Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-08-25

"Well, suppose We let that slide for
the moment and proceed to indictment
number two. What other phrase of
mine do you take exception to?'
You said that / had not the renot-
est idea of construction, and that
Fashion and Footlights' was evident-
" a specimen of that Objectionable
class of fiction which you regretted to
see was growing SO prevalent-the am
ateur novel, born of vanity and a lack
of wholesome occupation"
Her voice died away with a tremor.
He had only stated the truth, but the
fact did o prevent the speecaless Mr..
Everdene from feeling as If he had
committed a particularly brutal muir
der and the ghost of the victim had
come to arraign him before all the
people whose opinions he valued most.
IL cried" she murmured, pathet-
ically.
Her lips quivered. Reads of perspira-
| ton rose to the mans forehead.
Good heavens, If ! had only guessed
how much | should hurt you, 1t was
harsh, monstrous. No doubt | was in
a bad temper, and your unfortunate
book was the first thing that afforded
me an opportunity to vent my spleen
Lady Hilyard applied six square
inches of cambria and lace to the cor
ner OF an eyelid.
III you'll only believe me, my dear
Lady Hilyard, when tell youthat I'm
sorrier than | car say
Then you acknowledge that you
were needlessly cruel?'
Il was brutal" He would have COM
mitted blacker perjury as she wiped
that tear away.
And that | had just rus for in
dignation"
"You were perfectly right
A smile broke like April sunshine
over her face.
in that case | suppose | must for
give YOU"
He was rid~iculously grateful. He
heaved a sigh of relief and hesitated
with his hand on the button of the
electric bell.
Lady Hilyard. you know the Arab
custom of taking salt with ones
friends? AS a token of goodwill, per-
init me to give you the prosaic English
equivalent of a cup of tea"
The offer was tempting, the weather
was hot and she had talked a great
deal. She yielded. When the refresh
ment came, accompanied by wonder
full sweetmeats from Bond street round
the cornes, she asked permission to
pour it out for him, with a winning
g~raciousness which charmed him. IL
afforded him an odd sense Of pleasure,
too, to see her white fingers moving
about the china. lie was unaccustomed
to the presence of ONE in his home,
With the japanese table between
them they chatted for awhile, and then
the clock on the mantelptece struck
six. She rose with a pretty gesture of
dismay, like a second Cinderella.
'Do you know, Mr., Everdene, that |
have been here a whole hour wasting
your valuable time?'
II thought it had been ten minutes"
he answered, 'and the p~leasantest Of
my life"
Very pretty she said, blushing
family. And, in return for it, let me
tell you that my address is on my card
and that my day is Thursday, Also,
| must thank you very heartily for
your kindness and courtesy to an i'm
pertinent intruder. Very few men
would have been so considerable
PLEASE don't thank me; it is ! who
owe You a debt of gratitude. You have
taught me something | never expected
to learn"
"What?'
That the conduct of your hero and
heroine was not improbable at all"
Their eyes met - the woman's
dropped, self-conscious, pleased.
you really mean thatT'
ION my soul | do"
The most delicious softness was in
her voice:
ut makes me so proud and happy to
think have convinced you"
There was a silence. She smoothed
a wrinkle in her suede glove. He
twisted a button on his coat. Then
she aroused herself with a little laugh
and extended her hand.
well, good-by, Mr.. E~verdene, and
once more. thank vor."
He pressed her fingers even so lightly
her proselyte.
Not 'good-by,'' he murmured. AN
revoir. Black and White.