The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-19

to do? oh, q, was maddening, mons
trousl
Oh why had he ever become Rob-
| sons reader? Why had he ever thought
| 1t his duty to inform Aline's father of
| that fact? Why had his mother
| taught him to hate lies? Why, in ad-
| dition to that, had he been endowed
with instincts that rendered II impos-
| sible for him to cheat his employers?
Why could he not tell lie or two and
cozen Robson into publishing the thing?
Why had he fallen in love, and why
was Fate so unkind as to doom him TO
| love a girl who only wanted to write
novels? Why does any charming girl
| want to write novels which nobody
| ever wants to read? why had he not
| taken courage like a man and point
| blank declined to read Alines MS. t
| all. That was what man would have
| done.
| His brain reeled. What was he to
| do? Offer Robson untold sums ot
| money to bring the thing out? Robson
was ruptible-everybne knew that
1t was the proudest feature of the
| great house. Conflde in Robson? Rob-
son was very good friend but no, he
could not exhibit his heart to the cool
| glare of Robson's clear, calm eyes.
Still less could he exhibit Aline's in
| competency.
No, there was nothing to be done.
| Except, indeed, the one thing which he
| must perforce do namely, return the
thing to Robson with the other manu-
| script and the readers opinion upon it
and them.
He did not dare to go near Alne dur
In ha {,ta
though he positively ached to see her.
| The moment would come soon enough
| there was no need for him to antici-
| pate 1t. There was not certainly, for 1t
came one morning with amazing rapid
| ity, borne swiftly upon the wings of a
| telegram, which said in Aline's pretty,
! imperious fashion,
Come today at half-past four. Most
| important"
| Then John gave himself up. Robson
| had doubtless replied to her about the
| book. He might have known that it
was always Robsons practice to put
you out of pain quickly.
All was over he felt convinced. Never
theless he dressed himself for the visit
very carefully.
He walked slowly through the park.
| He fingered, he dawdled But let him
| linger and dawdle ever so, yet River.
| side drive was reached at last He
| rang the bell with the desperate cour.
| age of despair, and his heart wen.
| down to the soles of his polished boots.
| Before he knew where he was he was
| following the maid up the stairs. But
| suddenly he realized that she was not
| taking him to the parlor. NO, he was
being conducted, of course, by special
orders, to his loves own sitting room.
The Lord help mel" said the de-
sparing John.
| Then the door was flung open, and
he was in the room. And his love-
| well, it would not be correct to say
! that she advanced to meet him, for
as a matter of fact she danced, liter
ally danced, across the room and be-
| fore John could speak or even think
| she had laid her hands OH his shoul-
ders and looked up at him with a daz-
zlng smile.
| Jack" she said, all in ore breath,
where on earth have you been all
| this time, and why haven't you been
to see me, ana I've wanted so to see
! you, and you're looking very nice, and
if you think you'd care very much,
why, you may give me-one--er-kiss."
He did more, for he gave her three
on the spot, though he did feel daZed
and stupid. Indeed his generosity was
such that he would have given her
still more had she not promptly refused
| TO have them at present.
| s"COme and sit down." she said Sc
verely, land try not to be silly"
| And John went and sat down and
| tried to be wise. 1t was not easy by
any means when he happened to be
| sitting on a sofa with Aline beside
him.
"Now!" cried his love, drawing
long breath, and drawing with it also
letter from her pocket.
John nearly groaned aloud. Only
too we'll he knew Robson's pale-blue
| envelopes, with the stamp of the great
| house on the flap at the back.
Again his brain reeled. But his love
was commanding his attention, and
| when she commanded, why, there was
| nothing left for him but to obey.
| "Llsten!" she cried imperiously.
| And John listened accordingly, or
| tried to, with his brain confused.
"Dear madam" read Aline clearly,
| with what seemed to him positively
| beg to inform YOU that we have now
| carefully considered the manuscript
which you We're so good to submit to
us recently. In consequence Of the
| opinion expressed by our Reader-by
! our Reader" repeated Aline, and she
| gave our Readers" arm little pass
| ing squeeze-"upon II, we shall be
| happy to bring the book out, only
| stipulating that some slight alterations
| and suggestions which our Reader has
| made be embodied before we send the
| manuscript to press. 1t is our practice
| either to purchase the copyright out
| right for a sum 10 be agreed upon
| hereafter or to publish on the royalty
| systematic author retaining the copy
| right and receiving a percentage, also
| to be hereafter agreed on, upon sales.
If you will kindly intimate to us your
Willingness to accept an offer from us
| for the book, based upon either of the
| foregoing, We shall have the pleasure
| in drafting a formal agreement AMI
transmitting the same to you without
| delay for your signature. Awaiting
| the favor of your reply, We are, dear
| madam, yours faithfully.
Henry Robson & Son"
Aline paused, drew a long breath.
| and looked at her lover Her lover
| drew several long breaths and did not
| look at her. She tossed her head tri-
umphantly.
Now" she cried, and a less adorlny
than h,Y