The New South., 1893-09-09

ttioz srer- replied his hostess. ieadins
him away 10 be introduced.
miss Neville was young and pretty
and Kbe was evidently pleased 10 mcei
the rising young author.
II have long wanted 70 zee you." shs
sald, TO have talk with yon about
your books.
You arr very kind. said streeter
bat perhaps We might CHOOSE some
thing more profitable 70 talk about7v
n am not sure ~ that Perhaps ron
have been accustomed 70 hear only the
nice things people say about you That
i tbs misfortune u many authors"
IA is q misfortune said streefer.
What a writer needs is somebody 70
tell him the truth
.Ahg said Mise Neville. that - an.
other thing ! am not 40 sure about.
huL Woodford has told you, suppose,
that have read sil your books. Did
she add that detested them2''
Even streeter waa not able 10 conceal
the fact that this remark caused him
some surprise. lie laughed uneasily
and said
''On the contrary. Mrs, woodford
led me 70 believe that you had liked
them.
The girl leaned back IN her chair and
looked At him with half-closcd eyea.
aot course" she said Mrs Wood
ford does not know. II is not likely
that would tell her | dctested your
books while asked for an introduc.
tion 70 you. She took Il for granted
that ! meant % Say PHEASANT things 70
you, whereas ! had made up my mind
y do the exact reverse No one would
be more shocked than Mrn Woodford
unleha, perhaps, II Is yourself II she
snew Was going 20 speak frankly
with gon
y am no; shocked" said ihc young
man, teriou8lg y recognize that there
are many things in my books which
ars hicmlshes
a0f course you don't mean that said
the frank young woman sbeeanse Il
You did you would not repeat the faults
IA honl{ after book
"A man can but DO his best, said
strectnr getting annoyed IN spite Of
himself. for no man takes kindly 10 the
candid friend "a manscan but DO his
best rs Hubert said, whose grandsire
drew a long bow al Hastings
Yes, returned Miss Neville, - man
can but do bis best. although we should
remember that The man who said that
said il just before be WAS defeated.
What | feel i that you are not doing
your best and that you. win not do
your best until some objectionable per.
son like myself has a good serious talk
with ypn.
Begin tho serious talk, said Street.
er. = am ready and eager % listen
Ibid yon read the review ofsyour
lasat book which appeared III the
Argns2s
@Did ~ said streeter, somewhat
startled the meeting that was 70 close
and which WIS coming closer, and
which he had forgotten for the moment,
flashing over him. Yes. | did; aud |
had the pleasure Of meeting the person
who wrote II this evening"
Miss Neville almost jumped In her
chair
"0h, did not intend that you should |
know thatln she said. "liow did you
know itq How did you know that / |
wrote reviews for the Argus2s
Your cried strceter astonished ia |
his turn. "Do you mean TO say that
you wrote that reyiewPa
Miss Neville sank back in her chair
With sigh.
"'rherei" she said, "ny impetuosity
has, as the Americans say, given me
away After oil, yon did not know
that ! was the writeriH
~ thought Dawson was the writer.
] had Il on the very best authority"
Poor Dayisony' said Miss Neville,
laughing, "why. he IL one OF the best
andstanchest friends you have; and SO
am for that mattcr-in indeed, think
am even more your friend than MIR.
DAWSON, for | think you eHn do good
work, while MIR. Dawson Is foolish
enough 20 believe you are doing IL"
Al this point in the conversation
Strectcr looked hurriedly at his watch
"Ahl | see" said Miss Neville; this
is not to your taste. You