The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-09-07
SHE WAS RIGHT.

London and Il brilliant cOnversatlonallSt,
his tongue could he rs s,athng as his pen,
and it was said Of him with regard to the
dozen polished sentences he could do more
toward damning book than any two of his
compeers 4 hig. loosely made man, Mr..
Everdene, with shrrwd gray eyes and the
pessimism Of Il modern. Studying his face
as he loungcd by the window, his hands in
the pockets Of his smoking jacket one
could see that he had lively sense of
humor combined with lis other character
istics and understood the interest his per-
sonality aroused.
Presently a servant brought him visit
ing card on 4 salver. "The lady would be
obliged if YOU would grant her an inter-
view, sir
Lady Hilvard," muttered Everdene,
realizing the inscription 81 can't recall
the name Bother the woman! What does
she want? Howevcr-ask her to come up,
Blake"
When she entered, fair, elegant woman
of perhaps five and twenty, in an ire
proachahe parsian toilet, he was still
more convinced that he had not the privi
lege of her acquaintance.
"Mr Aubrey Eyer'l, lie? she quelied.
Mr.. Everdene howc''.
"Pray take Il seat, madam"
"No" she said 81 have come to quar-
rel with you, and don't sit down in the
hers of ny enemies
"Tu quarrel with mc!' His eyebrows
went up The thought came to him that
his visitor was not in her right mind.
eyes Perhaps had better explain my
self at once. am the author of Fashion
and Footlight. '"
"'Fashion and Footlights, >" he reflected
aloud. "Fashion and Footlights.' Hal"
Comprehension stole over his face, and
with 1t slight amusement. He fished
among pile OF volumes and brought out
three bound with an elegance destined to
win the hearts of suburban circulating
ibraries.
"Here it is. reviewed it in The Cen
turian, didn't II"
mo" she said, "you hanged and quar-
tered it,
II am sorry! May ask how you found
out that was the culprit?'
ooh, by accident. It's long story and
unimportant, since you don't deny the
imputation Now Mr.. Everdene, l know
it is very impertinent of me- a stranger, to
come to your private address and worry
you. am doing very unusual thing, l
am afraid, and Mrs. Grundy would be hor-
rified. But fools rush in, you know, and
widows are privileged! You must have
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 woman and you're
gentleman! Acknowledge the truth now
on your honor Don't you think you were
unnecessarily harsh to my poor little liter
airy effort ?"
'No," he said bluntly. 81 always give
my true opinion OF things. and | consider
your book had many f,ults."
II she had hrm man, he would have
said, 81 thought it was excessively bad,
with the lrusqueness OF conviction, and
pro:,lhlv declined to discuss the matter.
But to a lady it was impossible to be rude.
H. regarded l,er absurdly unconventional
presence with a tolerant kindliness.
''Of course admit that there are faults,
hut ,tron one OF two points in your criti-
ciS,n cannot agree with you. | should
veN much like to discuss them with you.
May p
Certainly His mouth was twitching
under his heavy mustache But don't
you think, pending the verdict, that you
haG better sit down? You will he fatigued.
If you'll prr"iit NE to wheel this arm
chair near tlir fire for you-so.'
Having carefully arranged it so that she
should face the light he seated himself
opp ,stc to hrr--the 4 Il c Of diplomacy,
but she did not appear to notice it. She
was drawing arahcsque on the carpet with
the point of her ivory handled umbrella.
81 should very much like to know" she
said, "what YOU think of me for coming
here?''
81 think you are plucky-yes and reck-
lessy unconventional.
Candid, at any rate. And | like that. :"
She looked up. ''Now for the first indict
ment on the list, Mr.. Everdene. You
accuse me of improbability. | deny it."
His manner bordered upon preoccupation.
In truth, he was thinking what wonderful
lashes she had and how becoming flush of
excitement could be to clear, pale skin.
"You assert" she continued warmly,
'that it is ridiculous to suppose that a man
and a woman could fall in love at first
sight, as | make my hero and heroine do,
and that such proceedings are limited to
boys and girls in their teens and the pages
of penny fiction. | should have thought
that Mr.. Aubrey Everdene would have
shown wider sympathies."
''Then you really believe, Lady Hilyard,
that adult, sensible people do conceive such
abrupt attachments %