The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-15

Miss King wiz be with you directly,
sir"
Thank YOU" gasped Max Eden. and. as
soon as the maid had disappeared ne sped
swiftly and noiselessly across the room TO
the over-mantel. where he surveyed him
self for the nftieth time that day, pulled
savagely at his tie and carefully adjusted
small wsp OF hair that seemed inclined
10 stray across his forehead II is "a pity
that Ma ster Max acted thus partly be-
cause he runs the risk OF being thought
| conceited by the ladies who read this
story, and partly because a young Jour
| nalist who has been sent by a magazine
10 interview a celebrated lady novelist
should always spend the time that the
subject allows him before making an
effective 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 10 know his business, but when the
I interviewer happens 10 be desperately in
love with the lady he has come TO write
up he Is apt to forget the rules OF his
| trade in an overwhelming desire TO create
q good impression on her. Many nights
had Max sat up i'm his chambers alter
nately gazing at Miss Margaret Kings
/ portrait in the centre OF the mantelpiece
! and rereadng stray passages in her nov
els that he already knew by heart.
The odd part OF the matter was that un-
| I'll he wrote 10 her for the interview the
| Beautiful Miss Margaret had never
heard o. Master Eden at all Even 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 IL was expe-
! dent 10 see.
| But he? An! At how many first nights
! had he admired-from the pit--the back OF
| her head. How often had he-from COR
/ ner in the Park-caught sight of her pro-
| file as she flashed by in her carriage How
/ well he remembered the day that she
| dropped her purse i'm Bond street, and he,
/ in handing IL back 10 her. had had the
| exquisite pleasure of seeing both her eyes
! at once!
But young and lovely as she was. IL
was not for her beauty that Max loved
| the lady novelist madly. No. a thousand
! times no! II was her soul, the true depth
/ OF which was only revealed i'm the tender
| est and most exquisite portions OF her
| sense of affinity for which his artistic
temperament had been yearning ever
/ since he had discovered--neerly six
! months before-that he had such thing
! about him.
| He was still engaged with the rcfrac-
! tory wisp of hair when Miss King came
into the room. He did not hear the dc&r
! open, but caught sight Of the lady i'm the
| glass just in time TO swing round and pick
Tr haf In tah
! at hand.
! 'Mr. Eden. OF The Avenue Magazine
! believe said the novelist, Please sit
! down. l am sorry TO have kept YOU had
| some important business with my pub
fishers in connection with my forthcom-
! irg novel"
mot at ALL" said Max, dropping into a
I 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?''
ut looks like my handbook said Mar
| garet. smiling slightly and holding out
her hand for the volume. 81 thought |
had left il somewhere. So glad you found
IL interesting"
The last was said by way OF little
Joke, and with the kind intention of put
! ting him al his ease; but Eden took IL
for a snub and inwardiy 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. / was putting my hair straight. and
| thought had better he looking at some
! thing, so | snatched mp the first book
| came across
The young lady novelist laughed. The
| boys candor pleased her. and on looking
/ at him attentvely for the first time she
| observed that he was good looking and
| gentleman.
IL understand perfectly" she said
Now, what can | give YOU for your ar
| ticle? / have been interviewed so often
| lately that l am afraid there is nothing
| new TO get"
"I think there is" said Max. 'if you
| don't mind telling IL me. None OF the in
terviews with you that have appeared up
I to the present time have given anything
! of yourself. We have heard all about your
| books. and your friends. and your rooms
and your hours OF work, 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 maftelpiece.
For one thing. she said, without look
| speak OF these matters before"
I'm sorry" said Eden, wondering
whether she was annoyed with him or
| merely nervous.
"Oh. I'm not angry" she replied. look
| ing at him with a smile for which ne
would have sacrificed two friendly editors
and a guileless publisher. "Ony. do you
think the public cares TO know
"Oh. bother the publicl" said Max. i'm
| pulsively, rising also and taking up
I strategic position behind a chair.
And what about The Avenue Maga-
/ zine?'" said Margaret. looking at her in
| tervicwer rather curiously
Eden reflected for a moment. and then
| took the bit between his teeth.
II was going To say bother THE Ave-
nue Magazine" as we'll" he confessed:
but that would be unfair, as II was
| through it [ managed 20 meet YOU"
you are y very polite interviewer"
said Miss King. wondering a little what
would come next.
"Oh. I know you are laughing at me-"
| Max exclaimed desperately. raising his
head and looking her I'm the face. But I
, am not merely trying TO be gallant. You
may call it presumptuous I suppose IL Is.
~ \