Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-23
A VICTIM OF FAME.

pOuG,
IT am overwhelmed with regret" I OBJ
served stit1ly.
"Now, that tiger skim" she suggested
insinuatingly. Pm sure tale hangs to
that
"Of course tail hangs to it," replied
irritably. "Most tigers have tails"
"Those oriental verses2 I suppose one
of your ancestors brought them home
from''--
"Bought 'em of a Jew in Whitechapel. "
ooh, what love of a cati He's your
great companion and friend, isn't he? I'm
sure he is
'It's the landlady's, and I kick the beast
out whenever I see it,"
"Ah, perhaps you suffer from nervesH
Most poets do, of course. You must have
perfect rest and quiet to-
"I'm as strong as horse, thank you"
"And you live quite at home in these
lovely rooms?"
"When ] can command solitude mad
am, enjoy it." Controlling myself with
an effort, said in firm tone: Il dis
tinctly forbid you to put in word about
me-"
"Oh there'I be nothing you can posi-
bly, object to, Mr.. Pottinger. There won't
indeed Do any of your family write poetry
besides you?"
"Do any of your family besides you do
Interviewing" retorted. IF SO, Ishould
think you're an orphan"
She laughed gleefully and wrote hard
for minute or two.
There, I've got thatl' she observed
cheerfully. Now, is there anything else
that you'd like to tell the public through
me?"
1 opened the door and stood with my
hand on the knob.
"About your books, for instanco2 How
much you get for
mo, thank you, said T. with emphasis.
cor your favorite pursuits?"
Good morning" said l, opening tho
door wider.
"Oh, good morning, Mr.. Pottinger!
Oh, who's that over tho mantelpiece2
What sweet facet I'm sure it must be
oh, secret, is itH Then L mustn' t ask
must II How charmingly interesting
thought must just refer to it."
IF you do''--
"Well, good morning. Thank you ever
so much. I'll be sure to send you pa
per-"
IhO dDONO 10 a lull anu bLuO lCOOINl VI
what passed. The following is an extract
from what was published:
"Mr. Pottinger, when he is chez lui,
dwells in the daintiest of appartements.
At a glance you can tell that you arc in
tho sanctum Of skilled collector of OBJ
jets dart, and your hosts deep blue eyes
light up with radiant CLEAN as he low
ingly fondles his priceless oriental pottery.
The wall is decked with the skin of mag
nificent tiger. The Pottingers have always
been mighty hunters, and Mr.. Pottinger
himself can handle rifle as deftly as he
can turn a sonnet. On the cushions of q
luxurious sofa there reposes a splendid
Persian cat, evidently the companion,
friend and pampered pet of its gifted mas
ter. Over the mantelpiece hangs the por-
trait of beautiful girl, and it is easy to
see that this exquisite gem is not the least
of Mr. Pottinger's treasures. Space for
bids us to catalogue the thousand and one
delightful objects which adorn this choice
retreat. The tout ensemble is fragrant Of
lettered ease and wide culture. Nor is the
genius loci one whit out of harmony with
the surroundings which his matchless
taste and untiring diligence in the search
for curios have gathered together from tho
four corners of the earth. Mr.. POttingcr'S
slight figure tells indeed of a delicate ply
sique and Of the sensitive, ever nervous
temperament always associated with SUI
preme poetic gifts But the brain of the
man imparts boundless energy to its frail
tenement. The soul looks out alert, pas
sionate, indomitahle, through the large
eyes, now so strangely keen, now so in
effably sympathetic. Sayings full of pen
etration, hints of OVERLOOKING sympathy
with all the sorrows and troubles which
afflict the world, mingle and alternate with
the most brilliant flashes of wit or the "a
pier thrusts of the most refined and cour-
teous badinage. Mr.. Pottingers indeed
is personality which must be encounter
ed to be appreciated, for, although he may
be studied to some degree in his own price
less poems, yet the man himself seems
something above and beyond even the
finest of his work-a presence, an infu
ence-in word, soul, such as it is re-
freshing and inspiring to meet amid the
grays and drabs of this prosaic age. Never
shall we forget the precious hours which
Mr.. Pottinger so kindly spared to us, and
we trust that we have not altogether fail
ed to communicate to our readers some
thing of what we were privileged to enjoy
when Mr.. Pottinger made us welcome to
his home"
This appeared one morning. In the aft
ernoon strolled, according to my custom,
down to the club A circle of men sat
round the fire. No sooner had I entered,
which tried to do in an transformations
manner, than was greeted in this way:
Excuse my courteous badinage Pot
finger, but how's the frail tenement"
blue eyes, off color a bit, eh, old mani"
Here, come and be ineffably sympa-
thetic. I've come an awful bowler over the
jubilee"
II say, Pot, old man, you must have
made yourself dashed pleasant to the girl.
What did you say now?"
"Out with it, Pot. None of your internal
rapier thrusts, you know"
Take care, Tom. He's passionate and
indomitable.
''Who's the party over the mantelpiecef
Oh, you old thiefl"
Waiter, bring a cat for Mr.. Pottinger.
He wants companion and friend"
And then from all of them low chorus,
a subdued chant:
"A presence an influence-in word, a
soulI''
suppose nothing can be done.-Black