Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-08-25
A PROSELYTE.
A Well-Taught Lesson He Never
Expected to Learn.


A Well Taught Lesson He Neve,
Expected to Learn.
Mr.. Aubrey Everdene looked ou'
upon Snckvillc street and yawned
Only an instant before he had writer
''fnis" to an article with a dash of the
pen across the last sheet. and now the
Ms. lay ready for the post among the
debris Of printers proofs, Kew novels
awaiting review, etc, with which the
writing table was strewn.
One of the best-known literateurs in
London, and a brill ant conversation
alist. his tongue could be as scathing
as his pen, and 1t was said of him, with
regard to the latter weapon of war,
fare, that in half a dozen polished SEN
fences he could do more towards damn,
ing a book than any two of his COM
peers, A big, loosely-made man, Mr..
Everdene, with shrewd gray eyes and
the pessimism Of n 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 a servant brought him a
visiting card on a salver.
The lady would be obliged If you
would grant her an interview, sir"
Lady Hilyard," muttered Everdene,
reading the inscription. Il 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 irreproachable Parision toilet, he
was still more convinced that he had
not the privilege of her acquaintance.
"Mr, Aubrey Everdene?" she que
ried.
Mr.. Everdene bowed.
Pray take a seat, madam"
NO" she said. II have come to
quarrel with you, and | don't sit down
in the houses of my enemiesl'
ITO quarrel with me- His eye
brows went up. The thought came to
him that his visitor was not in her
right mind.
Eyes. Perhaps had better explain
myself at once. 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.
$ shoe on the carpet with %impatience,
and looked pitchforks and daggers,
Fashion and Footlights,'" he re.
fected aloud. Fashion and Foot.
lights Hal
Comprehension stole over his face,
and with it a slight amusement, lie
tished among a pile of volumes and
brought out three bound with an ele-
gance destined TO win the hearts of
suburban circulating libraries.
Here it is. ! reviewed 1t in the
Centurion, didn't ~"
NO. she said, you hanged and
quartered it'
~ am sorry! May ! ask how you
found out that | was the culpritw
'Oh, by accident. It's a long story,
and unimportant, since you don't de-
ny the i%mputation. Now, Mr., Ever
dene, | know it is very impertinent Of
Inc, a stranger, to come to your pri
vate address and worry you. am do
ing a 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, ant
she smiled a smile that was sweetness,
itself-"well, just because I'm a WON
an and you're a gentleman! Acknow
ledge the truth, now, on your honor
Don't you think you were nnecessa
rily harsh to my poor little literary
effort?'
NO" he said, bluntly. ~ Away
give my true opinion of things, and
consider your book had many faults.
If she had been a man he would hav,
said: 81 thought it was excessivel,
bad with the brusqueness of convic
ton, and probably declined to discus
the matter. But to a lady it was i'm
possible to be rude. He regarded he
absurdly unconventional presence will
a tolerant kindness.
"Of course, l admit that there ar,
faults, but upon one or two points il
your criticism, ] cannot agree witt
you. l should very much like TO dis
cuss them with you. May IL"
Certainly" His mouth was twitch
ing under his heavy mustache. "Bu
don't you think, pending the verdict
that you had better sit down? Yor
will be fatigued. II you'll permit m
to wheel this armchair nearer the fir
for you-so!"
Having carefully arranged 1t so tina
she should face the light, he seate,
himself opposite to ner-the A. B. C. O
diplomacy, but she did not appear t
notice it. She was drawing arabesque
on the carpet with the point of he
ivory-handled umbrella.
81 should very much like to know,
she said, what you think of me 70
coming here"
II think you are plucky-yes, an
recklessly unconventional"
Candid, at any rate! And l lik
that" She looked up. Now for tn
first indictment on the list, Mr.. Eve
dene! You accuse me Of improbabi
ity. deny It,"
His manner bordered upon pre-occ,
patton. In truth he was thinkin
what wonderful lashes she had, an
how becoming q flush of excitemer
could be to aclear, pale skin.
"'You assert" she continued warn
ly, that it is ridiculous to suppos
that a man and woman Of the worl
could fall In love at first sight, as
make my hero and heorine do, an
that such proceedings are limited I
boys and girls in their teens, and tn
pages Of penny fiction. Ishould hav
thought that Mr.. Aubrey Everden
would have shown wider sympathies.
Then you really believe, Lady Hi
yard, that adult, sensible people d
conceive such abrupt attachments?"