Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-04-25
NOT A BAD DEAL.
By RuDYARD KupL1Ne.

The little volume of verses entitled
'@To Lalage'' made quite stir in the
literary world. One critic of note said
that it was instinct with classic grace,
another that it was informed by the
true spirit of Hellas, third that it had
a whiff of Hymettus, a fourth that it
was hardly suitable for family reading.
and on the strength of all this lauda-
tion "To Lalage" was a success, and
several copies were bona fide sold to
complete strangers. Imagine, then, the
bitterness of heart with which Adrian
Pottles, the gifted author, saw himself
compelled to maintain strict anonymity
and to conceal from the world thirsting
to know him that he was the ga. P. .
whose initials appeared in old English
letters on the title page.
Yet he did not hesitate, for he knew
that if his uncle, Mr.. Thomas Pottles of
Clapham Common, discovered that he
wrote not only verses which was bad
but amatory verses-which was afro
cious-his means of present livelihood
and prospects Of future aff1uence would
vanish into thin air For Mr.. Pottles
was man of strict views, and, wheth-
er one regarded this world CT the next,
there could he no question that Eank
clerk of evangelical connections com
mitted grave fault in writing love
poems.
So poor Adricn mad to make up his
mind to remain unknown and to hold
his tongue even when he heard that an
other man had been claiming the au-
thorship of ''To Lalage." Luckily, per-
haps, he failed to find out who this mis-
creant was, or probably his Indignation
would have overcome his prudence and
he would at any cost have claimed his
own.
The secret was well kept, and Adrian
received the usual check at Christmas
time, and with it the rsual invitation
to spend the festive season with his un-
Gle and to bring with him his young
friend Peter Allison, to whom old Mr..
Pottles had taken a great fancy. Peter
was a man of many engagements, but
sought after as he was and proclaimed
himself to be he remembered the good
cheer at Mr.. Pottles' and accepted the
invitation. They went down together,
Adrian bewailing his hard fortune and
denouncing the imposter, Peter warmly
sympathizing, but counseling continued
silence and prudence.
''Ah, if could only claim it - cried
Adrian, opening his Gladstone bag and
gazing fondly at half dozen neat,
clean copies of ''To Lnlage." " 81 should
be the lion Of the season, Peter.
Peter smiled and shook his head. ga
fortune is better than fame, Adrian, +"
said he.
For day or two all went well at
Clapham. The old gentleman was in
the best of tenpers, and the two young
men did their best to keep him in it,
indorsing all his views as to the lax
morality and disgraceful tone which
pervaded modern literature and modern
society, and when they had done their
duty in this way they rewarded them
selves by going in next door and having
tea with Dora Chatterton, young lady
whom they both thought charming. In
deed Adrian thought her SO charming
that, after a short acquaintance, he
sent her copy of "To Lalage with
Dora Chatterton adored genius. She
had thought both Adrian and Peter
very pleasant young men; she had per-
ceived that they both thought her a
very pleasant young woman, and she
had been rather puzzled to know which
of them she would, in a certain event,
make up her mind to prefer. ITO La
lage" settled the question. 1t was the
gifted author A. P. who deserved her
love, and A. P. obviously stood, not for
Peter Allison, but for Adrian Pottles.
The very next morning she called
early at Mr.. Pottles'. She found him
alone. The boys, he explained, had gone
for walk. Dora was disappointed, but
failing the author himself she was con-
tent to pour her praises into the ears of
an appreciative and proud uncle. She
did so, expressing immense admiration
for Adrian's modegty in not having told
Mr. Pottles of his achievement.
'Humphl' said Mr. Pottles. ''Let
me see ethese-er-things
The effect of ''To Lalage" on Mr..
Pottles was surprising and particularly
so to Dora. In less than ten minutes she
found herself being shown the door and
intrusted with letter to her brother
in which Mr.. Pottles stated that she
had been reading wicked books and
ought, in his opinion, to be sent to her
own room for an indefinite period.
''And shall know if you don't give
it her, said Mr.. Pottles, viciously.
Thus it happened that Adrian and
Peter, as they were returning, met poor
Dora on the steps with this horrid note
in one hand and her pocket handker-
chief in the Cther-for Mrs. Chatterton
shared Mr.. Pottles' views, and Dora did
not enjoy having to deliver the note.
They were just fastening up to speak
to her when Mr.. Pottles himself appear
ed on the steps holding ont ''To Lalage'