Middletown transcript., 1897-04-24

and pushed her back in the chair
'What did you do it for " he asked
with a great show of Indignation
ssWhat is the matter with youP"
81 couldn't help it" she said IF
had gone on walking | should been al
right, but the short rest finished me.
am very tired, and"-she gave little
gasp and her eyelids battered.
Jeremy dived into wall cupboard
and came forth with brandy b1ttle.,
there was very little in it, but enough
for the purpose. He stood over her in
a threatening attitude until she con-
senied to drink a teaspoonful. He
tried to insist on second.
81 Cannot really" sh3 SAID. Il dare
not. 1t would go to my head at once,
Lecause-because''-
Jeremy Grigson knelt down beside
her and took her hand:
lis it because you have had no lun.
CueOug ITO dohCus
"Yes" she said; aid her col,'r began
TO return.
"Do you know how it feele2"
He nodded with sympathetic gravity.
s'Been there d. z.ns Of times" he
said: and he did mol ltt go her hand,
neither did she withdraw it. Possibly
you have walked The whole way from
The Chatterer's flee to this houseP'
81 had no choice. This represents
my whsle fortune until such time as |
am paid for the view."
She pulled three half-pence out of
her pocket and show ed it to him lying
on the worn palm of her lit le gray
glove.
Quite involuntarily he lifted to his
lips the hand he WAS holding. Then
she drew it away and tried to return to
her former manner.
''Just tell me where you were born, J"
she said, "and how the central idea Of
your book first occurred to you, aud l
will CO."
"You will do nothing of the kind"
said Jeremy firmly. 81 am just going
to have my tea-'high tea,' because |
am a homely sort of fellow. l will not
tell you another word unless you stay
and share it with me"
''But 1 have to write up the inter-
view now at once. 1t must be put into
type Tonight"
"Very 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 it is.
Here are a few notes for you." He
filled half sheet Of paper quickly in a
small clear hand. Nov l shall leave
you for half an hour 10 your work, if
you will solemnly promise me not to
run off while / 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 waiter laden with material
for feast brought fram the nearest
restaurant, and he had letters in his
hand, because he had encountered the
evening postman on the doorsteps.-
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 SO
used to doi.g it. So she read her man
uscript aloud to him instead, and he
criticised it as lie 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 coDfden-
ces. They were both alone in the world
both dependent Oh their pens, although
in vastly different lines; and they were
both young, notwithstanding the fact
that Jeremy's hair had sprinkling of
gray in it. Her. name was Margaret,
and he told her that had been his mo-
theirs name. She was very glad, al
though she scarcely knew why.
"I have several literary irons in the
fire." he said presently, land those let
ters look like business. May | open
them? Thanks. Then, If the news is
good you will be the first to congratu-
late me; and il it is bad, 1t will be some
consolation to hear you say: Poor dev-
beg your pardon, l mean poor fellow,
have pot spoken to lady for three
years."
He opened the first letter.
"Good," he said. "The Tip-Top
accepts Mr.. Grigson g serial,
the first instalment of which will ap-
pear next, month. That manuscript has
been lying at the office of Tip-Top for
six months, and | have written about
it three times without being able to
elicit reply"
Nothing succeeds like success"
said Margaret. "Open The next"
He did so.
: "Siill betterl" he exclain ed. 81 ap-
piled for post jusi vacant Oh the staff
of The PulveriZer Ii means three hum
daed q year for weekly column of
criticism. The last man was a great
swell, and he gave it up because one Of
bis own books was sma. he'd to atoms
by mistake in another part of the paper.
Well, have got the post"
SnIendidl,, she sail. ..NoR the last
one.n
BEST Of alll' he cried, ~ he CLAN ced
it. "Bsclase It shows human
nature ic an agre 'abla light. Ny pub
fishers inclose leek for 209 pounds
in consideration Of the phenomenal suc-
cess Of srhe B15k,' all thsy Viii he