The record-union., 1898-09-18

success in literature; they must be
bound together viii something strong
er, and cemented with form and style
Have you tried?"
She plucked nervously at the grass
beside her before she answered.
Yes"
He looked at her hands, which lay
bare in her lap. They were white. firm
hands, and the middle finger of the
right hand was very slightly stained
with ink
That's bad,'' he said, smiling at the
stain. But still there's hope. Is it
possible that you will one day show
me some of your endeavors?' She
shook her head. Yes" he urged
Perhaps l could help. Please listen to
me. suppose YOU have heard of edi-
torso"
occasionally"
But you have never met one?'
Never"
Your tone tells me that you consider
them formidable But they are not so,
really" He looked into her eyes. smil-
ing. You see one now," he said.
You" she cried, blushing.
Even /: why not? Now, you see
there would be some reason in showing
me your writings
And what is your paper?"
ut is a magazine called Moderna.' !"
"Oh!" And after a pause she added
will you give me pencil and paper?"
He tore a leaf from his pocketbook and
gave it to her She scribbled two words
and gave it back to him.
What is it?" he asked, as he read.
the deuce!''
He crumpled the paper, threw it from
him. and jumped up and stood staring
at her. His face was red; hers was
white, and her eyes met his defiantly.
you've seen that before" she said.
"Once or twice." he admitted.
six times,' firmly, Il pestered you.
Friends who didn't know anything
about it advised me to go on-not to be
discouraged, and I went on-on to the
very end, till YOU
"Oh, 1 was brute!" he groaned.
you advised me to stop. Why
didn't you tell me before?" she demand
ed, with unreasonable anger.
You didn't''-
"Oh of course. I didn't let you. I beg
your pardon. 1t was very stupid of
me, but there was something fascinat-
ing in being mysterious. l had never
done anything unconventional In my
life, and l wanted to make the most of
it, She looked at him and flushed
crimson "Why-why did you reject
them?" she asked He looked embar-
rassed.
We'll, you see, 'Moderna' is an i'm
portant magazine, and the editor has a
lot of work and I-ah! in short, they
We're not suitable
You did not read them," sternly.
Indeed 1 did, the first one-ones."
Il quite understand" She rose with
some dignity and scrambled up the
bank to the road.
Don't go,'' he cried, following her.
Princess, 1 have SO much to tell you"
They stood facing each other at the
edge of the dusty road, and below on
the pier the band brayed out the
washington Post"
"Wen?"
Don't leave me-" he pleaded, Il can't
endure it if you do. l can't let you
go, because I want you SO much. He
caught her hands and held them tight
ly. Dear, 1 love you," he said.
'.But'-she said, "but"-
"Oh, 1 know. But an editor is also
man. AS the former, 1 returned your
MSS; as the latter, I-adore YOU
But you can't" she protested, you
hardly know me-"
Give me chance, dear; / don't ask
you to say anything now, but later,
when l know your people, when you are
mysterious no, longer"--
el.1 I i
ly, there isn't much to know about my
people. We live in Bedford square, in
very large and ugly house. Father
made quite lot of money in pickles.
I suppose you have seen posters of a
very large and healthy looking man
eating cold beef, accompanied by Riv-
ers' Celebrated Pickles. / particularly
dislike that poster"
Il have often admired it," said he,
valiantly.
How dear of you to say so,'' she
cried, and as there was no one in sight
he kissed her
"Oh, yes, l forgive you," she said a
few minutes later, "and later on you
will be able to tell me what is suitable
for 'Moderna style of thing you
want. You will never (smiling) be able
to decline with thanks now. Will
you?" she added after a pause.
1 think that was one of the most ter
rible moments in the EDITORS life The
standard Of "Moderna'' was a high one,
and the critic in him told him that his
loves literary productions would never
rise above mediocrity. But his heart
cried out that she was in his arms,
that she was hic and nOtbiDo cleo ~,
tered, not even the profession that had
been more to him for twenty years than
any woman had ever been
But you will not have time to write
when we are married" he urged
There will be all the new books to read
and things to talk about, and the thea
ters and parties-we are going to give
such jolly parties, you know, quite
small, but jolly-you won't have a mo-
ment, because in addition to that you
will have me to look after, madam
She drew away and regarded him at
tentively.
You continue" she said, very gen.
tly, ito decline?"
Dearest
Answer me-" she persisted.
And the editorial instinct which was
older in him than the emotion which she
had inspired won the day.
Il must" he stammered.
Then, 1 also," she said. still in her
unnaturally gentle tone, must decline"
To his passionate protestations she
turned deaf ear. She was firm in
her determination that if Mle married
an editor she would enjoy the full ben
eft of the nOSitiop And the editor