Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-05-14

walked the whole way from The Chatter
er's office to this houseS'
II had no choice. This represents my
whole fortune until such time as am paid
for the Interview"
She pulled three halfpence out of her
pocket and showed 1t to him lying on the
worn palm of her little gray glove
Quite involuntarily he lifted so his lips
the hand he was holding Then she drew
1t away and tried to return to her former
manner
Just tell me where you were born"
che said, land how the central idea of your
book first occurred to you, and l will 60"
you will do nothing of the kind, J." said
Jeremy firmly Il am just going to have
my tea-'high tea, because am homely
sort of fellow ] will not tell you another
word unless you stay and share it with
me"
but have to write up the interview
now at once. 1t must be put into type
tonight.
Every well. You can do it here while
our outlets are being cooked. You will
find plenty of paper, pens and ink on my
writing table, such as 1t is Here are
few notes for you" He filed half sheet
of paper quickly in a small, clear hand
Nov | shall leave you for half an hour
to your work, if you will solemnly prom
Use me not to run off while l am away"
Il don't want to run off in the very
least" she said, and she looked away
from him to hide the tears in her eyes
But he saw them all the same
When he came back he was accom-
panied by q waiter laden with material for
a feast brought from the nearest restau-
rant, and he had letters in his hand, be-
cause he had encountered the evening
postman on the doorstep.
She wanted to help him to spread the
tablecloth and arrange the food, but he
said it would make him i'll if he did not
wait on himself, because he was Sd used to
doing it. So she read her manuscript
aloud to him instead, and he criticised it
as he stumbled about with plates, knives
and forks.
They took their meal together in merry,
picnic fashion, like children who had
known each other all their lives, and
when hunger was satisfied they exchanged
some further condolences They were both
alone in the world, both dependent on
their pens, although in vastly different
lines, and they were both young, not
withstanding the fact that Jeremy's hair
had a sprinkling of gray in it. Her name
been his mothers name She was very
glad, although she scarcely knew why.
II have several literary irons in the
fire, " he said presently, "and those letters
look like business. May l open themf
Thanks. Then, if the news is good, you
will be the first to congratulate me, and
If it is bad, it will be some consolation to
hear you say, Poor dev'-I beg your par
don, l mean poor fellow l have not
spoken to lady for three years
He opened the first letter
GOOD" he said. THE Tip-Top Maya
zine accepts Mr. Grigson's serial, the first
installment of which will appear next
month. That manuscript has been lying
at the office of Tip-Top for six months,
and l have written about it three times
without being able to elicit a reply"
Nothing succeeds like success" said
Margaret. "Open the next"
He did so.
"Still better' he exclaimed. Il applied
for post just vacant on the staff of The
Pulverizer. 1t means goo year for
weekly column of criticism. The last man
was great swell, and he gave it up be-
cause one of his own books was smashed
to atoms by mistake in another part of the
paper. Well, have got the post"
Splendid" she said. "Now the last
one. "
BEST Of all!' he cried as he glanced
through 1t. Because it shows human
nature in an agreeable light My publish
ers inclose check for goo in considera-
ton of the phenomenal success of The
Book, and they will be happy to allow me
to make my own terms for the next one.
Margaret, am waiting to be congratulate
ed. "
He had called her by her Christian name
quite unconsciously.
She sprang to her feet, blushing furious
ly, and began hunting for her gloves.
Il can't say half mean about it," she
stamnered. won't you take for granted
how glad l ann l must go now The
evenings are long, but they don t last for
ever l want TO thank you, and l don't
know how.
when may l come to see you?' he
asked, retaining her hand again.
"Oh, neverl live in such a wretched
place, and you are among the great ones
of the world now, you know. "
"Of course" he said coolly, lit doesn't
matter in the least whether you give me
your address or not, because am going TO
escort you home, and then l shall find it
out for myself. Are you ashamed TO be
seen with met We could stop at a tailor's
on the way, but there would be certain
draw backs to that compromise.
MY clothes are infinitely worse than
yours, " she said humbly.
"Quite different case" he assured her.
II believe you would look well dressed in
'gunnysack.
Then they set out together. He did not
offer to take a cab An hour earlier he
would have done so, but he was, compare
lively speaking, rich man now, and he
dared not run the risk of seeming to pat
ronize her poverty. She understood, and
liked him all the better for it,
This was a day to be remembered in
both their lives.
Three months later there was a much
talked of little wedding breakfast, at which
most of the guests were literary celebrities,
but another interviewer wrote 1t up" for
The Weekly Chatterer
nod iad NTar A