Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-08-17

MISS StlllncTS TcSc, anu thcu, Win -
spasmodic effort, sat down again. 1.-The
fact Is. Mr.. Meeson," she said-''the fact
is, that, | thought that, perhaps, as 'Jemi-
mas Vow had been such a great success,
you might, perhaps-in short, you might
be inclined 10 give me some small sum in
addition to what ! have received"
Mr.. Meeson looked mp. His forehead
was wrinklcd till the shaggy eyebrows
nearly hid the sharp Ii tie eyes. What"
he said. "Whdtf'
Al this moment the door opened and q
young gentleman came slowly in. He was
Il very nice-looking young man, tall II
well shaped, with a fair skin and Jolly
blue %eyes-in short. q typical young Eng
lishmen Of the better sort, Ttotc Sto
tw%enty-four. | have said that he came
slowly in, but that scarcely conveys the
gay and dcgugc 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 worm-like attitude OF those who
crept round the feet Of Mccson. 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. II sacrilcgious whistle
lowered on his lips, and he opened the door
of the sanctum sanctorum Of the Nceson
establishment With Il click
"How do, uncle>' he said to the Com
mercial Terror, who was sitting there he
hind his formidable books, addressing him
even as though hc were an ordinary man.
"Why, what's upY'
Just then. however, he caught sight of
tbe very handsome young lady who was
seated in the Office, and his whole demean-
or underwent a most remarkable change:
out came the hands from his pockets. Off
went the hat, and, turning. he bowed,
really rather nicely, considering how i'm
promptu the whole performance w&s.
What is il, Eustaces" asked Nj. Nee
son. sharply.
"Oh, nothing. uncle; u%othinG-it can
bide, = and, without waiting for al invita-
ton, he took Il chair, and sat down IL such
a position that he could see Miss Sinithers
without being seen OF his uncle.
Il was saying. Miss Smithcrs, or rather.
/ was going to say" went ON the elder
Meesou, that in short, | do not in the
least understand what you can mean.
You will remember that YOU were paid Il
sum of fifty pounds for the copyright of
'Jemima's Vow
Great Heavens murmured Master
Eustace. behind, what ado,'
AT the time an alternative agreement,
Offering you seven per cent. on the pub
lished price of the book, was submitted 10
YOU, and. had you accepted il, you would,
doubtless. have realized IA larger sum,
and Mr.. Meeson contracted his hairy eye
brows and gazed at the poor girl i'll way
l shot, ,.., =. -. 81. 1.~, .lf, (.t
Augusta, though she felt sadly inclined 10
flee, still stood TO her guns, for to tell TIE
truth, her need was very great.
Il could not afford 10 wait for the seven
per cent, Mr.. Meeson, : she said humbly.
"Oh, We gods. seven per cent, when he
makes ahont forty-iiYe,' mUrmured Fus-
tacc, in the background.
Possibly, Miss Smithers possibly, p"
went on the great man. "Noum must really
forgive me if | 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 q little embarrassed.
Augusta WINGED. and Mr.. NeeSon. RISING
heavily from his chair, went 10 Il 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. Let
me see? Al, ] thought so-copyright fifty
pounds, half proceeds Of rights of transln-
ton, and a 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 Il sum not exceed
ing one hundred pounds for the copyright.
Now, Miss Smitlers, what have YOU to
say? You signed this paper of your own
free will. II so happens that We have
made a large profit on our book. indeed,
| don't mind telling you that we have got
as much rs we gave you back from Amer
lea for the sale of the American rights: but
that is no ground for your coming TO ael,
for more money than you agreed to ac-
cept. never heard Of such n thing In the
whole course of my professional expert
ence: never" and he paused, and once
more eyed her stcrnly.
AT any rate, there ought to he some
thing 70 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.
"Oh! yes. no doubt-Eustace, oblige mc
by touching the bell"
The young gentleman did so. and a tail
melancholy looking clerk appeared.
"No. L." snarled Mr.. Mceson, in the
tone of peculiar amiability that he re-
served for his employees. make out the
translation account of '.Jemima's Vow,
and fiji up a check Of balance due TO the
author"
No. Is vanished like a thin, unhappy
ghost, and Mr.. Mecson once more al.
dressed the girl before him, IF you want
money, Miss Smithers,'' he said, you had
better write Us another book. am not
going 10 deny that your work is good work
IA little too deep and not quite orthodox
enough, perhaps; but still good. ! tested
il myself when il came TO hand-Which is
q thing | don't often do-and saw il was
good selling quality, and You see | didn't
make a mistake. ! believe 'Jemima's Vow
viii sell twenty thousand without stop
~ping-here's the account"
AS he spoke. the spectre-likc clerk pu'
down a ncatly-ruled bit of paper and al
unsigned check on the desk before his en-
ployer and then smiled a shadow smile
and vanished.
Mr.. Mecson glanced through the account
signed the check. and handed il, togethcl
with the account, 10 Augusta, who pro
cccdcd To read it. II ran thus: