The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-08-17

The preliminaries were speedily ar
ranged and the meeting was TO take
place next morning at daylight, with
pistols.
Now that everything was settled, the
prospect did not look quite so pleasant
to Streeter as il had done when bs left
London. Dawson had asked for no
explanation but that. of course,
could be accounted for, because this
critical sneak must be well aware of
the reason of the insult Still, Streeter
had rather expected that he would
perhaps have pretended ignorance, aud
on receiving enlightenment might have
avoided meeting by apologizing
Anyhow, Streeter resolved to make
a night of it. He left his friends to
arrange for n carriage. and see to all
that was necessary, while he donned
his war-paint and departed for gath
ering TO which he had been invited.
and where ne was to meet many of his
countrymen and countrywomen in a
fashionable part of Paris.
His hostess appeared to be over
joyed to see him.
"You are so late, she said, "that I
was afraid that something had occurred
that would keep you from coming alto
gether.
Nothing could have prevented me
from coming" said Streeter, gallantly,
"whare Mrs. Woodford was hostess"
"Oh, that is very nice of you, Mr..
Strecter 80 answered the lady "but /
must not stand here talking with you,
for have promised to introduce you
TO Miss Neville, who wishes very much
to meet you. She is great admrer
of yours and has read all your books. "
"rhere are not very many Of them, -
said Streeter, with laugh; "and,
such ns they are, hope Miss Neville
thinks more Of them than / do my
self "
"Oh, we all know how modest au-
thors are ~ replied his hostess, lead
ing him away TO be introduced.
Miss Neville was young and pretty /;
and she was evidently pleased to meet
the rising young author.
II have long wanted to see you,
she said, "to have talk with you
about your books"
"You are very kind" said Streeter,
"but perhaps we might choose some
thing more profitable TO talk about 2"
81 am not SO sure of that. Perhaps
you have been accustomed to hear only
the nice things people say about you.
That is the misfortune of many
authors"
1T is misfortune" said Streeter
"What writer needs is somebody to
tell him the truth"
"Ahl" said Miss Neville, "that is
another thing / arp not SO sure about.
Mrs. Woodford has told you, I sup
pose, that 1 have read all your books.
Did she add that / detested them ?"
"On the con'~ Of Airs. Woodford
led sS'sT' s?SromacH you had liked
Z AND ovs
roe gn1-ieaaed back in her chair
and looked mt him with half-closed
/ eyes.
"Of course" she said, "Mrs. Wood
ford docs not know. 1t is not likely
that would tell her l detested your
books while asked for an introduc-
tion to you. She took it for granted
that meant to say pleasant things to
/ you, whereas l had made up my mind
/ to do the exact reverse. No one would
be more shocked than Mrs. Woodford
unless, perhaps, it is yourself-if
she knew ] was going to speak frankly
with you"
II am not shocked" said the young
man, seriously; II recognize that
there are many things in my books
which are blemishes.
''Of course you don't mean that, -
said the frank young woman; "bo-
cause il you did you would not repeat
the faults in book after book"
"a man can but do his best" said
Streeter, getting annoyed in spite OF
himself, for no man takes kindly to the
candid friend. "a man can but do his
best, as Hubert said whose grandsire
drew long bow at Hastings.
Eyes" returned Miss Neville, ga
man can but do his best, although wo
should remember that the man who
said that snid 1t just before he was de-
feated. What 1 feel is that you are
not doing your best, and that you will
not do your best until some objection
able person like myself has serious
talk with YOU.
Begin the serious talk" said
Streeter; II am ready and eager to
listen"
"Did You read tho review of your
latest book which appeared in the Ar.
gus?"
"Did l." said Streeter, somewhat
startled-the meeting that was so close
and which was coming closer, and
which he had forgotten fc2 the mo-
ment, flashing over him. "Yes, did /;
and had the pleasure OF meeting the
person who wrote it this evening""
Miss Neville almost jumped in hor
chair.
"Oh, L did not intend that you
should know that |" she said. ''How
did yOu know it? How did you know