The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-29

mine.
Poor Tom Cnxton was not happy
man either when he heard that he was
10 read the book and pronounce the au-
thoritative verdict which must decide
whether it should be given to the world
or not. And when, in the fullness Of
time, the manuscript arrived at his
lodgings. he flung 1t impatiently on the
table. 1t made bulky roll of fair
white paper, covered with Adde'S large
clear handwriting, and neatly tied with
green ribbon.
"What's that?" asked Prof. Martin,
who had looked in TO smoke pipe.
"Banes' book" answered Tom. curt
ly. "Iye got to read it and give an
opinion on it,"
1T is quite sure" observed the pro-
fessor, in tone of dispassionate cer-
tainty, "to be an uncommonly bad
book. What's it about?"
"He says" growled Tom, "that it's a
reasoned protest against the unrest of
modern life"
"Thc man might as we'll protest
against the law of gravitation," de-
clared the professor. If / were you l
wouldn't read it,"
81 must. He relies on my opinion"
"You mean he'll follow it?"
ayes; if / tell him TO, he'll suppress
It,"
"How very unusual! He must be
modest at bottom"
poor old Booby, I'm afraid he's
rather nervous about it,"
II was very nervous" said the profess
sor, "when l published my book on
THE Phantasm of Individuality
"Pve never read it," said Tom.
"You have read il. You're only try
ing to annoy me, because you're an
noyed with Baines."
"Well, ther, have read it. / say,
professor, there's going to be baby at
the Baines!"
IF he never did anything worse than
that!" murmured the professor.
"And BOBBY says that favorable ver-
dict from me will quiet dear Adde'S
mind and-and conduce, you know"
Good heavens! And if it's unfavora.
ble?"
Caxton shufiied his feet uncomfort-
ably.
snake IL favorable, anyhow" sug.
gested the professor, in INSCRIPTIONS
benevolence.
II couldn't. The old chap trusts me-"
"Then what do you propose to do, Mr..
Caxton?"
"If it's unfavorable, think we must
wait till dear Adde'S state of mind is
not such vital matter"
The professor made his exit with q
shrug. Caxton sat down to the bulky
roll of manuscript.
"At least it's legible," said he with q
sigh of relief; and he lit his pipe. 1t
was very legible, for much love had
gone TO the copying of it, and love
breeds care. Alas, that it cannot give
brains.
Yes, it was legible. That said, all was
said. No other commentator was in
honesty possible. The book contained
poor Booby's views on life. and art in
lation to Heaven knows what besides.
Al it's rare best, it was tolerably seusi-
BILE commonplace; at it's worst, it was
bedizened with silly conceits and given
over TO the unutterable WEAKNESS Of
missfire paradox. As Ia whole, it was RAM
bling, forceless, devoid of vitality. On
that day and the next Caxton read it
honestly through and through, hoping
that there might be found one brand
IA few pages, enough, maybe, for an
article in n minor monthly-which hs
could conscientiously snatch from the
burning. There was nothing. Ee COM
municated the result to the professor.
who had the curiosity to call and ask
how things were going on.
"Of course there isn't" said the pro-
fessor, placidly.
$50 must massacre the innocenti"
"Youll tell him not to publish?"
"Oh, he mustn't at any price, even II
he could"
"And Mrs. Baines?" asked the pro-
fessor.
"He must tell her himself. That's not
my affair"
At this moment servant entered and
handed Caxton telegram. 1t was from
Baines, and said "Addie very i'll. Can
you come and bring book?"
Caxton threw it across to the profess
sor and put on his hat.
"The event going wrong, suppose"
guessed the professor.
IL suppose SO. Now, why can't =
good chap like old Booby be allowed .
quiet life?"
"I haven't the answer to that about
me" said the professor.
The house of Vanessa Terrace, where
Mr.. and Mrs. Balm q lived, are not large.