Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-09-21
A CHANGED CRITIC.

Mr.. Aubrey Everdene looked oui
upon SaclEville street and yawned. ONLY
an instant before he had written .finis'
to magazine article with 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 tho
writing table was strewed.
One Of the best known litterateurs in
London and brilliant conversation
ist, his tongue could be as scathing as
his pen, and it was said of Kim, with
regard to the latter weapon II warfare,
chat i'll Ealf dozen polishca sentences
he could do more toward dlmning &
book than any two Of his compeers A
big, loosely made man was Mr. Everdene,
with shrewd gray eyes and the pcsSim.
ism Of modern. Studying his face as
he louDged by the window, his hands in
the pockets of his smoking jacket, one
could see that he had lively sense OF
humor combined with his otlier charac.
teristics and understood 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, muttercd Everdene,
reading the inscription. "Ican't recall
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 %. in an irreproach-
able Partisan toilet, he was still more
convincAl that he had not tho privilege
of her acquaintance.
"Mr. Aubrey Everdene?" she queried.
Mr. Everdene bowed.
''Pray take a seat, madame. -
NO." she said. II have come to
quarrel with you, and don't sit down
in the houses Of my enemies'
ITO quarrel with mep His eyebrows
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-
hected aloud "'Fashion and Foot
lights. HaP'
Comprehension stole over his face and
with it 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
libraries.
"Here it is. Reviewed it in The Gen.
turion, didn't Ip'
''No," she said, ''you hanged and
luartered it"
81 am sorry. May / ask hoY yon
found out that was the culprit?''
"Oh, by accident It's long story
and unimportant, since you don't deny
the imputation. Now, Mr.. Everdene,
know it Is very impertinent Of me,
stranger. to come TO your private ad-
dress and worry you. ! am doing very
unusual thing. / am afraid, and Mrs
Grundy would be Mortified. But fools
rush in, you know, and widows hre
You must have little pa
tience with me because"-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 tho truth,
now, on your honor Don't you think
you were unnecessarily harsh to my
poor little literary etfort?"
mo" be said bluntly; ~ always
dye my true opinion Of things, and ]
your book had many faults. "
II she had been man, no would have
Iaid, ~ thought IL was - bad, with
he brnsqueness Of conviction and prob
ably declined 20 discuss the matter, but
o q lady IL was impossible 20 DO rndo-
he regarded her absurdly uDoOnyention
Al presasoe with o tolerant kindness
"Of course. ! admit that there are
'aults, but upon one on two points IN
gOuF criticism ! cannot agree with you,
should very much like 20 discuss thein
with you May ~
"certainly," His mouth was twitch'
ng under bis heavy mustaeh0 "i3pt
i0n't you think, pending the verdict
hat you had better sit DOWN. You viii
% fatigued n y0n'ii permit me "
Wheel this armohair nearer tho hre for
1oa--sOr'
Having carefully arranged " 70 that
he should faoe tbs light, be- seated bin
elf opposite hawthe a. u q of a.
,lomaey, bpf shs did not appear ~ no
zoe a. bhs was drawing aTabesques o'l
he carpet with che pOlpt " her lYoV
lapdlee pmhgella
% shosld very much like ~ kn0Vi
he said, what you think "A ny com
~ hefef'
~ fIllnL -. 49, .fualfgu..a and