New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12
4 PECULIAR EXPERIENCE.
From Tho Skctch.

From The Sketch.
did not notice him at hrst-ndeed thought
the Artistic Pioneers smoking room completely
d, serted when | entered for an after dinner
cigar; but. | glanced around indnerently
through the blue clouds Of my Muria realized
was not alone. and. furthermore. that the atti-
tude as well as the half aVertcd face, of the
other occupant was vaguely familiar; then /
recognized him in "A flash
for at the moment was glad To meet the man
again though my fortunes had changed consld-
erably since the days when We dwelt in the
land Of Bohemia and cOllabOrated novelties
for the perambulator propelling section OF the
reading public; why. where have you been hid
ing all these ycars-cut literature ana taken 10
a quiet life ch?'
lie looked up slowly with an enigmatical
smile which was characteristic. and nodded in
answer to my greeting.
"Wcu yes Pennyfeather." ne replied. drawl-
ing little. of yorc, Il have had rather a
quiet time OF it lattery. Been doing much
yourself at the bellies lcttros- working the old
claim? 1t fairly sickened me, 50 ! dropped II
long ago"
"Oh. the usual thing" | answered airy;
cant complain. Have cigar?
He shook his head, if the subject were dis
tasteful. Il don't smoke" he said; and then,
Elaucing at my gold mounted case, ne added,
Seems to pan out better than formerly?'
laughed. felt shade awkward; such re-
mindcrs are not pleasant.
Yes" l replied dcprccatngly; its about
time. isn't it?'
lie lifted his eyebrows in silent assent. and
then. apparently dismissing the subject. began
quite a dcSutOry conversation. AS he talked
be put one knee over the other, and saw that
the toe cap on one Of his rather shabby boots
was pcrilously insecure. This led me 10 look
more closely at his attire. il was as of old
shabby gentceI the sort Of costume one rarely
meets further west than the British Museum
and | wondered how he managed 10 cVadc the
imposing functiunary who upheld the dignity OF
the Artistic Pioneers in the vestibule below.
Evidently he had gained nothing by ms dctcc-
tion from literature
Now. although am not macvolent man, |
felt distinctly pleased at this latter crcum-
stance. for my mind was revcrtng to a play OF
mine then running at the New Departure The
atro and knew it would be difficult TO explain
satisfactorily -Ravensworth being always slow
Of apprehension | had borrowed an idea
Of his which he had developed one evening as
We were walking home together. | had warmly
approved Of it at the time. its capahility for
dramatic treatment striking me forcibly. and
RaVcnsWOrth had on subsequent occasions re-
turned to the subject altering and simplifying
according TO his custom, intending to let ii grow
until this priced idea should become the nucleus
Of an epoch making novel, which, | need hardly
say, had never been written.
We had drfted apart long before | thought of
1t again, at moment when | sorely needed a
framework on which to hang some brilliant
dialogues Of my OWN and rejecting that Ra-
vcnsworth would in all probability never be the
worse or the wiser, | had straightWay utilized
the idea as the plot Of my drama with the
most gratifying results. for the thing caught on
Immediately 1t was named "A Moral Dilemma, q"
and critics told me. belonged to the SCandina-
Wan school am indeed proud to say its first
representation created much interest in literary
circles Larripur Of THE Daily Tiger" stating
the performance numerically, and suggesting
that the play had all the elements OF Chinese
puzzle. except the intellectual rCcOmpcnsc Of a
solution. while Cantwell. Editor Of THE Sky
Pilot" hailed il enthusiastically as the brand
new gospel Of some special form Of religious
mania then exercising thoughtful minds
throughout the .cngth and breadth of the Eng
lish Speaking world.
My position, therefore. was now "A critical one.
did not know how much Ravcnsworth knew Of
all this, and ! wls not so pronounced success
that could brazen the matter out should nc
prove troublesome. by declaring the identity Of
my plays plot and his idea to be yet another
literary coincidenc"." And this the reason
why experienced a positive thrill Of relief when
noted my companions shabby habmcnts. feel
ing that Ravcnsworth prosperous and indignant
would be far less amcnahc to reason than Ra-
VersWOrth in his normal condition Of Indulgence
As we convcrscd. however. / rapidly maturcd
a plan which | hoped would cNtrcatc me f
judiciously worked, ana a preliminary / de-
cidcd on treating my friend To come of the club
vintage, and then sounding him by dcxtorous
questions as he approached the requisite stage Of
Niivana. If ne proved tractable could prob
ably smooth matters with a sOlatiLm: but il
not, ! might at least expect 10 elicit his inten-
tons and take defensive mcasurcc.
Accordingly. ! proposed that We should have
di"Ler. ignoring my own meal: but to my sur
wise be declined the invitation. refusing after
war! even 10 join me in the fresh brandy and
coda happened to be ordering
Some other men coming in at this juncturc
and talking rather bolster ously. our convcrsa-
tion became disjointcd, and. as | did not want
any one 10 bring my play on the tapis until
had settled what RavenswOrth's attitude would
be proposed We should stroll out and go some
where.
We were soon in the gas lighted streets chat
ting Of many things went My friend
seemed to have retained his usual manner.
though he. consciously or unconsciousy baf-
fed my attempts to draw him out.
At length, finding diplomacy inadequate and
wearied by suspense. | resolved on the bold
stroke OF forcing his hand by taking him To the
New Departure, letting him see the perform