The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-26


Quite inyoluntarily he lifted to his lips
the hand be was holding. Then she drew
It 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 DO you, and will CO."
"You will do nothing of the kind, said
Jeremy firmly. II am just going to have
my tea-'high tea, because lam homely
sort of fellow. will not tell you another
word unless you stay and share 1t with
me-"
"But have to write up the interview
now at once. 1t must be put into type
tonight. .
every well. You can do 1t 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 filled half sheet
of paper quickly in small clear hand.
"Now I shall leave you for half an hour
to your work, II you will solemnly prom
Use me not to run off while am away"
at 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 n waiter laden with material for
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 1t would make him i'll II he did not
wait on himself, because he was 50 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 q sprinkling of gray in it. Her name
was Margaret, and he told her that had
been his mothers name. She was very
glad, although che scarcely knew why
II have several literary irons in the
fro" he said presently, land those letters
look like business. May / open themP
Thanks. Then, If the news Is good, you
will be the first to congratulate me, and
II it Is bad, it will be some consolation to
hear you say, Poor dev'-I beg your par
don, mean poor fellow l have not
spoken to lady for three years"
He opened the first letter.
Good" he said. "The Tip-Top Maya
h, tt.-f
installment of which will appear noxt
month. That manuscript has been lying
ut tho office of Tip-Top for six months,
and have written about it three times
without being able to elicit n reply"
Nothing succeeds like success" said
Margaret. "Open the next"
He did so.
"Still betterl'' he exclaimed. 81 applied
for post just vacant on Che staff of The
Pulverizer. 1t means 1880 u year for
weekly column of criticism. The last man
was u great swell, and he gave 1t up be-
cause one of his own books was smashed
to atoms by mistake in another part of tho
paper. Woll, / have got the post. "
"Splendid!" she said. "Now the last
ono"
"Bost Of ALL" he cried as he glanced
| through 1t. because it shows human
nature in an agreeable light. My publish
ers inciose check for $500 in considera-
| ton of the phenomenal success Of The
| Book, and they will be happy to allow mo
| to make my own terms for tho next one.
| Margaret, | am waiting to be congratulate
| cd. "
Tie had called her by hor Christian namo
| quito uncOnsciously.
She sprang to her feet, blushing furious
ly, and began hunting for her gloves.
II can't say half mean about it, y she
stammerod. "Won't you take for granted
how glad l amp must so now. The
evenings arc long, but they don't last for
ever want to thank you, and l don't
know how"
when may come to sec youf" he
asked, retaining her hand again.
"Oh, never! live in such wretched
place, and you arc among the great ones
Of the world now, you know"
"Of course" he said coClly, sit doesn't
matter in the least whether you give mo
your address or not, because l am going to
escort you home, and then | shall find 1t
out for myself. Are you ashamed to DO
seen with met We could stop at u tailor .
on the way, but there would be certain
drawbacks to that compromise.
my clothes are infinitely worse than
yours, she said hUmbly.
"Quite different case" he assured her
81 believe you would look well dressed In
'gunnysack. ="
| Then they set out together. He did not
offer to take cab. An hour earlier ho
would have done SO, but he was, compare
lively speaking, rich man now, and no
dared not run the risk Of seeming to pat
ronize her poverty Sho understood, and
liked him all the better for it.
This was a day to be remembered In
both sheir lives.
Three months later there was much
talked of little wedding breakfast, at which
most of the guests were literary celebrities,
but another interviewer wrote it up for
The Weekly Chatterer.
Jeremy had married Margaret -Argosy.