Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-05-08

were continually talking to him; and
in an evil hour, armed with my naost
elaborate peetical production, made
INV way to the Office and requested,
and strange to say, was granted (tor
London editors are difficult of access),
an interview. The result was pain,
shame, confusion, discontinue, and,
worse of all, failure. Heaven and
earth! how hated that nina as sat
in the most remote corner of the bus
on my homeward journey; how l
vowed to be revenged and let him
know some day whom he had sneered
and ieered att would put him IN
novel, IN a comedy, in a burlesque;
I would carricature bin with pen and
pencil. / would become famous
merely to spite him, and refuse-oh,
the ioy of that thought!-I would re.
Ease to write a serial fer his hateful
magazine. believe / became almost
eloquent in my internal denunciatlons
of him; and, as an immediate practl-
cal. disdainful defiance of him, | got
out at Oxford street and went into
Nudes for another volume of Swim
burne,
In one way or another the editor OF
the Arlington was a good deal in my
thoughts during the next week, and
the more I considered his conduct the
more detested him; my cheeks burn
ed and tingled as recalled his low,
knocking tones and quiet, annihilating
plances. As for submitting story,
essay. or articles to his tender mercies
-neverl
A fortnight passed and my manu-
script did not come back. Ny name
was not Jones, but l really did live
with Mrs. Kent in Brown street, and
| told her all about it; SO | should
have received it had it been sent. or
course he had tossed it in capacious
waste paper basket that l had noticed
under his table, and that was the end
Of it.
One day, quite a month after my
encounter with the autocrat OF the
Arlington, Mrs. Kent announced a
visitor, gentleman, to see me; and
in a moment there entered the editor,
more cool, calm, self-possessed and
smiling than ever.
"The verses have not come back in
quite the usual way" he said, sinking
unasked into the only easy chair
was at my writing table, and meant
to stay there. However, here they
are, all safe, with a few marginal
notes. You do really leave beauti-
fully broad, clean margins--they're
quite tempting! By the way, why
haven't you sent me that story"
Il haven't written it yet, " | replied,
I longed to add land never meant
to-" but somehow could not.
well. you must; prose pays best
What other editors have you been in
terviewing lately2"
"Nonel | never want to see an
other in all my life2'
He leaned back in his chair AM
laughed heartily, then with mock
gravity
"rm glad to hear that, for you're
really quite-dangerous By the way,
why did you say your name was
Jones? You might have known l
should find you out. Editors do find
out everything in time. You are
Miss Madeline Meredith, Of Garth,
and your brother jeff and 1 were
chums at Elton and Oxford"
"Ohr ] said somewhat surprised,
81 didn't known
"Of course not. How could you 2"
ooh, I'm not Miss Meredith of
Garth, any longer, said, with an
effort of proud composure. Papa
lost ell his money, and our home was
sold; and then papa died and jeff
is with bis ship at the Cape, and Aunt
Adelaide didn't want me any longer
so | came to London to Mrs. Kent
she's my old nurse-and earn my
bread by my pen.
| could not help telling him all
that-he seemed to make me, in spite
of myself; but uttered the last words
proudly, and he did not smile at all,
but looked very grave.
Il wonder. Miss Meredith, if you
ever heard jeff speak of Harold
CasheltonW
"Oh, yes, often p and then paused
in some confusion. Mr.. Harold
Cashelton had been my brothers
''guide, philosopher, and friend, " and
in one way or another I had heard
more than enough of him all my life,
though, through my having no moth
err, l had been at Garth when Jeff S
friends visited kim. In fact L had
worshiped him secretly and afar off
from Jeif's descriptions-and made
him the hero of more than one no
nance; and now there he was sitting
in my easy chair chatting to me as if
he had known me all his life-as, iu-
deed, suppose he had in a way, for
jeff surely must have mentioned me
to him.
After asking all sorts of questions
about my brother, he stood up to go,
and desired me not to forget the story
but then more than ever | resolved
not TO write, as NO doubt he would &C,
cept in from mere pity.
Three months passed away, and |
was on terms almost of civility with
my hated editor; but | had written
nothing for the Arlington-on that
point | was obstinate had / told
Mr.. Casheiton very much about my,
self or my own Affairs beyond the first
sudden burst of confidence, which
seemed inevitable. What l wrote and
how succeeded l never talked about
in spite of several lnsinuating ques-
tons, but about Jsff | would talk
for hours, and he did not seem to
weary of the subject either.
Sometimes [ accompanied him to All
afte rnoon concert at ST. James Hall
or a matinee at the Lyceum, and he
was always very kind and attentive;
but | never could get over the fact
that he had laughed at my poetry.
Had he laughed only at rsyseif |
should have forgiven and forgotten
it.
One evening he called after having
absented himself for fortnight, and
l was wondering, in spite of myself,
what could have have happened to
him. ! was abou; to call Mrs. Kent
to light the gas, Though it was really
quite bright, when he stopped me.
Don't ring for lights" he said, in
his lazy way; I want to talk to you,
| have something very particular to
say, Madeline, and want to say it to
you alone, Madellne"-and somehow
he got possession of both nay hands
II love you; | want you for my
wife; want to take care of you, dear,
If you will let me-"
81 cant help it, 1 returned feebly
aNA x-arrSnlx-