New-York tribune., 1894-04-22
Miss Isabel Finley.
"The Boston Telegraph"

She dropped the card on the table. sat Dack in
her chair, and with both hands brushed away the
loose strands Of hair from her forehead. That
woman! She actually had the audacity TO call.
She had probably come TO interview her about
that pocketbook; perhaps to ask her If IT were
really tAle that she had lost IT, with the hope of
getting up another sensation by announcing that
1t was all advertising hoax At first she
thought Of sending word down that she did not
care TO see the journalist; but that would be in
suting and Miss Finley might revenge herself
by writing something spiteful about her in the
paper Then she thought Of saying that she
was i'll or not at home; but that would simply
put Miss Finley off: she would come back; they
were terribly persistent. these newspaper people.
Finally she made up her mind to go down and
face the ordeal.
1t was not till she had begun to arrange her
hair before the mirror that she thought OF Miss
Finleys connection with the performance Of "As
You Like it,; perhaps the call had something TO
DO with that. They might ask her 10 play
Phoebe; 1t was as good part she could ex-
pect TO be offered. But she would refuse; she
would have nothing T. do with anything In which
such person as Miss Finley was concerned.
Though she had not heard directly that the jour
nalist was the writer Of that Argus" article she
felt Mrs. Webb's suspicious were correct
She had known Of Miss Finley's doings before:
Dy the cottagers she was despised, ridiculed
nattered and feted. They concillated her by
onenngs OF dinners, as the ancients conciliated
their vicious gods.
Before going down Evelyn thought Of putting
on one OF her best gowns: she had a morbid fear
that Miss Finley would describe It in the paper;
Dut she quickly decided that the dotted blue and
white that she wore was as becoming az anything
else. Ned Osgood was standing in the lower hall
peerlng into the parlor where Miss Finley
sitting with easy grace and with a far-of poetic
expression in her eyes. rocking herself rhyth-
mically. Ned beamed upon her she descended
the stairs.
Going to be Interviewer" he asked
Il hope not" Evelyn replied, with forced
smile.
"Oh come now, believe you like IT,"
Il wish you could go through It for me-"
so do l. Why can't ~
IF you'll come In, I'll introduce you You can
help out"
We'll. l guess not to-day" said Ned. laughing
and drawing back. I'm afraid. She looks dan
gerous I'm always afraid Of girls who wear red
shoes"
rs she grip"
We'll. she's an old girl but she's awfully girly-
girly. You ought to have seen her snirls at me.
1t made me feel ashamed"
You're too bashful. Ned"
"Oh I'm so bashfu" Ned mocked Just see
her rocking in that chair, will you? She's quite
at home"
Ssh She'll hear YOU"
She'll put 1t into her article"
NO she'll take revenge by scoring me-"
Aren't YOU going in?" asked Ned. seeing
Evelyn hesitate.
I'm afraid. too. I wish Mrs Cohn were here"
''she was: but when she saw Miss Finley. she
ran away. She said she knew you'd drag her in"
That very unkind Of her"
Miss Finley continued TO rock desperately. 4
beatihc smile illuminated her face She looked
like an inspired but faded poetess. Evelyn and
Ned stood in the hall few moments longer,
scrutiniZing her stealthS
II suppose l must go in" said Evelyn al last
We'll good luck 10 YOU" Ned cried. cheerfully.
'I'll be out on the porch, and If she attempts
personal violence on you. just scream and I'll
rush in"
"She always strikes in the dark" whispered
Evelyn. Then she gl.ded into the room and stood
waiting for Miss Finley TO address her This
lady shook off her reverie a duck shakes off
water from It's back. jumped from the rocker.
and greeted Evelyn effusvely.
I'm glad 10 meet you al last" she cried.
with a saccharine smile Il feel as II I'd known
you for years
You are very kind" replied Evelyn. unpre-
pared for this ecstasy, and unable to rise 10 1t
at once.
"Yes ever since ! saw you in the Don Caesar
de Bazan You were just as sweet in that az
you could be- That's a long time ago You've
been on the stage great many years haven't
you?"
Seven" said Evelyn. tersey
Dear me- / never should suspect II from your
looks. Why you look ever sn much younger than
do"