The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-09-15
81 am afraid" he began, shat I

misled you somewhat when / request
ed to see you on a matter OF business.
The truth is that / am a journalist,
and, as the public is always interested
in the lives of it's favorites, ! hoped
brief interview for publication in the
Mayfair Mirror"
AS he spoke the word Journalist" he
saw her brows contract sharply. Now
she flashed an inimitable glance of in
dignation at him.
II wish you good morning, sir" she
said, CURLY.
Dick caught his breath. and his head
went up with jerk.
IF I have annoyed you, I beg your
pardon"
"'Ifr object to being prosecuted
in this way by the press. i won't have
it! The public pays for my profession
al services, but my private life is my
own and concerns nobody but myself,
and | refuse to have every detail OF 1T
hauled out to satisfy impertinent Curl
osity. My opinion on this subject is
well known, / believe; you showed
that you knew 1t when you gained my
presence by such an ambiguous
phrase"
sIn that case, of course there is moth
ing for me to do but relieve you of my
presence" said Dick.
They bowed stiffiy. He turned away
with queer look on his face. He was
wondering how long a postage stamp
and three ha'pence would keep man
from starvation.
She caught the look out of the cor
ner of her eye, and stayed him,
brusquely, as she had given him his
dismissal. A great artist is privileged
to be unconventional.
"You knew l hated being inter
viewed" she repeated. You knew 1t!
Why did you Gomez"
"It was COMPOUNDED cheek, of course,
but drowning man catches at straws,'
he said, bluntly. "ADd-I am hungry,
if you want to know!'
Forgive me! would not have been
so harsh If had had any idea-Hun
gry!' Her glorious voice would have
melted an iceberg,
| II
penniless Dick, gasping with pride
Don't, you believe it-absurd exag
geration-all rot! don't know why
said it."
81 do" she said. "You told me thu
truth on the spur of the moment, ant
7 now you're sorry. If you deny it
shan't believe you, SO you can saw
: your breath to cool the lunch your
going to have with me. l have beel
I hungry often-in the old days when
was only little 'Cynthy' in Lake Gen
eva, Wis.,-and know it's bad. MI
Carroll, do you intend to make me hol
l out my hand all day?"
4 He choked.
a "I'll take you hand, but I'm dashe
e if I'll take your lunch.'
4 "Yes, you SHALL" she said. ut
0 rude to contradict lady. Well hav
t it all alone here-you and l and Mrs
n Ross, my companion and I'll tel
!! you beautiful story about myself to
S the qualification of the good, inquis
u tive public In return you shall te
me what put it into your head to com
> to Brighton"
;, He ate her lunch and drank he
n champagne, and before the meal wa
e over she knew all about him and tn
bun episode.
l. "Plucky," she thought, and she az
o mired courage in man, witty, prout
y well-bred"'
;? She looked kindly at him, an
a smiled-with moisture in her eye
II hope you'll succeed with the Mi
y ror: I'm sure you will" she said, whe
u he took leave of her at last. "Yo
must come and see me at Palace MAJ
n sions and tell me what you have don
s But in case you don't get the post, (
there is any delay"
L Dick broke into a gentle perspir
l. ton. Was she going to offer to ler
s. him money?
- She read the terror in his eyes, ar
refrained. But that evening the pos
II man delivered at Dicks lodgings 6
anonymous envelope containing fl
pound note. He knew that she b;
sent it as well as II she had told hi
y so, and returned it to her prompt
y with little note of thanks
- She called him names, and made sc
Il eral vague and bitter illusions duriI
:. the following day to false pride al
's e. "a