Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-18

tWenty-four. L have said that ne came
slowly in, but that scarcely conveys the
gay and degdge air Of independence which
pervaded this young man, and which
would certainly have struck any observer
as little short Of shocking, when contraSted
with the wOrn-hke attitude of those who
crept round the feet of Meeson. This
young man had not, indeed, even taken
the trouble to remove his hat, which was
stuck upon the back of his head, his hands
were in his pockets, q sacrilegious whistle
lowered on his lips, and he opened the door
of the sanctum sanctorum of the Meeson
establishment Nth click!
''How do. uncle?'' he said to the Com
mercial Terror, who was sitting there be-
hind his formidable books, addressing him
even as though he were an ordinary man.
''Why, what's up?"
Just then, however, he caught sight of
the very handsome young lady who was
seated in the Office and his whole demean-
or underwent 4 most remarkable change;
out came the hands from his pockets, of
went the hat, and, turning, he bowed,
really rather Dicely, considering how i'm
promptu the whole performance was.
''What is it, Eustace?" asked Mr.. Nee
son, sharply.
ooh, nothing, uncle; nothing-it can
bide," and, without waiting for an invita-
ton, he took chair, and sat down in such
a position that he could see Miss Smither
without being seen Of his uncle.
81 was saying, Miss Smithers, or rather,
I was going to say" went on the elder
Meeson, ''that, in short, I do not in the
least understand, what you can mean.
You will remember that you were paid q
sum of fifty pounds for the copyright Of
Terminals Vow
Great Heavensr' murmured Master
Eustace, behind, ''what dol"
cat the time an alternative agreement,
offering you seven per cent on the pub
ished price of the book, was submitted to
you, and, had you accepted it, you would,
doubtless, have realized a larger sum, "
and Mr.. Meeson contracted his hairy eye
brows and gazed at the poor girl in way
that was, to say the least, alarming. But
Augusta, though she felt sadly inclined to
fee, still stood to her guns, for to tell the
truth, her need was very great.
81 could not afford to wait for the seven
per cent, Mr.. Meeson," she said humbly.
ooh, ye gods! seven per cent, when he
makes about forty-fivep' murmured Eus-
tace, in the background.
POSSIBLY, Miss Smithers possibly"
went on the great man. "You must really
forgive me if I am not acquainted with the
exact condition of your private affairs. /
am, however, aware from experience that
the money matters Of most writing people
are little embarrassed"
Augusta WINGED, and Nh. Meeson, rising
heavily from his chair, went to large
safe which stood near and extracted from
it a bundle of agreements. These he
glanced at one by one till he found what
he was looking for.
''Here is the agreement" he said. E'Let
me seer All, I thought so-copyright fifty
pounds, half proceeds Of rights of transla-
ton, and clause binding you to offer any
future work you may produce during the
next five years to our house on the seven
per cent. agreement, or a sum not exceed
ing one hundred pounds for the copyright.
Now, Miss Snithers, what have you to
saw? YOU signed this paper of your own
free will It so happens that we have
made large profit on your book; indeed,
l don't mind telling you that we have got
as much as we gave you back from Amer
lea for the sale Of the American rights; but
that is no ground for your coming to ask
cept. never heard OF such thing in the
whole course Of my professional expert
ence; neverr and he paused, and once
more eyed her sternly.
Sat any rate, there ought to be some
thing to come to me from the rights Of
translation-I Saw in the paper that the
book was to be translated into French and
German" said Augusta, family.
VOC 6oJ1ht-ET1ctana 0h1iOa me
by touching the bell"
The young gentleman did so, and tail
misunderstanding clerk appeared.
'eNo. 49," snarled Mr.. Meeson, in the
tone of peculiar amiability that he re-
served for his employees, make out the
translation account of Terminals Vow
and fill up check of balance due to the
author"
No. IS vanished like thin, unhappy
ghost, and Mr.. Meeson once more adj
dressed the girl before him. IF you want
money, Miss Smithers," he said you had
better write us another book. | am not
going to deny that your work is good work
"a little too deep and not quite orthodox
enough, perhaps; but still good. l tested
it myself when it came to hand-which is
a thing don't often do-and saw it was
good selling quality, and you see 1 didn't
make @ mistake believe 'Jemima's Vow
will sell twenty thousand without stop
ping-here's the account"
AS he spoke, the spectre-ike clerk put
down a neatly-ruled bit of paper and al
unsigned check on the desk before his en-
ployer and then smiled a shadow smile
and vanished.
Mr.. Meeson glanced through the account
signed the check, and handed it, together
with the account, to Augusta, who pro
ceeded to readit. 1t ran thus:
AUGUSTA sNITHERs IN ACCOUNT WITH NEE
SON & co.
To sale of right OF translation Of
'-iemima's Vow into French..-.--
Do. do. do, into German.----
Total. ........................ ....-..34
6 s. q.
Less amount due to Messrs. Meeson,
being e-half of net proceeds. o Q
Less commission, etc.................. 10 0
Total. 81 10 0
Balance due to author, as per check
n6reWiJn. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ID U
Augusta looked, and then slowly crum-
pied up the check in her hand.
eff L understand, Mr.. Meeson," she said,
''you have sold the two rights of transla-
ton of my book, which you persuaded me
to leave in your hands, for e14; out Of which
I'm to receive e3 Is ?''
Eyes, Miss Snithers. VIII you be SO
kind as to sign the receipt; the fact is,
that have good deal of business to at
tend to-"
mo, Nh. Meeson," suddenly said Angus
ia, rising to her feet and looking exceed
ingly handsome and imposing in her an
ger. 'tNo; Will not sign the receipt, and
/ Will not take this check. And, what is