Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-08-16
A PROSELYTE.
A Wen-Taught Lesson He Never
Expected to Learn.

pen across the last sheet, and now the
Ms. lay ready for the post among the
debris of printers proofs, lew novels
awaiting review, etc, with which the
writing table was strewn.
One of the best-knoWn literateurs in
London, and brilliant conversation
alist. his tongue could be as scathing
as his pen, and it was said of him, with
regard to the latter weapon of war
fare, that in half dozen polished SEN
fences he could do more towards damn
ing book than any two of his COM
peers. A big, loosely-made man, Mr..
EVerdene, with shrewd gray eyes and
the pessimism of a modern. Studying
his face as he lounged by the window,
his hands in the pockets of his smok-
ing jacket, one could see that he had a
lively sense of humor combined with
his other characteristics and under
stood the interest his personality
aroused.
Presently servant brought him a
visiting card on salver.
1.-The lady would be obliged if you
would grant her an interview, SIR
Lady Hilyard, " muttered Everdene,
reading the inscription. 81 can't re-
call the name. Bother the woman,
what does she want? However-ask
her to come up, Blake"
When she entered, a fair, elegant
woman of perhaps five-and-twenty, in
an irrepro&chable Parision toilet, he
was still more convinced that he had
not the privilege of her acquaintance.
MIR. Aubrey Everdene?' she que
ried.
Mr.. Everdene bowed.
pray take a seat, madam"
NO" she said. Il have come to
quarrel with you, and don't sit down
in the houses of my enemies!"
ITO quarrel with mer His eye
brows went up. The thought came to
right mind.
Eyes. Perhaps I had better explain
myself at once. I am the author of
-Fashion.and Footlights!"
Mr.. Everdene, standing perforce be-
cause she would, pulled his mustache,
while the fair stranger tapped her No.
3 shoe on the carpet with .impatience,
and looked pitchforks and daggers
- Fashion and Footlights,'" he re-
Elected aloud. - Fashion and Foot
lights Hal"
Comprehension stole over his face,
and with it slight amusement. He
Eshed among a pile of volumes and
brought out three bound with an ele-
gance destined to win the hearts of
suburban circulating libraries.
E'Here it is. i reviewed it in the
Centurion, didn't I?''
''No," she said, you hanged and
aquartered iti'
81 am sorryl May 1 ask how you
found out that l was the culprit?"
''Oh, by accident. It's long story,
and unimportant, since you don't de-
ny the imputation. Now, Mr. Ever
dene, know it is very impertinent of
me, a stranger, to come to your pri
vate address and worry you. L am do
ing very unusual thing, am afraid,
and Mrs. Grundy would be Mortified.
But fools rush in you know, and
widows are privileged! You must have
a little patience with me, because"
for the first time her lips relaxed, and
she smiled smile that was sweetness
itself-''well, just because I'm wom-
an and you're gentleman! Acknow-
ledge the truth, now, on your honor.
Don't you think you were unnecessa-
rily harsh to my poor little literary
-effort?"
give my true opinion of things, and l
consider your book had many faults"
If she had been man he would have
said: 81 thought it was excessively
bad" with the brusqueness of convic-
ton, and probably declined to discuss
the matter. But to lady it was i'm
possible to be rude. He regarded her
absurdly unconventional presence with
N.Dla LII
%NOf course, l admit that there are
faults, but upon one or two points in
your criticism, l cannot agree with
you. L should very much like to dis
cuss them with you. May I?''
Certainly" His mouth was twitch-
ing under his heavy mustache. ''But
don't you think, pending the verdict,
that you had better sit down? You
will be fatigued: If you'll permit me
to wheel this armchair nearer the fire
for you-so!'
Having carefully arranged it so that
she should face the light, he seated
himself opposite to ner-the A. B. C. of
diplomacy, but she did not appear to
notice it. She was drawing arabesques
on the carpet with the point of her
ivory-handled umbrella.
Il should very much like to know"
she said. what you think of me for
coming here!'
Il think you are plucxy--yes, and
reclSlessly unconventional"
Candid, at any rate! And I like
that She looked up. Now for the
first indictment on the list, Mr.. Ever
.dene! You accuse me of improbable
dty. l deny it."
His manner bordered upon pre-occu-
patton. In truth he was thinking
what wonderful lashes she had, and
how becoming flush of excitement
.-os,ld be to clear, pale skin.
>sYou assert" she continued warm
1y, ''that it is ridiculous to suppose
that a man and woman of the world
could fall in love at first sight, as I
make my hero and heorine do. and
that such proceedings are limited to
boys and girls in their teens, and the
pages of penny fiction. should have