Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-05-14
THE INTERVIEWER.
"a lady to see Won. sir

=
Jeremy Grigson used very unparliamen-
tary language, but taking into oonsidcra-
ton the fact that his visitor might be
close mt hand, in compliment TO her sex
his anathemas were uttered in German.
"How charming4" she exclaimed, com
ing into the room with a little rush Il
have got my first point already. You arc
familiar with the modern languages "
And she made a note.
Madam" said Jeremy Grigson, with a
severe bow, II have an excellent memory,
but 1 cannot recollect having made your
acquaintance on any previous occasion"
"You have on excellent memory?
Thanks" She made another note. May
sit DOWN 1 am rather tired"
Certainly, madam" Jeremy placed
chair for her. "And you will then per
haps kindly let me know to what am in
debted for the pleasure of your company. &"
Just let me take dOwn"-She scribbled
rapidly, murmuring to herself, "Frigid
manner, stately, old world form of address,
furniture chosen with an eye to comfort
rather than beauty"
Her PENCIL paused and she glanced at
him with u smile apparently intended to
set him at his case.
Il am from The Weekly Chattercr, " she
said. "Can you let ne have photograph
to go in with the interview"
Never had one taken in my life, said
Jeremy He was not handsome man,
yet there was something in his face better
than good looks.
"Not even when you were babyY AL
most anything would do.
Not even then
"Ah, of course not! And you were
reared on
Green tea, believe Don't I look like
it?''
She wrote down, "Highly nervous, rath-
er dyspeptic, " and went on. "Talking of
things that came after your time, how old
are you exactlyP OF course it is only WON
en- who are guilty of the weakness of OBJ
jecting to tell their ages. "
q shall be 100 if live to the end of
this. Allow me one question, What have
done that should be interviewed?"
She wrote again, murmuring, Modest
and apparently unaware of his own fame, -
and then answered:
Don't you know that the whole town
is talking of your bookY"
Il don't know anything about it," he
said savagely, except that l sold the
copyright for $50 and that the $50 is
spent.
She had got hold of an immense fact,
but she dropped her pencil, and her flip
pant aggressive air with it.
"What a shame!' she said. "What a
wicked shame Your publishers will
make hundreds and thousands out of that
book. 1t Is creating furore Such case
should not be possible, and especially when
a man really needs the money
He looked attentively at her for the
first time. He had seen already that she
was young and pretty, but he noticed now
that there was worn, pinched look about
her small very pretty face He had seen
the same look growing on other faces in
Bohemia. 1t had grown upon his own,
and he knew the meaning of it,
"You understand about needing money!
he asked her.
81 should think 1 do, she answered
sharply. do you suppose 1 should be
here row if 1 didn't"
Sometimes people work at trade be-
cause they like 1t.
eff it were trade l liked, everything
would be different. l aspired to literature
once, but could not even make dry bread
by it. Ever since have been hanging on
to the skirts of journalism, and sometimes
there is great deal of mud on them. II
you only knew how people treat Inc now
and again when / go to interview them
You may thank your stars and your
genius for having placed you above all
that at any rate.
Are they often as brutal as was?' he
asked gently. II am awfully sorry. Won't
you forgive me?'
Don't mind about 1t, she said huskily.
81 know very well what l must have
Il
little wretch. 1 am horribly nervous by
nature, and put all that side on just to
cover up the fright and impress people
with the idea that l intend to get any in
formation want no matter how reticent
they try to be. Often they tell me more
than they intend-as you did just now
merely to get rid of me, because they
think am writing down whole lot that
they don t want said about them. l should
stand IA bad chance if they only knew that
l am quite as anxious to get away from
them as they are to get away from me, "
If this interview is any object to you, .
he said in an awkward, shamefaced way
~ will tell you all you want to know.
am not quite such churl as l pretended
to be- Only-well, am proud as well as
poor, and l suppose there is no need tc
make the details of my poverty publicY'
He glanced first at the meager furnishing
of the room and then at his threadbart
clothes.
"Oh" 1t was actually little cry OF
pain. Do you think so badly of me as
that stillS will go now 1 wish 1 ha6
not come
She turned very white as she rose ano
caught at her chair to steady herself.
"For heavens sake, don't faintl" CRIED
Jeremy desperately. He made stride to
ward her and without a word of apology
he caught her by the arm and pushed hei
back into the chair. "What did you do II
for?' he asked with great show of indig
nation. "What is the matter with your"
II couldn't help it," she said, IF
hao gone on walking, l should have beer
all right, but the short rest finished me.
am very tired, and She gave LITTLE
gasp and her eyelids fluttered.
Jeremy dived into a wall cupboard and
came forth with brandy bottle. There
was very little in it, but enough for tn,
purpose. He stood over her in a threaten
f,,,o CHI to1 To nj Il