page. We
arc surprised at not having yet received any from
without word showed It to my companion, and
sighed heavily.
." much regret that at present have no copy
ready; tho search has necessarily been long and
duous, hut have found the requisite Information at
last, and hope to send You q large batch Of copy
Mechanically wrote tho words as they wcro die
atGd and then folding up the paper directed II and
took II to the door aud gave II to the messenger from
ltartopp & Co.
When returned to my scat the old gentleman and
tho young lady eagerly scanning the columns Of
last weeks Ahenoum, and as approached he cried
"Hcroitls; here 1t is; though, saw 1t the other
day.
finger pointed, and tho announcement ~ the
publication, by another house, OF cheap edition OF
the very work upon which was engaged.
WELL said inquiriugly, what thenY''
was sure another firm was about to issue IT. hence the
haste,
can tell from this announceme nt It is 'Mason
Co. youseo, smart, pushing house.
''Well, but what then2''
Go aud toll them what has occurred, aud say that
your copy has been stolen by the writer they
poycd, aud asked to look at the MIS-
"Whewl that Is u dinlcult Job. ~ I replied.
90 Dlnlcult Of course II is dinicult. Hut you win
have to do great many dlncult aud delicate things
before you have finished your literary career, my
Will what do to help You for hour so,
II you win show us what You have done aud what Is
To he done2'
with beating heart aud whrllnE brain | hurried
from the reading room. Was ever mortal engaged
upuu such AN extraordinary errand before
III DUO time ! reached the publishing house OF
Matson u Co. without waiting to think, I pushed
hastily forward and asked tho first person saw, who
happened to he n mere boy for MIR, MatsOn.
81 fear he Is ont, sir, but viii see.''
AnSlousy waited the boys return. At last he
came. MIR. Matson Is not In his room, sir, lust
now, but believe no Is In the house, Would you
walt awhile pN
nodded assent. was too impatient to speak.
had endeavored to prepare myself for unpleasant
interview. hut not for time OF weary waiting.
AS stood there, one OF those extraordinary coin
cldences occurred which, In novels are always voted
improbable, and yet which are frequently happening
In real llfe for fact Is stranger than felton, As
stood there, say,a printer boy passed me- He APP
peared to have come for copy, for he asked In the
usual uncouth manner In which those gentle lndvil
uals converse, =" II there was anything for Manning
SEES. ~
"No!'' exclaimed one Of the young men, while the
other speedily corrected him, and exclaimed In
tones that thrilled through me, "rhera's the nrst
batch OF nalawln,s copy for -. lfyon forget that
My temples throbped and ached more than over.
was the man who had stolen my Ms. Natson was to
publish It, and Manning was To print It,
could scarcely control myself as saw the boy
clutch the roll Of MS handed him by OF the young
men and slip 1t Into his leather bag.
That, felt sure, was my lost manuscript, but how
was to regain II?
looked at my watch. Half an hour only to reach
the Museum before II closed. saying therefore, that
could walt no longer, abruptly left the publishing
OflCc. IL was useless To see MIR. MatsOn now, for
VI he credited my extraordinary story he would
hardly send for the Ms. tonight. Moreover, had
almost accomplished my mission and gained the liz
formation required, and as 1t was necessary should
see my friends again tonight had no time to lose
arrived at the Museum lnst before the time for
Just leaving Hnrridly told them what had
CURED, and concluded by SAYING that felt sure my
''Mannlngl'' exclaimed Miss Miller ''oh, /
know them. They are printing my copy, aud have
printed great deal o, IT. oh # Is only real
with slvery little laugh. Then she said impu-
sivey 81 think perhaps could help you now, AS l
have been TO Manning's so often. II You Will call on
my mother this evening at perhaps may have It,.
The address is No. 10 Railton Road, kentish Town '
In the dull, respectable, shabby. genteei street
known as Railton Road, Kentish Town, and the
last strokes OF the hour were chiming from neigh
boring church knocked at the door of No. 10.
dirty, slattcrniy woman. evidently u lodging
house keeper. opened the door, and IN reply to my
inquiry for Mrs. Miller she exclaimed Grossly:
- First floor, front, ~ and disappeared.
Speedily made my way upstairs, as directed, and
knocked at the front room door. 1t was soon
| opened. and found myself face to face with a
pleasant-vsaged old lady OF mild manners and gentle
| demeanor, who, upon hearing the reason of my
visit, cordially Invited me to 'come In. ~
had not been long In her presence before She had
garrulousy Informed me OF all the principal features
OF her family history; how she had lost her husband
and all her children save one, and had been obliged
to retire from her large house at Kensngon to dngy
apartments In Kentish Town, All this and more
she was relating with much voubllity aud precision,
| when she was Interrupted by the appearance of her
daughter, who. having let herself In with her door
KEY had FASTENED upstairs and abruptly entered the
| knowing within.
- Alas ~ she cried, 90 have not been successful
IN obtaining it, but have seen 1t. 1t is yours with
out doubt; noticed the writing.'
| 'Why, how did you see it?'' exclaimed.
81 told you that Manning was printing my copy
| just now, and In order to save time have often
taken the Ms. there direct of late. So took batch
to- might. The front onice closed. made my
way upstairs to the overseer In the composing room.
| And there was your MS. lying on his desk, waiting
TO be given out to the typeseters In the morning
oh my fingers fairly tingled to take 1t away, but OF
course could not. You must.h
| For a few moments could not reply: strange wild
| thoughts rushed through my mind, and felt hall
delirous with u sudden Joy. She must be favorably
inclined to me, thought, to take much Interest
In me, and, In imagination, thought | the
sweet lowell in her dear eyes. Was 1t possible
| she might love me?
But strove to collect my thoughts. and com
menced TO stammer reply. | thought she noticed
my confusion, for she bushed slightly and looked
down. At length l artculated: 81 win get the
MS; after you have brayed much for II would
| be cowardly In me to pause.'
SO saying, rose and held out my hand to take
my leave.
''Don't he so fast, - she replied smiling. " How
viii you get in? You never thought of that, sup
| pose. Now you must take this roll of MS, and II
the dOOrkeeper should question you, you easily
show him this, and say 1t Is from Miss Miller,
which she neg eced to leave this evening, and that
| You will go upstairs. Pass by him hurredly, so that
he ask further questions, and then 20 upstair
to tile second hoor. The overscer's desk Is close bS
the door OF tile composing room aud IL was on thai
| desk saw your MS
oh, thank you; win manage, never fear, y |
| exclaimed, boldly. "Good-night, Mrs. Miller. Good
| night, MISS Alller, tHanE very much for VOuI
Kindness
WIN hasty steps set forth, and / remember now
how brightly the stars flashing In the dark blu,
sky, and how quiet and calm they seemed In contas
To my own wild and tnmultuous feelings.
When arrived at the ONCE walked quickly for
waid past the tlmekeeper's desk. He was at hi
post, and remember now how sharply he cried Ou
after me to know what wanted. To his query
returned hurried answer, almost unintelligibe, t,
the effect that all was right and that wanted II
see Mr.. Brown, the oyerseer; 10 great hurry win
or nothing, - and resolved to act as quickly and bold
as possible.
the stairs 20 the COMPOSING rooms always rlckety
as fast AS could | presently arrived the compos
ing-rOom under the care of Mr.. Brown. Part of /
in darkness for nearly all the had gone home
some OF those who remained turned sharply at m!
entrance and scrlltlniZed me closely. This was III
crucial point. aud knew it, SummOnng all M
boIdness, therefore, walked toward the desk ani
said In AS confident a tone AS could assumei '0h
Is Mr.. Brown gomez Well, will place the cony
| on his desk. He Will know what 10 Is. -
At that moment saw my long lost MS. +; my eyes
knew, must have flashed with eager Joy; street.-The
forth my hand and gTasped IL Oh what thrill O
delight passed through me
Al that moment heard cold, matter Of fact yOc
near saying;
''Wbat copy is 1t you have brought, ?''
A cold Precipitation broke out over my forehead
This troublesome man would prevent me from takIn
II. now that 1t was literally In my hands.
| answered.;
'Copy from Miss Miller; would you see tho humble
OF the last pageI''
The man looked at me curiously. "oh, / dare 81,
It's all right, he said. hDy how, there Is hurry.
He evidently regarded Miss Miller's copyr a
quite "a secondary affair." although, dearest girl,
inent much to her.
However, | said. very politelyi ~ shall be nue.
page; Miss Miller particularly wished TO know tina
minute. ~
Politeness conquered him, 1t usually does every
body, and he turned away mnttering,
Instantly whipped my long sought MS OF IN
desk into my pocket, and followed him. In q minut
was AZ his side, and he could not have told had
remained at the desk u second after no left It. IN
last page of Miss Miller's ''cOpy' was soon found
and Of course the few pages had brought followed
exactly,
With many apologies, therefore, for troubling hi
late at night, departed too elated at my succe
to think what might occur when the loss was disco,
cred.
AS l descended the stairs, heard ono Of the me
cry: - Everything VIII be stopped In the morning,
order To get on with the Aud chuckled AS
0 thought: No my friend, you are wrong for one,
for the MS Is now In my pOss0sslon.'' At the doG
the tmekeeper stopped mo. lie was not to be fo0lt