Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-11-29
Marsaret's Business
"kh1ss KING will be with you
V directly. SIR"

nkKIss KING will be with you
W directly. sir"
THANK you," gasped Max Eden,
and as soon as the maid had dis
appeared he sped swiftly and noise
lessly across the room to the over
mantel, where he surveyed himself
for the fiftieth tine that day, pulled
savagely at his tie and carefully ad-
justed small wisp of hair that
seemed inclined to stray across his
forehead. 1t is a pity that Master
Max acted thus, partly because he runs
the risk of being thought conceited
by the ladies who read this story, and
partly because young journalist who
has been sent by magazine to inter-
view a celebrated lady novelist should
always spend the time that the sub
iect allows him before making an ef-
fective entrance in taking notes of
the signed photographs, autographed
novels and presentation clocks that
have been sedulously strewn about the
room for his benefit.
Eden had been long enough in Fleet
street to know his business, but when
the interviewer happens to be desper-
ately in love with the lady he has
come to write up he is apt to forget
the rules of his trade in an over
whelming desire to create q good i'm
preston on her. Many nights had
Max sat up in his chambers alternate
ly gazing at Miss Margaret Kings
portrait in the center of the mantel-
piece and rereading stray passages
in her novels that he already knew
by heart.
The odd part of the matter was
that until he wrote to her for the
interview the beautiful Miss Margaret
had never heard OF Master Eden at
all. Even now he was no more to
her than any other of the many press
gentlemen who called upon her at all
hours and in all places, and whom
for business reasons it was expedient
to see.
But he? All! At how many first
nights had he admired-from the pit
the back of her head. How often
had he-from corner in the park
caught sight of her profile as she
flashed by in her carriage! How well
he remembered the day that she
dropped her purse in Bond street, and
he, in handing it back to her, had
had the exquisite pleasure of seeing
both her eyes at once!
But, young and lovely as she was,
it was not for her beauty that Max
loved the lady novelist madly. No,
a thousand times no! It was her
soul, the true depth of which was
only revealed in the tenderest and
most exquisite portions of her works,
in which he found that satisfying
sense of affinity for which his ,artis-
tic temperament hau been yearning
ever since he had Extraordinarily
six months before-that he had such
thing about him.
He was still engaged with the re-
fractory wisp of hair when Miss King
came into the room. He did not hear
the door open, but caught sight of
the lady in the glass just in time to
swing round and pick up little book
that lay on table near at hand.
"Mr. Eden, of the Avenue Maya
zine, I believe" said the novelist.
please sit down. l am sorry to have
kept you. I had some important bust
ness with my publishers in connection
with my Forthcoming novel,"
"Not at all,' said Max, dropping
into a very low chair, and fervently
hoping that he was not showing any
bare leg between the top of his socks
and the bottom of his trousers. II
have been studying this interesting
little book of yours. Perhaps you will
let me make an extract from it?"
1T looks like my handbook" said
Margaret, smiling slightly and hold
ing out her hand for the volume. II
thought I had left it somewhere. So
glad you found it interesting"
The last was said by way of lit
tie joke, and with the kind intention
of putting him at his ease; but Eden
:ook it for snub and inwardly cursed
himself by all the gods of Fleet street.
I'm awfully sorry!" he exclaimed.
.The fact was that when you came in
was-well, I was putting my hair
straight, and thought had better
be looking at something, so I snatched
up the first book came across
The young lady novelist laughed.
The boys candor pleased her, and on
looking at him attentively for the first
time she observed that he was good
looking and gentleman.
II understand perfectly" she said
''Now, what can I give you for your
article? l have been interviewed 50
often lately that I am afraid there is
nothing new to get"
II think there is" said Max. "if you
don't mind telling it to me. None Of
the interviews with you that have ap
peared up to the present time have
given anything of yourself. We have
heard all about your books, and your
friends, and your rooms, and YOU
hours of work, but not a word of YOU
own self, your early life, your home
your thoughts, your But perhaps
you don't care to talk about thes,
things?"
Miss King had risen from her chat
and was now toying, rather nervously
with an ornament on the mantelpiece
For one thing" she said, withou
looking at Max. Il have never bee,