Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-26

''He won't give no name, sir, but he
says his business is most pressin and
pertik lar. told him you was engaged,
but he would take no denial
"Confound the fellow" said Mr..
Outlet, throwing down his pen. "I'm
busy. I can't possibly see him. Where
have you left him, Jane?"
"In the hall, sir. -
''I say, you ought not to have done
that. Ten to one he's some thieving fell
low after the hats and umbrellas. But
you girls from the country
Mr.. Outlet did not complete his SEN
tence, for at that minute tall, dark
man walked calmly into the room, and
after bowling to the astonished owner of
the house, with the blandest and most
self possessed Of smiles, said suavely:
81 wish to see you in private, sir. "
Jane, the housemaid, seeing threaten
ings of storm upon her masters face
and not caring to await its outburst,
thought it discreet to take the visitors
hint. So she slipped hurriedly out Of
the room. Mr.. Outlet and the intruder
stood facing each other.
"Pray, sir, to what am I indebted for
the honor of this call?" demanded Mr..
Outlet, glaring at the stranger through
his eyeglass.
'sPermit me to EXPLAIN" asked the
other, with smile and bow.
''I will trouble you, sir, to be as brief
as possible" said Mr.. Outlet impa-
tiently. "My time is valuable, and I
cannot afford to waste it. Now, then,
what is it you want?''
''I see it stated in The Referee, Mr..
Outlet, that you are writing tragedy
for production at the Erectheum. May
ask you, sir, if that statement is cor
rect?'
''You may ask" replied Mr.. Outlet
freezingly, "but whether I give you an
answer or not is another matter. I must
first request that you have the goodness
to explain in what way my literary en-
gagements concern you, sir. -
"They-or rather this particular one
concern me very nearly, as l shall
soon show you. I wonder now, sir,
whether this tragedy of yours is yet
completed:"
upon my word, retorted Mr.. Gull
let, drawing himself up, 81 must really
decline to crafty your curiosity. -
"Well, it is of no great moment, "
said the other. "Let me put it to you
in this way: You are writing, OR have
written-it does not matter which-a
tragedy for production at the Erec-
theum. 1t may be a strong tragedy; it
may be a weak one But, whatever its
quality, I can put into your hands an
original work of my own, compared
with which yours, sir, will read as
weak as pap!'
"You are too fattering, sir, upon my
word,'' gasped Mr.. Outlet, astounded.
as well he might be, by the fellow s
brazen assurance.
'The play of which speak, contin-
ued the stranger, disregarding Mr..
Outlets sarcasm, and producing roll
of manuscript from his pocket, sis this.
wrote it myself from first to last And
venture to assert that it is one of the
most powerful tragedies that have ever
been written in the English tongue
The stranger spoke so earnestly and
with such genuine conviction of the
truth of his own words that Mr.. Quill
let, who was kind hearted man at bot
tom, experienced sort of revulsion in
his feeling. His sense Of anger at the fell
lows presumption gave way to sense
of pity, mingled with contempt. 1t was
evident that the man was one of that,
alas, too numerous band of amateurs
| who are bitten with the tragic muse and
| cheat themselves into the belief that
| their miserable productions are some
thing phehomenaL How many Of this
| class there are-aye, and how impossi-
| BILE it is to disillusionize them only
| managers and dramatic authors really
| know.
Mr. Outlet therefore checked the
| whitening retort that rose to his lips.
Now that he realized the class of mortal
| he had to deal with, and saw that he
| was an object for pity rather than for
| anger, he adopted a more atfable tone.
No doubt little judicious humoring
would be the quickest way to get rid Of
| him.
"Ah, well," he said, 'you wish me
to read your play, I gather? 1 am very
busy and cannot attend to it now, but il
you will leave your manuscript here, to-
| gether with your name and address,
shall be pleased to glance through 1t at
my leisure and return it to you with my
opinion upon it. -
| The stranger smiled knowingly and
shook his head.
"No, nol' he answered 'You must
excuse me, Mr.. Outlet, but really
know the time of day, sir. Would you
lock at it if left it here? Not you. II
| has been to six managers, and has beer
| returned bv all six as unsuitable. But
not one Of them had read it. That
know very we'll, for l gummed the
sheets together here and there as a test,
and when the manuscript came back the
gum was still undisturbed. "
"WeIl, look here" calculated Mr..
Outlet, growing angry again, what
the devil do you want, sir? You don
expect me to read your confounded play
here and now, do you?''
"No, donot," was the urbane reply
sThen what in the name of HEAVIER
do you expect?'
"I expect you to listen while I reat
the play aloud to you" the stranger re
turned, folding his arms and regarding
Mr.. Outlet with the calmest of stares.
The latter's patiel..a was utterly bro
ken down by the cool impertinence o
the demand.
ssWe have had enough of this, sir,
said Mr.. Outlet witheringly. Il mus