Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-11-09
A WOMAN'S MERCY.


She knew his great success almost by
heart in spite Of the question.
" Nothing very good. A novel that is
selling"
ut must be nice to sell. am trying to
write down to that level myself.
, He looked at her disapprovingly-al-
most sternly. He had put his heart into
the book.
81 do not think that is the ~rest way
of success. "
She laughed scornfully. Perhaps not
for genius. But ! am not one, Us 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 woman was truer
, than he supposed. Time, =" be sighed, "de.
: strOys "A good many of our illusions"
Great critics should be free from illu-
sions."
"My illusion of womans goodness is
) not quite gone nevertheless. l remember
+ my mother sometimes as well as'-he
E paused awkwardly.
"OthCr women"
another woman A beautiful woman
without mercy" he corrected, looking
hungrily at her
Il suppose you mean woman whom
you treated badly and from whom you do
served no morcyf" she said, leaning her
3 elbow on the couch and putting her cheek
, on her thin hand. There was just Il
faintest pink flush upon her check, and
her eyes looked fathomless.
My God, how pretty she isl" the man
groaned to himself.
II am sorry-very sorry-to see you
= looking 40 fragile, he said, as If he had
g not heard her question May we not
have truce? Let me fetch you glass of
winc-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 could write one really good
) book. one that the great critics he rose
angrily. NO. no. please don't go. 1 am
9 not aiming Mt you now. One that good
judges would praise, 1 meant would
. give up writing and be content"
"The goot Judges You want their
praise: The men who also dare to CON
u DENIM"
Yes"
d yet when they condemn
"Thon-oh, 1 suppose It is all right. It
q is just enough. oh, ycsl | know it is
5 just. But it nearly kills mo" She laughed
rather Historically. Absurd, isn't its'
= He looked at her very compassionately
you are too excitable. Forgive me for
. saying So but you have altered very much
!. ", ii"s .nl9 I"', Sc'i Iou iooN UlolNoIN
rest, or you will never write your great
v book"
n You know never could"
+ Il do not l SAID from the first that
o you hau aoillty-eVeh IN inc criticiSIh
5 ""'c" Eo"-WhIch hurt you l,He uu-
h'r mans p"Ss'ora'c'y INTO her ii''le "nI'e
q pains ana ior Whlch you nave taken
q INC lui'cso revenge III your power
nc smiled Wihtly smile fhu Wouiu
) nave loohcu bitterly AT her II ne could
r uoh SUPPOSE IL hure you innchE
is hno lnquireu' WIN strange Wlsuulhess
d II ne haa read her as ne read women IN
10 ms DOCKS he would simply nave taken
her IN his arms bu' ne merely lett "a thrili
OF horror at her reVehgeiulheSs--ai mental
shuuuer that such SOFT lalrt shall crea-
lure should wish TO give pam,
Il on no. not much said ne Not
enough 10 spoil my art such as II Is My
It latest lady in book has caught touch
Is OF you: but even she comes an rlRho I'D
- inc thlru NoIume-aU least' "hat WouiA
"a De the third volume II they weren all III
one now
rs H"iu Si4o 'iiouS IN" my "i,'
u'ie'Oou ""O" ioau ~ |Ho 10 MUM
10 oo'tpr "ui'''n man l.
- E"'hereu tnaU 9ou ha"h fe"u 'ne
e oooN, -.
% va, ,i,'V "os NY --uI ii'losH " ''uI %
W ioau H. ENeIy olio mas ''au ~ DC,
:, So ~ - p"IV VI my o"S'IvN' no" u i'"u
~ 'he uuoAS Vi you EI'aU p'"I,Io
). .,,~, nav, ip ~, VI "i "ii"''
nc Ian! i"u'!'or""iV'
~ ~, 'opMpu az h'r IA ,nu'o aston ,SnlioiiI
y ,,o sr'"'eSV Worh VI 'ho ero"'cs' writer VI
WV %sV' ""'on nc N,'o" ""9" = ~
u LOU Mro'o tH"V orI''quo' H"l' III
sio"G ouE"U ~ 'h'nN !'u' sup
poso' pu' coii'osS 1 w ho' unoers''nu
'ou;
40, sne "ns"VFou snuIy' you 20 lo'
unuc'St"nu me iou never "hi uHuei
e'"'" io' N""ii"V uh"0'oV""u i"Sso'i
spii'I'iinos' "'l' Jun vi "ro'Cneu nerves
'i'o uoo'ors spy anu onis one VI '"o innings
c"n cure me ,,
MhaI - 'h''' he ashou eagerly
p'",n Vi
"t