Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-03-13
SHE WAS RIGHT.

I
Sackville street and yGwned. Only an
instant before he had written "Finis'
10 an article with n dash Of the pen
across the last sheet, and now the man
uscript lay ready for the post among
the debris Of printers proofs, new nov
els awaiting review, etc, with which
the writing table was strewn.
One of the best known l%itterateurs in
London and a brilliant conversational
list, his tongue could be as scathing as
his pen, and it was said Of him with re-
gard TO the latter weapon Of warfare
that in half a dozen polished sentences
he could do more toward damning a
book q n any two of his compcers. A
big, loosely made man, bIr. Everdene,
with shrewd, gray eyes and the pessi-
mism Of a modern. Studying his face as
he lounged by the window, his hands
in the pockets Of his smoking jacket,
one could see that he had a lively n
of humor combined with his other char
acteristics and understood the interest
his personality aroused.
Presently a servant brought him a
visiting card on E salver. ''The lady
would be obliged if you would grant
her AN interview, sir.
LADY Hilyard, " muttered Everdene,
reading tho inscription. 81 can't recall
the name. Bother the womnni What
does she want? However-ask her to
come up, Blake"
When she entered, a fair, elegant
woman of perhaps five and twenty, in IN
irreproachable Partisan toilet, he was
still more convinced that lac had not the
privilege Of her acquaintance.
"Mr. Aubrey Everdene?' she queried.
MI. Evordene bowed.
"Pray take q seat, madam"
mo" she said. 81 have como to
quarrel with you, aud 1 don't sit down
in the houses Of my enemies"
"To quarrel with mer' His eyebrows
went up. The thought came to him that
his visitor was not in her right mind
Eyes. Perhaps l had better explain
myself at once. 1 I'm the author Of
Fashion and Footlights.
Fashion and Footlights, ." he re-
hected aloud. "'Fashion and Foot
lights. Hai'
Comprehension stole over his face,
and with it q slight amusement. He
fshed among a pile Of volumes and
brought out three bound with an ele-
cameo destined to win the hearts of sub
urban circulating libraries.
Here it is. / reviewed it in The
Centurian, didn't II"
mo" she said, ''you hanged and
quartered itP'
II am sorryl May 1 ask how you
found out that 1 was the culprit?'.
"Oh, by accideutl It's IA long story
and unimportant, since you don't deny
the imputation. Now, Mr.. Eyerdene, ]
know it is very impertinent Of me, a
stranger, to como to your private adj
dress and worry You. l am doing a very
unusual thing, / am afraid, and Mrs.
Grundy would be Mortified. But fools
rush in you know, and widows are
privileged You must have a little pa
thence with me, because''-for the first
time her lips relaxed, and she smiled
smile that was sweetness itself-'wel
Just because I'm 3 woman and you're f,
gentleman Acknowledge the truth now
on your honor Don't you think yor
were unnecessarily harsh 10 my poor lit
tie literary effort?"
"No," he said bluntly. Il Away
give my true opinion of things, and
consider your book had many faults. ="
If she had beena man, he would havI
said, 81 thought It was excossivel,
bad, - with tho brusqueness of comvic
ton, and probably declined to discus
the matter. But to a lady it was impos
sible to be rude. He regarded her ab
surdly unconventional presence with
tolerant kindliness.
''Of course l admit that there ar
faults, but upon u or two points il
your criticism I cannot agree with you
/ should very much like to discuss ther
with you. May IY'
Certainly. His mouth was twitch
ing under his heavy mustache. "Bu
don't you think, pending the verdict
that you had better sit down. You Wi
be fatigued. If you'll permit me I
wheel this armchair nearer the fire fC
you-sol'
Having carefully arranged it so thf
she should face the light, he seated hin
self opposite to her-the A BCof dipl,
macy, but she did not appear 10 motto
it. She was drawing arabesques on III
carpet with the point Of her ivory han
died umbrella.
81 should very much like to know.
she said, "what you think Of re f
coming here?"
II think you are plucky-yes, an
recklessly unconventional.
Candid, at any ratel And l Ill
that" She looked up. "Now for q
first indictment ON the list, Mr.. Eve
dsne. Yon accuse me Of i~mprobabiht
deny it"
His manner bordered upon preoccup
tion. In truth, no was thinking wh
wonderful lashes she had and how L
coming a flush If excitement could
ga clear, palo skin.
"YOu assert, she continued war;
", ''tlmt il is ridiculous 10 suppose th
q man and a woman could fall in 10
at first sight, as l make my hero al
heroipo do, and that eueh prqeeedin
arc limited 20 boys and girls IN tins
teens and The pages Of penny fiction.
rho-i1 hayo fbouelt fiut MI. Aubr