The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-09-14
A PR0SELYTE.
A Wen-Taught Lesson He Never
Expected to Learn

Expected to Learn
Mr.. Aubrey Everdene looked out
upon Sackville street and yawned.
Only an instant before he had written
finis'' 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. lew novels
awaiting review, etc. with which the
writing table was strewn.
One of the best-llnown literateurs in
London, and a brill ant conversation
alist his tongue could be as scathinc
as his pen, and it was said of him. with
regard to the latter weapon of war
fare, that in half dozen polished SEN
tences 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 modern. Studying
his face as he loungcd by the window,
his hands in the pockets of his smoIl-
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 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 seat. madam"
NO" she said Il have come to
quarrel with you. and don't sit down
in the houses of my cncmieS,''
To quarrel with me- His eve
brows went up. The thought came To
him that his visitor was not in her
right mlnd.
''Yes- Perhaps had better explain
myself at once. / am the author of
Fashion and Footlightsr"
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-
flected aloud. Fashion and Foot
lights Hal''
Comprehension stole over his face.
and with it slight amusement He
fished 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. l reviewed it in the
Centurion. didn't I?''
No" she said, you hanged and
quartered it,"
Il am sorry! May / ask how you
found ont that was the culprit?''
''Oh, by accident. rs a long story,
and unimportant, since You don't de-
ny the imputation. Now. Mr.. Ever
dene. | know It's very impertinent of
me, a stranger, to come to your Dri-
vatc address and worry, you. I am do
ing a very unusual thing, L am afraid.
and Mrs. Grundy would be horrified
But fools rush in You know. and
widows are privileged You must have
n little patience with me because
for the first time her lips relaxed. and
she smiled a smile that was sweetness
itself-''well, just because I'm "a yvom-
an and you're gentleman, Acknow-
ledge the truth, now. on your honor.
Don't you think You were unnccessa-
rily harsh to my poor little literary
effort?"
NO" he said. bluntly. II always
give my true opinion of things. and
consider your book had many faults
If she had been man Ec woulI have
said: Il thought ii was excessively
bad" with the brusqueness of convic-
III,
the matter. But to a Ia " II was i'm
possible to be rude. He regarded her
absurdly unconventional presence with
a tolerant kindliness-
''Of course, / admit that there are
faults. but upon one or two points in
your criticism, cannot agree with
YOU j should very much like TO dis
cuss them with you May -
Certainly" His mouth was twitch-
ing under his heavy mustache- But
don't you think, pending the verdict.
that you had better sit down2 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, lac seated
himself opposite to ner-thc \. T. {. of
diplomacy, but she did not appear To
notice it She was drawing arabesqucs
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 plucky-yes, and
recklessly unconventional"
Candid, at any rate, And / like
that She looked up Now for the
first Indictment on the list. Mir. Ever
dene! You accuse me of improbable
ity. i deny IL"
His manner bordered upon pre-occu-
patton. In truth he was thinking
what wonderful lashes she had, and
how becoming flush of excitement
could be to a clear, pale skin
You assert" she continued warm
ly, ''that it is ridiculous to suppose
that a man and woman of the world