The times., 1898-04-03

OCCASIONALLY
Bat you have never met one
Never
Your tone tells me that you consid-
sr them formidable But they are not
50, really" He looked into her eyes,
smiling You see one now" he said.
"YOu!" she cried, blushing.
Even 1: why not? Now. you see
there would be some reason in showing
me your writings.
And what is your paper ?"
1t Is magazine called MOderna."
Obi" And after a pause she added:
viii you give me a pencil and paper 90
He tore leaf from his pOcketb0ok and
gave it to her. She scribbled two words
and gave il back to him.
What is it2" he asked. as he read.
What does it mean? oh,-Oh,-Oh.
the deucet"
He crumpled the paper. threw il from
him and jumped up and stood staring
at her. His face was red: hers was
white and her eyes met bis defiantly.
You've seen that before" she said.
Once or twice" he admitted,
Six times" firmly, Il pestersd YOU
Friends who didn't know anything
about ii advised me TO go on-not to be
discouraged, and l went on-On TO the
very end, till you-'
"Oh. l was a brute.'' he groaned
You advised me To stop. Why didn't
you tell me befOre2'' she demanded.
with unreasonable anger.
You didn't"
''Oh. of course. didn't let you. I beg
your pardon. 1t was very stupid OF me.
but there was something fascinating
in being mysterious had never done
anything unconventional in my life.
and | wanted TO make the most Of IL
She looked at him and flushed crimson.
''Why-why did you reject them % she
asked. He looked embarrassed
Well. you see. Moderna Is an TN
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." sternIy
Indeed I did, the first one-Ones.'
Il quite understand" She rose with
some dignity and scrambled mp the
bank to the road.
Don't go." he cried. following her.
Princess. 1 have much 10 tell you
They stood facing each other at the
edge OF the dusty road. and below on
march from "Erminie.'
''Well2''
Don't leave me-" he pleaded. Il can't
endure il IL you do l can't let you go.
because / want you so much" He
caught her hands and held them tight
| ly. Dear. love yOu.'' he said
But" she said. but
"Oh. / know. But the editor is also
/ a man. As the former. / retu<ned your
MSS; as the latter. l. adore you"
But you can't" she protested. 81 you
/ hardly know me-"
| Give me a chance, dear: l don't ask
/ you to- say anything now, but later,
when L know your people, when you
are mysterious no longer
/ "Oh. as TO that she said despOndent-
! ly. there isn't much TO know about my
| people. We live in Bedford Square. in
a very large and ugly house. Father
made quite lot of money in pickles.
| suppose you have seen posters of
| very large and healthy-looking man
! eating cold beef. accompanied by Riv-
ers' Celebrated Pickles. l particularly
dislike that poster"
Il have often admired it, he said,
valiantly.
How dear of you to say So" she
cried, and as there was no one in sight
| he kissed her.
"Oh. yes, I forgive you" she said a
| few minutes later, "and later on you
will be able to tell me what is suitable
| for Moderna-the style of thing you
want. You will never (smiling) be
able to decline with thanks now. VIII
your 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 high one.
and the critic in him told him that his
/ love'sl literary productions would never
/ rise above mediOcrity. But his heart
| cried out that she was in his arms, that
she was his. and nothing else matter
| ed, 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 70 write
when we are married." he urged
| There will be all the new books 10
read, and things TO talk about. and the
| theaters. and parties-we are going
| to give such jolly parties, you know.
quite small, but jolly-yOu won't have a
moment, because in addition To that
| you will have me TO look after, mad
\ am"
She drew away and regarded him at
| tentively
You continue" she said. very gent
| ly 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. / also" she said. still in her
unnaturaliy gentle tone, must de-
cline"
| To his passionate prOteSIatiOns she
turned a deaf ear. She was. firm in her
| determination that if she married an
editor she would enjoy the full bens-
ft OF the position And the editor OF
| Moderna had always been distinguis-
ed by a quality which his enemies
| called obstinacy. So they parted At
| the last ne held her hands and said
earnestly, Some day-perhaps you
viii send a line-a word, even-to Mod
erna. II ever you can-you know what
it will mean TO me- Good-by."
''Good-by." she whispered. and down
| on the pier the last notes OF the
march music were prolonged in d harsh
vail.
l. a
One evening, late in the following
February. the editor of Moderua turn
ed into the Strand from the side street
wherein his office lay and hailed a han
som. He looked very cheerful. his
| mustache was twisted up at the cor
ners, and he bore a bunch of violets in
his buttonhole Half an hour ago he
received a note which ran: Come and
see me: 1 have something to tell YOU
Grace"
In the big shadowy drawing-room in
| Bedford Square a very pretty woman
was waiting. She had lit the yellow
shaded candles, and their light fell on
the punches of jonquils that were ev-
| erywhere, and on her primrOse-hued
gown. When the door opened, and ne
was announced. she did not move. but
| stood still ard looked at him He came
close and took her hand and held it.
What do you want TO tell me?' he
| asked