The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-08


depth would be to coarser and less
sensitive natures. You see there is an
innate pride against acknowledging it
rs poverty. and, throwing aside all
innocent DISCUSSES. allowing it to stalk
fo:th and assert itself. The bitterest
part of peuurv with men and women
VINO have been gently born and bred is
the perpetual and agonizing strain of
trying to keep up an appearance OF
comfort"
1T is all piece of foolishness, in
terjected Bruce, irritably.
Yes" assented the doctor, "but
the foolishness is there all the same,
not to be got rid of; and it is this fool
ishness that makes the sadness of it all. "
but you haven't told us anything
about your visit, Don." said De Whit,
barking back to the original topic when
he found the present one getting uncom-
fortably grave. "What did you say?
What did she sayP What did you do?'
"Do?" answering the last question
first, why, acted as pateTnally as
knew how. l believe that is what is
generally expected of a father, even if
Il girl is blessed-Or cursed-with five
of them"
The idea of Bruce acting in pater-
nal manner toward any one, particu-
larly 4 woman of twenty-four, seemed
to strike his four auditors in q comical
light, for they all laughed.
well, but what did you tell her?''
"Why, l told her what you told me
to tell her. of course a trille GROSSLY.
''If 1 had supposed l should be called
upon to give an exhaustive account of
the interview. | should have taken
notes Of the conversation, and let you
read them for yourselves"
And she really believed all that
trash" calculated Mclean, wonder
ingly.
didn't l tell You an authors vanity
was equal to anything?'
How did Won arrange about the
money matter?n asked Swift.
"She is to be paid ten dollars weekly
while the novel is in progress; in addi-
ton to which she is to receive one
fourth of the profit from the sale OF the
book"
Il nod, expressive of satisfaction with
this arrangement, ran round the circle,
until Harry Swift inquired with sudden
energy:
"Of course she thinks YOU, as pub
Usher, are to have the other three
fourths; but what is to become of it in
realitv?n
Il don't imagine" answered Bruce,
slowly and satirically, THAT all the
profit will amount to sum that she
will not accept in perfect good faith as
the one fourth | promised her."
'And she expressed no surprise nor
suspicion at Your unhcard-of interest
and propositions" asked Mclean, ejac-
ulatory and daze1.
.'She was decidedly surprised" an
swered Bruce, gravely; "but very quiet
and dignilied through it all. with a
great and underlying gladness very
plainly TO be seen. She asked me if it
was customary for publishers to make
such an Ter, and told her it was the
way | did, when l thought it would
pay"
Bravo applauded Dunscombe.
.Well, don t see but that we got it
all out of YOU after all, old fellow, in
spite of your prickliness at the outset"
and De Whit began to get himself in
shape for his cold wax.
Bruce's lips stretched themselves
quietly under his heavy mustache, but
he made no comment.
81 suppose you are to call every week
to make settlements and inquiries about
the progress OF the book" suggested
Mclean, rather miSchievously, but
Bruce replied in the affirmative so
gravely and absently that the joke, if
Joke it was intended to be, was lost.
The winter had stormed, and showed,
and frozen itself out, and clustering
March, and fearful April and caprici-
Gus May had subsidized gently and COM
forta5lv into sweet, blossomy, sunshinv
June. when Donald Bruce announced to
the fathers one evening that the much
talked-of, much-anticipated book was
finished and awaiting their critical
hearing.
Have you it with you?" asked Nc
Lean; and the bulky manuscript was
silently produced.
"Writes a good hand" commented
Harry Swift. approvingly, as he con-
templated the firm, bold pen strokes.
.'Who is going to read it to us?'
why You, of course" answered De
Whit. Tho only question is, when
viii you begin?"
.'Better begin as soon rs possible |
should think, and get it over with put
in Bruce with wide yawn and unearth-
" stretch, as if boreI in anticipation.
You fellows come back after your din
ners. and we will finish it at one sitting
if the sitting lasts all night. Luckily
there is nobody around to be disturbed
by our Orgie.
Accordingly, in two hours time they
were all bac.l in the comforta1 Die office.
lounging around in various attitudes,
suggestive OF ease aud com iort, smoking
indnstriously, and listening in un-
broken silence to Harry Swift's musical,
well-modulated voice. On and on and
on went the smooth tOnes-hodr after
hour and hour after hour-until
one watching him wonld have Won
dered if his throat didn't ache. and his
voice buzz in his own ears. He suffered
no apparent inconvenience, however:
and as he laid the last leaf of the manu-
script down, when the hours in the
morning had gotten beyond being "wee
and sma'." he looked inquiringly at bis
silent auditors.
There was an ominous pause. There
was no denying the fact that the novel
was disappointment. The characters
were mostly overdrawn or underdrawn;
the plot weak; the style, pleasant at
first, grew strained and monotOnous
toward the last; the result of the whole,
mediocre to a degree. There would
occur at times, however. a flash of
bright thought brightly expressed; a
nlaam of nnaint wisdom havnnH the