The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-21

sir"
Ihank you," gasped Max Eden, and,
as soon as the maid had disappeared,
ne sped swiftly and noisleSsly across
the room to the over-mantel, where he
surveyed himself for the fiftieth time
Cnat oay' pulled savagely at his tie and
carefully adjusted small wisp of hair
tnal seemed inclined to stray across his
Iorenead. 1t is "a pity that Master Max
acted thus, partly because he runs the
Ilsk Oh being called conceited by the la
oleS VINO read this story, and partly be-
cause a young journalist who has been
sent by magazine to interview ceie-
prated lady novelist should always spend
the time that the subject allows him
| before making an effective entrance in
taxing notes of the signed photographs,
autographed novels and presentation
CLOCKS that have been sedulously strewn
! ABOUT the room for his benefit.
Edef mad been long enough in Fleet
street to know his business, but when
the interviewer happens to be desperate
| ~ III love with the lady he has come
| 10 write up he is apt to forget the rules
| Oh MS trade in an Overwhelming desire
| TO create a good impression on her.
MANY nights had Max sat up in his
chambers alternately gazing at Miss
margaret Kings portrait in the center
OF the mantlepiece and re-Teading stray
| passages IN her novels that he already
| knew hy heart
Inc ocd part of the matter was that
| until he wrote to her for the interview
| the beautiful Miss Margaret had never
neard of Master Eden at all Even now
ne was no more to her than any other
Oh the many press gentlemen who call
ed upon her at all hours and in All places,
ana whom for business reasons it was
expedient to see.
he ,..o....
mao ne admired-from the pit-the back
OF hef head! How often had he-from a
corner IN the Park-caught sight of her
PRONE as she flashed by in her carriage
How We'll he remembered the day that
she dropped her purse in Bond street
ana ne, IN handing it back to her, had
hdo me exquisite pleasure of seeing both
her eyes at onCeI
BUT, young and lovely as she was, it
t vas not for her beauty that Max loved
tne lady novelist madly No, a thousand
uihe no! 1t was her soul. the true depth
VI Whlch was only revealed in the tend
SIest ana most exquisite portions of her
woihs' IN which he found that satisfying
feI,no, o. aIhnity for which his artistic
since he had discovered-nearly SIX
a e1honthS oefore-that he had such a thing
lie was still engaged with the refractory,
Wlsp of hair when Miss King came ;,to
the room: He did not hear the door omen
put caught sight of the lady in the giass
100 -! tIine 10 swing around and pick
at hand. e" ''oie near
Mr.. Eden, of The Avenue Magazine,
! A. DelieVe' said the novelist. Please sit
uoWh' am sorry to have kent vo1,
mad some important business with NV
pupHshers in connection with my forth
Not at ALL said Max. dronnine into
a very low chair and ferventlV boninp
mat ne was not showing any bare les
pbetWeen the top of his socks and the
sf,t62111, OF MS trousers. Il have been
yours. Perhaps you will let me make an
extract from it?s' '''s'tAe an
ct, 1T looks Ike my handbook said Mar
her hand for the volunne. ~ tbono 81
mad left it somewhere. So Cad 1on
found 1t Interesting
me last was said by way of q LITTLE
3oke' and with the kind intention of out
fins MN at his ease; but Eden took If
Tor a snub and-inwardly cursed himself
Os an II, the gods of Fleet street.
.o, nj awfuily sorryi' he exclaimed
Inc tact was that when you came in
Was-Weil, was putting my hair straight
and thought had better be looking at
book L came across.
Inc young lady novelist laughed The
poys candor pleased her, and on looking
at him attentiVely for the first time shs
gentleman. u
- understand perfectly" she said
NOW. nov what can-I give you for your ar
ticle? | have been interviewed so often
to get io''''lis
Il think there is said Max. .if Won
interviews with you that have apDeared
up to the present time have given anv-
thtng OF yourself. We have heard all
ABOUT your books, and your friends, and
but not a word of Your own self your
early life, your home, Your thoughts
your But perhaps YOU don't care
to talk about these things?'
Miss King had risen from her chair and
was now toying, rather nervously, with
an ornament on the mantelpiece.
ing at Max, Il have never been asked to
speak of these matters before
Tn sorry said Eden, wondering
whether she was annoyed with him or
"Oh. I'm not angry" she replied, look
ing at him with smile for which he
would have sacrificed two friendly editors
and a guileless publisher. Only, do You
think the public cares to know
oh, bother the public!' said Max, inn
pulsiveiy, rising also and taking up a
Stra .egic position behind a chair
And what about THE Avenue Maya
zine?' !" said Margaret, looking at her
interviewer rather curiously
Eden reflected for moment and then
took the bit between his teeth
I was going to say bother The Ave
nue. Magazine as we'll " he confessed,
Jul that WOulu U9 unfair, as 1t
through it that l managed to meet YOU
You are a very polite interviewer
said Miss King, wondering a little what
would come next
'Oh, ] know you are laughing at me-"
Max explained desperately raising his
head and looking her in the face. But
am not merely trying to be gallant.
You may call it presumptuous. | sup
pose it is, as you are d successful novel.
| ist and am only a hack writer: bur
| when / say that it is q pleasure to me
j to meet you, even on these terms mean
! it,
/ Margaret was not laughing now. She
! was playing with the ornament on the
! mante1piece again and wishing rather
! that somebody would come into the room.
Ana I mean more than that" Eden
went on, encouraged by her silence, 81
n1onthS-eVer since-Since / read your la
! book''-he noticed a slight flush creeping
round her neck-''I have longed to know
you as a friend, and to be able to tell YOU
how much / admire your work p
Miss King turned toward him, and her
! face was very grave.
Pardon my interrupting YOU" she
! said, but Understood that YOU wished
! to see me on business. Had We not bet
ter get on-sWith the interview? Or if
! you have changed your mind about that.
perhaps. you will allow me to attend to
my work
He understood the rebuke, but stood
| his ground firmly.
Give me two minutes he said. al sup
| pose I shall never have the chance OF