The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-16

more every time he read them, TO the edi-
tor OF Mayfair, expressing hope that they
might be considered up to the marx.
When they had been publishe
and made their hit, he could then tell the
story of their creation, thus rendering
them as interesting to psychologists as
Coleridge's famous fragments OF "Kubla
Khan"
a few days later he received proof (his
first proof of the verses, together with a
highly complimentary letter from the editor.
in which that gentleman bestowed great
praise on the Brownrigg'S effort, and ex-
pressed his conviction that 1t would De
faYorably received by the public The
young poet, elated thereby beyond all de-
scription, read the proof through with low
ing eyes at least one hundred times. L
don't think be altered anything except one
printers error; in the first place, because
the verses seemed TO him perfect as they
stood; in the next, because this first proof
had a sort OF sancuty in his eyes, which
would make it appear next door to sacrlle-
| gious to cut it about with pen and ink.
1t is needless to say that he secured a
| COPY of the Mayfair ct the earliest possible
moment after its publication and carried 1t
| about all day-tO the great detriment of his
| work in his fathers counting-rGOm. But
| the rebukes which he incurred for his absurd
! mistakes in business glided of him as easily
as water from ducks back. For was not
o
| he not soon be able to turn his back on mer-
| camille pursuits for everp
| Next morning, on coming down to brea h
fast, he found lying on the plate letter
| from the editor of Mayfair. Doubtless II
: was to congratulate him on the success of
| his ode, or, perhaps, to solicit a contribu-
| tion for the next issue of the magazine.
| He opened it eagerly. As he read the look
# self-saiisfaction at once faded from his
couDtenance. giving place to an expression
OF mingled bewildeTment and dismay.
The communication ran thus:
}. T. 4. Bro,cnrigg, Esq.-DEAR SIR: have
just received letter fom the editor Of The
Monthly Critic r. Questing ME 10 tnfol IN him how
II was that l have published In Mayfair. over
your name, precisely The same verses on the sub
ject which Oliver Lowell, the wellknOwn poet,
had contributed 10 The Critic for the same month?
/ can hardly thlRk that you Intentionally made a
fool of me. But as tie matter is serious one
be good enough 10 let ME have your explanation
at one. Yours faithfully, HoRATIO SHKINs.
Naturally poor Brownrigg could not make
head or tail of this astonishing epistle. So,
instead of going TO business that morning
he obtained leave of absence from bis
father and bet0Ok himself in fine state Of
mind 10 the editorial Offices of Mayfair. On
sending up his card he WAS told that Mr.
Sinkins was just then engaged. but would
see him shortly. And after quarter Of an
hours waiting he was ushered into that
gentleman's presence.
GOOD morning. Mr. Browning" said the
latter, stiffiy. "Pm glad you are come. I've
Just had a call from Mr.. Lowell. who is
waiting in the next room now. But before
you make your apologies to him just tell
me candidly how you came to do such a
thingP'
'I-I-composed the verses myself, did
upon my honor" stammered out the young
man, eagerly. "And l cap assure you / am
quite as much surprised at what has hap
pened as you are yourself"
" adu
lous reply. at Is serious matter, Mr..
Browning. and l promise yeu that your
best way out of 1t will be candid admis-
sion Of the truth and full explanation Of
everything"
but have nothing to admit and moth
earnestly, almost crying with injured ipno-
cence. 81 wrote the verse myself without
any sort of assistance, | swear l did"
WELL" said the editor. after a short
pause, during which he bad keenly scrnti-
nized Brownrigg's excited face, "if you
have DO better explanation to give me
shall leave you to explain matters with Mr..
Lowell yourself"
So saying he opened the door of an ad-
joining Office, and requesting Browning to
follow him, briefly introduced him to Low
ell. and then left the rival poets to fight it
out.
Oliver Lowell, fery-loOking little man at
ali times, was now rendered unusually
fierce Of appearance by the excitement and
wrath which possessed him. He glowered
at BrownTigg for some moments in witheT-
ing silence. then burst out with:
Now, young man. you will kindly tell
me, please, how the devil you obtained a
copy of my verses?"
"1-I-didn't; / composed them myself"
Tetorted BTownrieg. whose head was liter
ally swimming with bewildeTment.
"Oh, indeed, cried the other. laughing a
savagely sarcastic laugh. Perhaps you'll
tell me next that you composed yours first
and that copied them-eh?"
81 don't know when you composed
yours" our young friend answered. But
l can tell you exactly when | composed
mine. 1t was last Saturday evening in the
train, as / was going down to Ealing.
and"
in the train-going to Ealing2" inter-
posed Lowell, with a sudden start, and
speaking very eagerly. "Eh?"
yes" said BrOwnriRg. And then he
proceeded with many protestatiOns of sin
cerity to give full and particular account
of that wonderful fit of inspiration, which
our readers have already heard described.
Long before be had finished light broke
on LOvelPs countenRnce and dispelled the
lowering clouds of wrathful Indignation.
He burst into heavy fit of laughter, and.
when at length he could speak. exclaimed
by Jovel | see it all now. 1t wasn't
your fault; though, TO be sure. IT'S rather
risky thing to fall into such a Iethargy
that you can't distinguish other peoples
voices from your own impressions. But
it's my fault mostly, for reciting my verses
aloud in railway carriage. And the COM
pany's," he added. with a chuckle, for
having their compartments open at the
top.-London Truth.