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

Messrs. lIartopp x Co. would he glad IL
Mir. Egerton would call on them Tomorrow morning,
to place In his hands. ~
For some seconds ga2ed atthls note completely be-
wlldered; then, jumping from my chair, | waved "
over my head, much TO the aUta1ement
aud concern OF my pet dog, Dick, who, rs ustal was
basklng gravely before the IRE ltwas seldom, Indeed,
that he had seen his master excited.
AT last at lasti'' cried. F." Success 100 last.
The tables are turning, aud work is coming to me in-
stead OF my seeking for It, ~
For, be II known to the inqurlng reader, was, at
the period OF which write. young man, who. FOR
greater length OF time than like to tell, hal hCcn
struggling to obtain footing In the arduous profession
Of letters Aud although, before this. had often APP
peared in print yet this was the first commission
had ever had put into my hands.
No wonder that was eated, that In my heated
imagination thought my fortune was made and that
had indeed come at last. In Short felt like
barrster when he obtains his first brief, doctor
when he receives his patient. The letter had
by the morning post and, being dated yesterday II
finished my breakfast, and telling my landlady
that might be ont some hours, departed.
Poor Dick he looked longingly AT me. lie wished
to he taken, too; .but no, Dick You must not come
this morning. There is no walk Hampstead
cath this morning. there Is sterner business aioot.
Now, do not mind confessing that my heart beat
rs was ushered into the presence of the
principal of the firm OF iartoppN Co., but his pleasant
manner treasured me. had seen him but seldom
before; for, though had called frequently, offering
MS (Which generally rejected. mad scarcelyever
seen him personally.
cations for literary work aud research Mr. uartopp
said that although they had not been able to use all
Tor nearly ALL the MSS. had submitted, yet what
they had seen OF my work had led them To believe
could undertake the task they now wished executed.
need not particuarse what the work was; sufficient
to say that It involved large Of research at
the reading room OF the British Museum, and, still
further, that great speed was absolutely necessary
'The Ms. must lie In our hands 10y this day week AT
latest, and II will be well II you can bring us portions
IL every evening you go on Can you do this ~
concluded Mr.. Hartopp, and as he spoke, iet that
that time scarcely knew how In the world was to
execute the work put before me. had dim idea OF
", aud that was all. Hut how could shrink back,
when the the object for which had worked and
waited 80 long was within my reachr Never. SO
said boldly that would accept the engagement and
execute the work TO the best of my ability.
''That Is right, " returned MIR. llariopp. 81 am
glad to hear you say need hardly tell You that II
other commissions. IL VIII lead DOUBTLESS to other
engagements, which, | doubt not, viii he mutually
profitable. ~ He then proceeded to speak of terms,
with which, however, need not trouble the reader
and ended by enoining secrecy, which IL OF course
absolutely necessary In all such cases. and especially
In the present we doubt not nut that some
other firm Is engaged In the same project
when left the publishing house walked hastily
to the Museum aud all the way / was puzzling my
brains as to the best method NJ setting To work.
am wiser now, and having had more experience,
l know better how to set about such search, but
| was rather nOnpussed at that time.
However, entered the splendid reading room OF
the Museum with firm determination not to be
beaten, aud soon set to work.
Hook after hook was consulted, hut all In vain.
remember pauslng In my search and gazing
around thinking how like 1t was TO searching for a
nepde in a rick of hay. Here Is the Information
r,quire-somewhere-if only can get II clue to 1t.
But hour after hour passed. made no progress.
At last not to prolong this part OF my story, oh.
taned a clue, and not long atterwarI / discovered
the old magazine In which OF the papers for which
was searching originally appeared.
But when this result was obtained the ring or the
gong warned me that further work must be post
poned Tonight for the hour of closing had arrived
| departed with heavy heart. The fist day was
gone and had scarcely made beginning. should
have liked to have been able to take In batch OF
MS. this first night, but could not do so. Would
Mr.. Hartopp he disappointed and annoyedy tad
light and permission been forthcoming could have
worked on all night
Early the next morning was at my post, and was
soon able to make progress. l made copious notes,
and able to obtain certain valuable Information
Perhaps 1t this that caused me TO raise
my head and think OF rest--and lunch. And AZ did
so my heart thrilled with vague sense OF pleasure
sitting at the seat next 10 mine was n young lady
whom had often previously noticed In the room, and
with whose face was very familiar hut with whom
| had yet exchanged word whose name |
knew not, and near whom, until now, had never
even sat.
As said Just now, had noticed her frequently in
the reading room and was conscious that much as
liked frequent this place for its own sake, 1t was
vet dearer to Inc from the fact that sometimes
there a graceful figure with grave, gentle, intel
lestual fac, patiently working, and sometimes
quite by accident, Of cOurse7lifing starry eyes to
mine passed one another to consult books OF
reference! .
And at last ms ulVine uilllScl WIS slllub
desk next my own, and could admire the beautiful
profile, the classic pose OF the head the SOFT hair
('huffed in rOnt,) and the neat, quiet, somewhat
aesthetic, but by means foolish or dowdy dress.
one could at once that she was conscious that
''nsthetic' ideas really very beautiful In them
selves when pursued too far and too lOOlishly.
However the clock struck. and reminded that
had no time to lose. Hastily putting my papers to-
gether, prepared 10 20 out for half an hour for
lunch Suddenly thought struck me! Was II safe
those precious papers there, exposed! They
might be TAKEN or some one might come In my alb
sence and read Them and so steal "A march on Inc.
But Idculed the idea as soon as II occurred TO me.
| Pshaw whoever heard OF any one interfering with
anothers books, or papers, or desk, IN the British
| Museum reading room. Just AS much as every one
nstlnctIvely obeys the unwrten law which there oh
tans, that one Is 10 speak above whisper, so no
| one ever interferes with another = desk.
So, dismissing the subject from my mind hurried
| to lunch, and soon engaged Ia the plcasnntcI
thought OF how could obtain an introduction to my
starry-eyed young 'nsthee. ~
OF course, although desks for the day were side
by side she might be In the far wild west of America
for all that could say to her. Between us was tho
Invisible but very real and powerful barrier of con
ventiOnal propriety; and though so near. yet wal
far. And then the tlme-I had no time for thinking
even of the matter. The work in hand must he done,
and quickly. too, II would he successful, as mean
TO be, and 1t would require all my thought.
! Itesolutely banishng my fair ''esthe,e ~ from my
mind, therefore, 1 hnrriedy finished my lunch, ant
returned to the reading-room
| But when l reached my seat. and was about TO re
sume my occupation, l uttered an exclamation o
horror and stood like one suddenly struck Into stone
for a glince revealed to me my precious MS wa
gone!
For one minute stared before me like one stupe
fed. l felt as though had been stunned by
sudden blow. grasped the back OF the chair 10
support, and l saw 1t all now, although | cou'
scarcely believe the horrible truth; all my labor
| lost; some one else had watched me. and would ge
out the book before me. Success was taken from IN
Just as thought myself assured OF 1t. iau toiled-
another would reap. Worse than all, my budding
| reputation would be gone.
/ suppose my behavior must have attracted the At
enton OF the gentleman sitting next mo on the Other
side, for he said kindly:
"Are you lp''
mo, u replied family; aud remember nov
how the hollowness of my tones seemed 10 contradic
the words, and how strangely they sounded Blu
my anger rose. and said hercely: "S0me scoundre
has stolen my MS. and notes while have been a
lunch; they were most important to me; fear the
loss will he an irreparabe misfortune. Did you Sc
any one come to my desk while was outY'
''No; have but recently come, y he relo'ned.
''Oh, but saw some one, ~ said my fair nsthete
suddenly and / remember now how her voice
thrilled me. II was the first time had heard he
speak and could almost forgive the loss of my MS
because II had caused me 10 hear her voice
But replied hastily:
''Who was it2''
- A tall thin gentleman, with wavy hair aud
gray coat. OF course dd not know but that b
was friend of yours. lie came and glanced COOL
over the desk, aud then took away the papers, -
''Shouid you know him again, II you saw HIN ~
| l asked eagerly.
UOh, yes am sure l should, ~ she replied.
The suggestion OF the gentleman ON the other sid
was more TO the points al should give nformatio
to the superintendent of the room, and also ask III
attendants NJ Ihh uOOlh " llley nave
dressed AS described go out recently
did as lie suggested aud very soon notice wa
Fixed TO the glass door OF the room, apprlslng Ill
public OF my loss, aud Offering reward for infOrma
lion which would lead to the conviction OF III
offender; meanwhile, had questioned the attendant
who remembered perfectly the tall man In the era
coat and said that he had gone out about quart,
OF an hour since. quarter Of an hour Tin
enough for him 10 have got completely beyond N
power OF search.
That was all could discover, and In great anxle
I returned 30 my seat. AS dld SO / remember no
how the starry eyes OF my ew-found friend glance
shyly and sympathizingly at me.
/ must have appeared very detected, for she sa
sorry YOU but could you not make up for lost tin
by working quickly.h
"That Is 1ust the dinculty, ~ replied; "thls Nj
is wanted once. have already been too long
: II is cruel loss 10 Ine.'
4 10 my ardent Imagination was now as complete
r ruined as previously had thought my fortune mad
The reader viii notice that my temperament Is vel
, meTcural, aud apt 10 rise very high descend Vel
low at the slightest proyocatlOn Hut even allOwiI
for this extreme view. the situation was sufficient
serous for the loss OF the Ms. would seriously mil
, tate against my success Ia the Immediate future.
In a few words explained this 10 my newly -fouI
o friend who saw the dinculty OF my positlI
and the reason of my anxiety. HIT what was to
d, done2 Gould nothing be done 10 retrieve my loss
Al that moment an Old gentleman came up an
: smoke To the young lady near mo, aud even now q
, | recall that pang OF Jealousy shot through my hear
Al the first glance could soc that he what son
persons cOntemptuOusly term go literary hack; b
for all that he seemed perfectly happy aud oonente
y Hut these thoughts were interrupted by the q
gentleman turning TO me and saying, In that whisp
H.