Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-09-06
\ CHANGED CRITIC.


 upon Sackville street and yawned. Only m instant before he had written ''finis" to magazine article with a dash of the pen across the last sheet, and now the MSS. lay ready for the post among the debris of printers proofs, new novels awaiting review, etc, with which the writing table was strewed-
 One of the best known litterateurs in London and q brilliant conversation ist, his tongue could be as scathing as his pen, and it was said of him, with regard to the latter weapon of warfare, that i'll half a dozen polished sentences he could do more toward damning a book than any two of his compeers. A big, loosely made man was MT. Everdene, with shrewd gray eyes and the pessim- ism of a modern. Studying his face as he lounged by the window, his hands in tho pockets of his smoking jacket, one could sec that he had a lively sense of hunor combined with his other charao- teristics and understood the interest his personality aroused.
 Presently a servant brought him q visiting card on q salver.
 The lady would be obliged if you would grant her an interview. sir.
 Lady Hilyard, muttered Everdene, reading the inscription. 'I can't recall the name Bother the womanl What does she want? However, ask her to come up. Blake. ''
 When she entered, q fair, elegant woman of perhaps p, ill an irreproach- able Parisian toilet, he was still moro convinced that he had not the privilege of her acquaintance
 MT. Aubrey Everdene:" she queried.
 Mir Evcrdenc bowed
 Pray take seat, madame D
 No" she said. II have come to quarrel with you, and don't sit down in the houses of my enemies!'
 ''To quarrel with me!' His eyebrows went up. The thought came to him that his visitor was not ill her right mind.
 "Ycs, Perhaps I had better explain myself at once, am the author of Fashion and Footlights. '
 NIT. Everdene, standing perforco be- cause she would, pulled his mustache, while the fair stranger tapped her No. , shoe on the carpet with impatience and looked pitchforks and daggera
 ''Fashion and Footlights, ," ho re- f1ccted aloud ''Fashion and Foot lights Hal"
 Comprehension stole over his face and with it a slight amusement. He fished among pile of volumes and brought out three bound with an elegance des- tined to win the hearts of suburban cir culating libraries.
 Here it is. Reviewed it ill The Cen turion. didn't F.
 No she said. ''you hanged and quartcred it!''
 T am sorry. May I ask how you found out that was the culprit:"
 "Oh, by accident. It's long story and unimportant, since you don't deny the imputation. Now, MT. Everdene, I know it is very impertinent of me, a stranger. to come to your private ad- dress and worry you. I am doing a very unusual thing, I am afraid, and Mrs. Grundy would be mortified But fools rush in, you know. and widows are privileged. You must have a little pa- tlcncc with me bccause"-for the first time her lips relaxed, and she smiled a smile that was sweetness itself-'well, just because I'm woman and you're a gentleman Acknowledge the truth, now, on your honor. Don't you think you were unnecessarily harsh to my poor little literary effort?''
 No he said bluntly; ''I always give my true opinion of things, and I consider your book had many faults"
 Ii she had been q man, he would have said. ''I thought 1t was - bad, with the bru>Qucness of conviction and prob ably declined to discuss the matter, but to lady it was impossible to be rude. He regarded her absurdly unconvention- al presence with tolerant kindness.
 ''Of course, I admit that there are faults, but upon one or two points ill your criticism I cannot agree with you l should very much like to discuss them with YOU May F.
 ''Ccrtainlv 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 he fatigu,d. If you'll permit me tc wheel this armchair nearer the fire fol you-so!'
 Having carefully arranged it so that she should face the light, he seated him, self opposite hcr-the A. B- C. of di- plomacy, but she did not appear to no. tice it. She was drawing arabesques on the carpet with the point of her ivory handled umbrella
 ''I should very much like to know, '' she said, what you think of my com. ing hcre:''
 II think you are plucky-yes. and recklessly unconventional
 Candid. at any ratel And I like that She looked up "Now for the first indictment on the list. MT. Ever. dene. You accuse me of improbability deny it D
 His manner bordered on preoccupa. ton Tn truth, he was thinking what wonderful flashes she had, and how be- coming flush of excitement could be to a clear, pale skin
 You assert, " she continued warmly, that it is ridiculous to suppose that a man and woman of the world could fall in love at first sight. as make my hero and heroine do, and that such proceed. ings arc limited to boys and girls il their teens and tho pages of penny flo ton. I should have thought that Mir. Aubrey Everdene would have showr wider sympathies.
 Then you really believe. Lady Hil yard, that adult, sensible people con ceive such abrupt attachments?'
 ''I am convinced that it happens fire quently."
 "Oh, come, not frequentlyr'
 Well, sometimes, she amended |" could give you a dozen instances
 He lacked the heart to argue witt her. It would have been like breaking butterfly on wheel And. after all there might be more sentiment in f1l de siecle humanity than he thought