Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-06-02
imperfect Pae

"Why-why did you reject them?" she
asked. He looked embarrassed. -,
"Well. you see, Moderna is an impor~
tant magazine, and the editor has lot
OF work, and I-ah, in short, they were
not suitable.",
"You did not read them," sternly.
"Indeed I did, the first one--ones.''
II quite understand" She rose with
some dignity, and scrambled up the
bank to the road.
Don't go!" he cried, following her.
"Princess, l 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 ''Wash-
ington POST
"Well?"
"Don't leave me-" he pleaded, 81 can't
endure it if you do. l can't let you go,
because 1 want you so much" He
caught her hands and held them tight
ly. Dear, I love you," he said.
"But-" she said, ''but-"
ooh, 1 know. But an editor is also
q man. AS the former, freturned your
MSS; as the latter, I-adore you"
"But you can't,". she protested, "you
hardly know me-"
"Give me a chance, dear; don't ask
Oh to say anything now, but later, when
l know your people, when you are
mysterious no longer"
"Oh, as t. thai, she said, Respondent
~, "there ISN'T much TO know about my
people. We live in Bedford square, in
Il very large and ugly house. Father
made quite a lot of money in pickles. l
suppose you have seen posters of
very large and healthy-!ooking man eat
ing cold beef, accompanied by Rivers
Celebrated Pickles. | particularly dis
like that poster"
Il have often admired it," said he,
raliantly.
"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,
few minutes later. land later on you
will be able to tell me what is suitable
for 'Moderna-the style OF thing you
want. You will never >lsmling) be able
to decline with thanks now? viii
you?" she added, after pause.
l think that was one CT 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 his, ard nothing else mattered,
not even the profession that had been
more to him for 20 years than any wom-
an had ever been. ..r
'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
theaters, and parties-we are going to
give such jolly parties; you know, quite
small, but jol1y-you: won't have mo-
ment, because in addition to that you
will have me to look after, madam
She drew away: and regarded him at.
tentively.y j. r.: s.. r.. fH -" -:
You contin ue,"". she said, very gently,
''to decline?" EE1..%~. =: -.
"Dcarest-" :, ,,s%"' : l. r.:
ANSWER me" she persisted. . :: :.
And the editoriafins tinct, which was
older in him than the emotion which
she had inspired, won the day.
IL must" he starsmered: -.
"Then l also,' she said, still in her
unnaturally gentle tone, must de-
cline.'
TO his passionate protestatiors she
turned a"deaf ear. She was firm in her
determination that if she married an
editor she would enjoy the full benefit
Of the position. And the editor Of
"Moderna' had always been distin-
guished by quality which his enemies
called obstinacy. So they parted. At
the last ne held her hands and said, ear
nestly: Some day-perhaps. you will
send line-a word, eyen-to 'MCderna.'
If ever you can-you know what it will
mean to me. Goot-by.''
'Good-by," she whispered, and down
on the pier the last notes of the wash
ington POST were prolonged. in harsh
vail,
One evening late in the following Feb
ruary the editor of "Moderna'' turned
into the Strand from the side street
wherein his office lay and hailed a han
som. He looked very cheerful, his MUS
tache was twisted up atthe corners and
he bore bunch of violets in his button
hole: Half an hour ago he ,receivesd
note which ran: Come :a:id see me; (
have something to tell you Grace
in the big, shadowy drawing-room;i in
Bedford square a. very, pretty woman
was waiting. She had: lighted the yell
loW-shaded candles, land the light fell
On the punches of jquauils: that. were