The record-union., 1897-05-17

she drew 1t away and tried to return
to her former manner.
Just tell me where you were born,
she said, and how the central idea OF
your book first occurred to you, and
will CO."
You will do nothing of the kind,
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"
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 a sheet of paper quickly in a small
clear hand. Now l shall leave you
for an hour to your work. if you will
solemnly promise me not to run off
while I 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 a feast brought from the nearest
restaurant, and he had letters in his
hand, because 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 III if he did
at l., he ~
used to doing it. So she read her man
uscript aloud to him instead, and he
criticised it as he stumbled about with
plates, knives and forks.
They took their meals 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 We're both alone in the world, both
dependent on their pens, although in
vastly different lines, and they were
both young. Notwithstanding the fact
that Jeremy's hair had a sprinkling of
gray in it. Her name was Margaret,
and he told her that had been his moth
ers name. She was very glad, although
she scarcely knew why.
Il have several literary irons in the
fire." he said presently, "and those let
ters look like business. May l open
them? Thanks. Then, if the news is
good, you will be the first to congratu-
late me; if it is bad, it will be some
consolation to hear you say: Poor dew
1 beg pardon, 1 mean poor fellow
have not spoken to a lady for three
years"
He opened the first letter
Good" he said, The Tip-Top Mag
aZine' 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 1 have written
about it three times without being able
to elicit reply"
Nothing succeeds like success" said
Margaret. open the next"
He did SO.
Still bettert" he exclaimed IT ap-
piled for post just vacant on the staff
of The PulveriZer' 1t means three
hundred a year for weekly column of
criticism. The last man was a great
swell, and he gave it up because one
by mistake in another part of the pa
per. Well, I have got the post
Splendid" she cried. Now the last
one.'
Best of ALL" he cried as he glanced
through it. Because it shows human
nature in an agreeable light My pub
fishers inclose check for 600 in con-
sideration of the phenomenal success