The times., 1897-06-06
By MRS. BURTON HARRISON.


Tempted to leave his now oppressive OF
fering for beauty shrine in crichton's fire.
place, he took up again his box of flowers
and went ont into the night How far he
wandered in the chill, deserted streets in
the effort IT, make time pass ere ne thought
itproper TO appear before his goddess, Coin
did not realiZe. When ne could bear no lon K
er not seeing her, he had rung Mr.. Blair S
doorbell; hw whoa he was asked into the
supper Room, where they were all assem-
bled, the spurAed and imprisoned lilies were
tucked away ON the lower shelf of the hat
rack, behind the goloshes of Mir. Catulius
Clarke.
''Ald where will yousit, Mr.. Macintosh ,"
asked Mrs. Blair, holding out kind hand of
welcome to her new guest. who accort lingly
dropped into the chair nearest her own.
Colin could hardly speak In the stranger
guest, ensconced in intimate conversation
with Maurice, he recognized one of the men
he had desired TO knock down in the dress
ing room at Crichtoa's.
Now, we may notice in Clarke's poems,"
Mr.. Maivolio wassaying, with wicked rel
ish, what Emerson once remarked about
Oxford: Nothing new or true, and no mat
ter" +"
II do not pretend to solve my own prob
lens, my dear fellow returned the poet
ianguidly, as he lay back at ease IN large
armchair. surveying his phtcnt-leather toes.
Il only state them to average intelligence,
and then pray for the interpostion OF the
power that brought speech out of Balaaus $
ASS to give understanding to some Of my
readers
indeed, yours is the dearest little book
we have had this month, Mr.. Clarke" ex-
claimed Kathleen. ''and your poster is the
widest and weirdest in my collection -
rThen / have not printed in vain, Miss
Blair" answered the bardIing, looking
at her with admiring eyes. In reality
he was entirely happy. IL was only being
overlooked that ever caused Catuilus pain.
Gather yeroSes, while you may, Clarke"
resumed Malvolio, cheerfully. 'P res
emily the twentieth century will throw
upon you mysterious folk searehlight
in which even you will stand revealed,
and then your occupation viii he gone.
You owe Blair { debt Of gratitude, by the
way, for stating you discreetly couple
of weeks ago. It's imm ensely clever how
he manages to let his authors think the
failure to appreciate lies in him only, and
that the world at large is ahlaZe over their
productions. Now in that thing about yoa,
for instance, the readers of book-reviews-
/ wonder WHO they are, by the way
must have Thought Blair sehoolboy who
had accidentally tangled an Olympic deity
in the tail Of his Kite. 1t was only after
tney had paid one fifty for the volume l
dare say, chat they found out the truth -
Don't spoil my wife's supper by talking
shop over it, said Terence, reprovingly
"Tocome herefor the purpose of discussing
modern literature
You flaLter Clarke" interruptedMal-
volio.
rs hardly my idea of entertainment.
You might as wen invite a letter carrier 10
take walk for pleasure
"Orask MaIvolioto talk about Monet"
''Who has seen Heart of Topaz"
asked Terence of his guests.
L, says the fly, with my little eye,'" !"
answered Malvoio at is Pretty peep
show, but she is only Mrs Tanqueray done
into Japanese If we are TO have tha: lady
at all On our stage, let her come in lie
strong, or ginal guise of Pinero's heroine.
Although you, my dear Miss Blair, muststay
away when she appears
Now protest" said Mrs Blair, '.but st
Jll5 iGlt W SIdii never I1Du u HutJjttt OF
conversation upon which we agree"
II beg your pardon" exclaimed Malv.ilio,
whose glass Terence had just filled with
d steaming golden mixture of innocent ap-
pearance. There is one and that is
uppermost in all our minds. yet deepest IN
our hearts"
Hear, heart" murmured Mr Clarke.
II need not went on the speaker. ars-
ing and holding his glass in his right
hand while upon his saturnine counteaance
CLEANED an attempt at infantile amiability,
SAY many words to emphasize the pleasure
Miss Rlair's triumph has given ton ght 10
her hearers Up to the present time, /
must confess, have known the young lady
chiefly in her capaCity as sub-critic to he-
father On various occasions like the
present, | have tasted the quality of her
opinions upon the topics of the hour, and
/ can truly say, Now, by the salt wave OF
the Mediterranean, sweet touch, a quick
venue of wit: snip, snap, quick and home:
il rejoiceth my intellect, true wit But
tonight, she has scared into a region
whittier ] may not follow her, save with
the TeNerential eyes of an eartll-bouRd loi-
terer; she has been accepted among the
musical elect, and henceforward / can
only offer my homage from below. But
sCch as il is-the tribute of enchanted
ignorance it is hers, most heartily and
] ask you ali to join with me III drinking
the health OF the Woman who has won't -
- The woman who has WON'T repeated
Thomdyke Significantly, in Kathleensear
He had crossed over. for the first time, to
be near her, and his gaze was radiant.
Now, why douldn t say some of those
find sounding things?" poor Colin was
grumbling inwardly, as he saw Kathleen
break into well-pleased smiles and bend
blushing in the direction Of her extloller.
"Old Nalvollo has no business to take this
to himself, considering he's no more musical
sense than turnip. That's my trouble,
after all 1 can't keep up with the phrase
makers in their eternal patter. And that
man she's got talking to her now How
am ! to tell Morry OF her father the way
heard him speak of her awhile ago?
How lid he get here, anyway? Anybody
can get in with Kathleen better than /,
it, seems If she'd give me only one of
the sweet looks she wastes upon all these
literary freaks" {such, we grieye TO say,
was the classification made by Mr. Mac
kintosh of tie rank and file of the Blairs
asSociates) I'd
Ills neditations Were cut short by Kath-
leen herself, who, supple as snake, glided
unnoticed to his elbow.
'You are the only one among us who has
q long face she said to him, softly, while
across and around the table now resound ded
a fusillade of merry sayings and laughter
1T is because yeu disappiove of my play
ing in publie?"