The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-10-28
A N0MAN'S MERCY;


9. IT Is a long time since we met" said
Ht' r. ,a On rel remember e;lb; Il. doesn't
seem long 49,. 49,. .r.., ....~...,,,
Only Il year. .-....- -n, .,.-. >.
,s'Is that all?"~ She sank languidly upon
an ottoman, and he sat down beside her.
yen are not looking welL',, 60. -
Ion, that's only my style. "A small,
pale, big-eyed girl who looked interesting
| to avert criticism for her features as
you put it in one of, your novels" -.
| ~ THAT was written, long before knew
YOU, 80. -
Still, it is useful hint"
'"ro those who. feared the criticism"
Il feared criticism very much-thel."
You are unforgiving," he said bitterly,
with slight flush on his dark face.
*"Oh, no! I've long ceased to care. Be-
ly. You see, / haven't written anything
pretentious, enough for notice by you" -
II haven't given UP. criticism. It's u
poor business, anyhow
8''Have syou written anything lately p
| She knew his great success almost by
| heart, in spite Of the question. = :,
..''Nothing very good. A novel that il
1T must be, nice to. sell. I am trying
to write down, to that level myself"
He looked at her disapproyingly--al almost
sternly. He had put his heart into the
book. =.
Il do not think that is the surest way
of success -. 90, 81. -, : 49,
She laughed scornfully. ,.Perhaps not
for u genius. But: l am not one, as was
pointed out by great critic once"
Probably he would now admit that he
was mistaken. Time may have taught
him that your idea Of a woman was truer
than he supposed. ' Time,"' he sighed,
destroys good many -four illusions"
Great critics should be free from ILL.,
sions.'' 81. 49, : r,. r"
- "My, illusion Of woman's goodness is
| not quite gone, nevertheless. l remem-
Der my mother sometimes, as we'll as"
He paused awkwardly.. go
r"Other wOmen?' "''' - ; Ia =.
| another woman. Une belle dame sans
merci, ~ he corrected, looking hungrily at
her: @-,'- :,.~..:
Il suppose you mean a woman whom
you treated badly, and from whom you
! deserved no mercy?' said she, leaning
her elbow on the couch and putting her
| cheek on her thin hand. There was just
| the faintest pink flush upon her cheek
| and her eyes looked fathomless:
my God, how pretty she ISL the man
groaned to himself.
am fsa;;e s saE see you
not heard her question. "May we not
have a truce! Let me fetch you a glass
Of wine-or anything?' She shook her
head.
''There is nothing the matter" said
she. 'Only-only am not strong, and
things hurt me. Writing is too much for
me, suppose. If l could write one real
" good book, one that the great critics.
He rose aegrily: mo, no, please don't
go; am not aiming at you now. One
that good judges would praise, l mean
would give up writing and be content -
''The good judgesT You want their
praise?. The men who also dare to con-
demn?'' ,"-'
! "Yes.'' 49,
"Yet when they condemn
is just enough Oh. YES! I know It is
Just. But it nearly. kills me-" She
She laughed rather Historically. Sab.
He looked at her very .compassionately.
You are TOO excitable. Forgive me for
saying So but you have altered very
much during this last year. You look
| oyerworked, overworried, overwrought,
You must rest or you will never Write
| your great book ..~~s
you know l never could" =.
81 do not. said from. the first thas
I you had ability-eyen in the criticism
which you--which hurt YOU (she dug her
nails passionately into her little white
palms,, "and for which you have taken
the fullest revenge in your power. :,
He smiled q wintry smile, and woa!l
have looke<it bitterly at.her if he could. . .
! II don't suppose it hurt you much ?" she
inquired with a. strange usefulness. II
he had read her as he read women in h;s
books he would simply have taken her II
his arms. But he merely felt thrill ,ol
horror at her revengefulness-a men:a]
shudder that such soft, fair, small Great.
so no, ot!much, . said he.. "Not enough
to spoil my art. such as. it u.s. N.Y. --latest
lady-in-a-book has caught a touch of YOU
But even she comes, out all right IN the
third v0lume-at least, what would he the
third, volume. if they weren't all in one
now"
EYES," said she, thoughtfully, 81 un;
! derstood when read it. She is m,tch
better woman than l: ','"'', II S.. ~ n
! ~ gathered that you, hadn't read the
! book:'., 49,, .,.s., 4 ;: ..-~ -
| "Oh, that was my--nastiness.s OF
course I've read it. Everyone has read It
| Besides, it is part of my business now to
read the books of you great people" r -
What! You a critic! What for?' <sa
He looked at her iii mute astonishment
For the Thunderbolt had called his book
the greatest work Of the greatest author
! CT the age-which he knew wasn't true.H
f. "You wrote that critique!' said he
slowly. "IEought, to thank you, l sup
pose. But l confess l do not understand
you - 49,. ~..>..,, -. g.
"No," she answered sadly, you do MT
understand me, You. meyer viii under.
stand me. | cannot understand myself
I sometimes. 1 am full of wretched nerves,
| the doctors say, and only two things can
cure me- easn,re y ,ij,1 80, : . 50 N
"Wbat are theyy' he asked eagerly.
.D Death; Or as "-2>' Vi s@ss,, 81 81
7 II have E forgotten. Happiness, 1 sup!
pose" That was what the specialist
said but she Interpreted i as love love this
+, He looked at her wonderingly. Was
love, or remOrse, or further revenge that
was in her mind? He would have sacri-
his pride. No, no, one rebuff was enough.
If happiness were offered, you would
proba bly, throw it aside" he said very
sternly: She gave a quick glance and
| ss"You stdo not understands she an
swered quietly, with the tears very near
her eyes; You misjudget. me;i now and
He bent d little toward her. and JUS,
touched her sleeve with his hand: =,
els there any way-any possible way
in which I can underestimate @t>&,ai ~
Dainty touches of pink stole out on
ther pale features: and something sOftened
out the disdainful curl Of her pretty lips
| you might read some Of my .stories-
# syon could endure them. They are
me-, I think. SO =, $
Then you are very nice-lately:: but
-" he hesitated and stopped. s'sfts
did you read a Woman's Mercy in
1.-the New Magazine r she asked suddenly,
%"No. I'm afraid 1 didn't. But I will
ut isn't worth your notice" =, ~ )
~ will be the judge of that. What sis
it about p b *F's4ss5*.s - FF. IT..
:'oh!--a man and a woman-athe usual
1 thing s$ II i, ss. + . "a. =
II" what man and woman ?''asss tFsr .t II
"A critic and writer. He became
alert with interest. ar *
Tell me about it. s 4. D s :.5s
IL don't think I can remember = Hen
Z IN ,aSrE