The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-06-29
THE HONOR
OF BESSON.
By ROBERT O. v. MEYERS.
Copyright, 1900, by R. O. v. Meyers.l

BesSon showed in his pocket the pa
per on which he had jotted down the
order.
''Of course" said Mr.. Clavie while
the young clerk in the background be-
came interested in book on a table
near enough the two to render over
hearing not impossible-"of course you
will be punctual?"
Besson buttoned up his coat.
"And.' followed up the publisher,
''you understand fully"
Such insistence! 1t tired Besson.
at is probable" he answered, ''that
understand"
Clavie cleared his throat.
.sYour pardon" he explained, "but
you seemed so-shaIl l say inatten
tive.''
SIT is very good word," Besson as
sured him Then, apparently willing
to relieve the others anxiety at so
slight cost to himself, he pulled the
paper from his pocket. II have it
down, you see--ten biographies of 800
words each. to be Incorporated into a
new popular history Of the revolution.
The subjects are Marat. Brienne, Dan
ton. Desmoulins. Robespierre, Espre-
mesnil, Mirabeau-of course not ton
neau' Mirabeau."
"You know that"
GAS you say. Mirabeau (not Ton
neau). Roland, Tinville-I have them
all here"
sand know you have their histories
at the ends of your fingers
"Or at the ends of the fingers Of those
who have prattled about them in print
-Besanyille. Dulaure, Lacretelle, Con-
dorcet, Mercier. Toulongeon, Boville.
Meillan, Vauban."
"Bravow cried Clavie. "Did not
say sop
''For which emanations of genius"
dryly summed up Besson, 81 am to re-
ceive"-
He paused, a twinkle in his eye, in
the corner of which quivered drop Of
moisture.
You consider the price low" said
the publisher. Twenty francs for each
biography of 500 words is''-
Precisely" interrupted Besson as
AC lStulASu thS paper " LIS pOChSts
took prize in mathematics some
years ago. | know how many centimes
a word that is 1t Is settled. Bon
jour? And he left the office, brushing
the drop from his eye with a finger cir
cled by deep gold band that served
to accentuate the whiteness of the
hand.
10 licha cai %r1rr
ing to the young clerk, there goes a
man who knows more about France
and her times than any two men in
Paris today But." he shrugged his
shoulders, dissipation has done its
work. The green angel has him. and
he will not be on time. Thus | have
put the date five days ahead of that on
which, as you know, we shall actually
need the articles he is to do for us. To-
day is the 9th. have told him we
must have them by the 18th. We need
them on the Goth. He will deliver
them on the 18th. He has worked for
us before. You may resume your du-
ties, Francois"
Outside in the sunshine Besson re-
lieved his eyes of another drop Of
moisture. 1t was always thus early in
the morning. 1t was barely noon, and
he had been forced to rise prematurely
in order to see the publisher, who had
| twice asked for the interview.
Whittier should he go-home to work
| at the order from Clayie? Bah! He
| had no such intention. What-on such
a day as this to go to his silent room
| at Mamzelle's, in the Place Lacrosse,
and sit there and spin out words about
Marat, Mirabeau (not 'Tonneauo and
| those others! No, no, my child, not
| while the sun shone like this, and the
| boulevard promised what it did. and
| that path in the Bois had begun to
| sprinkle the asphalted air with imper-
ceptible jets Of the perfume of lilacs.
| He might get at the things this even
| ing-though not this evening. either,
| for he had promised himself to go this
| evening and see how wretchedly Sar-
dou had put together that last new
| play. thing of shreds and patches of
apochryphal history. Tomorrow would
| be time enough. Hold He had prom
ised himself that tomorrow. Well. he
had told Clavie that the biographies
would be done by the 18th. Here II
was only the 9th. He had ten days in
which to write out 5000 words upon
II III n