The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-30
Arthur Haynes Temptation.



"A sunny morning in June. with the
Temple Gardens looking their best.
sparks of silver flashing from the cabs
and carriages rolling along the embank-
menl, and bright-funneled steamers ~
dingy barges trailing up and down the
Thames, which turned from brown 10
pearl-gray as it neared the Surrey shore.
Had the skies suddenly clouded over and
poured down torrents of rain Arthur
AIayne would hardly have noticed the
difference. He sat in his luxurious den
on the first floo1. OF one of the old build
ing in Kings Bench Walk, staring al
heap of paper on the big oak writing
desk before him, and thinking the while
of period of eight or nine months that
belonged in the past Those were the
days when his chum Dick had shared
with him these same apartments-ihe
brilliant, cratic, jovial Dick ValIenger,
journalist and fiction writer, clever at
both lines, but with the ill-luez that per
sistently dogs some men.
They had known little about each 9TH
er, or at least Mayne had never trou-
bled to ask his friend to speak much of
himself; he always understood that Val
lenger was alone in the world, and that
he had seen many peoples and countries
before he came to live in the Temple
Chance had thrown the two together,aad
kindred tastes and occupations had c.
mented their comradeship; Tor Mayne,
though he was a full-hedged barr1ste:',
had forsaken that profession for EteIa-
ture. Both were clever, both hard work
ers. and their names began to appear -
intervals in magazines and weekly pa
pers. But Nallenger, impatient of rever-
ses and too eager to attain his ambitions.
tired Of the drudgery and disappoint-
ments, was disheartened by the strus-
gle to exist on the occasional checks that
he received for accepted stories. ArI
existence meant for him many things that
the ordinary man of letters regards IS
luxuries for he had lived well in his
time as he was wont to hint Of an even
ing after his third whisky and soda
One November afternoon entering
from the fog and rain of Fleet street,
vallenger threw himself in a basket
chair by the fire and jingled a poclzetfsl
Of coins
a bit Of luck. my boy?" asked NIaync.
'.Yes-but not the kind you're think
ing of was the reply. I'm sick of it
all. III never make my mark here
those last three stories are dead failures.
So I'm going to cut London and slavery
Yes it's fact old man. I met a chap
this morning-haven't seen him for fve
yeaTS-and he made me an offer In
starting at once for India, to run a tea
plantation that he owns up in the hills uf
as we'll. I'll be glad to get back there
among the temple bells and spicy smells
IS that lucky beggar Kipling puts it."
7 wouldn't go, Dick"
Cant refuse. I've accepted cash for
passage and expenses I'm in for it all
right"
II have plenty of money" Mayne said.
awlxwardly- If you would only let
That's impossible. I've let you do far
too much already"
Nayne knew his friend and was silent
I shall sail the day after tomorrow.
Valienger went on, and if you don't
mind, old man, I'm going to leave my
old box here. There's something in it
you might look over when you find the
time-a novel commenced four years
ago kept pegging away at 1t now and
then in odd moments. and it's all finish /
ed but the last two chapters. which are
plotted out il, detail / don't say it's (
good stuff, though I've put my best work /
into it, and the idea is original ole. /
Do what you like with it. I don't care !
if you burn it, but should you happen to |
think it worth sending TO some publish
En-
Il didn't know you had anything of the
sort on hand, "Mayne Interrupted Don't !
go of to India yet, Dick. Stop and fin I
ish the book. and take it to a publisher
yourself. It might make your name and |
fortune
mo fear, old man." replied vallenger. |
II III never set the 4na1neS Oh ITe- j. We I
lost faith in mySelf-SO far as literature /
is concerned. And besides, I'm thorough /
~ committed to this Assam business"
IT'S pity" said Mayne. But know /
better than to try to argue with you
So Xallenger chucked letters. and went /
of 10 India TO manage coolies; but be- |
fore he had been up-cOuntry a month
sharp attack Of fever sent him to an
ear1y grave Mayne, who was badly cut /
up BY the news. had meanwhile started Il 1
of hi md hnt anf i'm
pretty busy Thus it happened that Va
lenger's MS lay for eighteen months
and more untouched, almost forgotten.
under the bed at Kings Bench Walk.
Then one day Mayne took It out of the
box, dipped into it with a sigh Of remem-
brance, read on with Quickened interest,
and never stopped till he had reached the
last page. It was a living, breathing
book. thing of exceptionally novel
treatment a masterpiece carved from a
mans soul. 1t was a revelation 10
Ndayne, and he was thrilled by the dis
covery. He did not mistrust his Judg-
meet
It didn't think IT was in him to do
this" he said. IF poor old Dick had
only lived! 1t means fame at bound
Famei It was AIayne's watchword,
and at that moment he was assailed by
a subtle temptation which he could rot
shake off then or afterwards Within L
the next two months he had written the
final chapters from Vallenger's pages ri
notes. and submitted THE Touchstone
of Life as the book was called, to a
prominent publisher. He offered no ex-
PLANTATION. leaving it to be inferred that
he was the author There would be tine
enough later, he argued, to do the riSh-
thing.
That was ten months ago, and now a
splendid offer had been received and ac-
cepted for the book, and II was to lie
published almost Immediately
TT is certain to be the literary event
of the year." wrote the publisher, in
letter accompanying the proofs, land !
believe that The Touchstone Of Life viii
place you at once in thezforemost rank
If oa1r fiction writer's