Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-03-12
Lady AHCe's Novel.
@ HEN that's all settled?' remark
ed Lady Alice.

81 think there is nothing more
to be-ah-discussed," ponderously re-
piled Mr.. Popham of the great publish
ing firm of Popham & Smell.
Lady Alice rose and walked to the
looking glass above the great mantel-
piece in Mr.. Popham's room. She, in
the most unembarrassed manner, gave
the tiniest tilt to the big picture hat
she wore, and the most imperceptible
pat to the fair curls on her forehead.
"And," said She without turning
round, what about the writing of the
novelY
Mr.. Popham's bushy white eyebrows
went up.
"The writing of novel is, as mat
ter of practice, generally left to the
ah-author," he observed. ''You-ah-
surely don't propose
What l propose is this" broke in
Lady Alice impetuously. 9TH give you
the plot Of the story, and the general
idea, and-and all that, and you must
find some respectable person to do the
writing"
'TniS-ah-is most unusual" said
Mr.. Popham helplessly.
Il can't help It," remarked his visitor
coolly. Surely you have people about
who are capable of such a simple
taskY'
She looked round the room vaguely,
as if expecting to find ready writer's
concealed in all the cupboards and pro-
ducible at a moments notice.
Mr.. Popham rose. He rubbed his
glasses in a bewildered way. He was
a stout man, with many chins and a
shining head-the head of a man with
a large balance at his bankers.
my dear lady," he said at length
''my dear lady!'
"Well," said Lady Alice with a small
frown.
"You understand, Lady Alice" said
Mr.. Popham in the same helpless way,
that when We undertake to publish a
book as general rule we confine our
selves to the business of printing, bind
ing, advertising and distributing the
ah-work. The writing of it, We find,
is generally preferred to be done by
the author personally. Still, if you are
serious in what you say
''Of course l am," interrupted LADY
Alice.
81 dare say" continued the publish
er, Il might find some suitable person.
Let me think. All, yes! A young man
"a Mr.. Thorpe, 1 think-called on us
a few days ago with the manuscript of
a war novel-a kind of goods with
which the market is considerably over
stocked. He mentioned that he was
anxious to get some sort of employ-
ment, either temporary or permanent.
and l have managed to send him some
translating to do"
do you think he would suit?' in
Quired the would-be author.
81 think so-yes," returned Mr.. Pom
ham. He appears to be able to write
tolerably we'll. He has-ah-just re-
turned from South Africa, where he
was in ome-ah-irregular corps or an
other, l believe"
"How jollyw cried Lady Alice.
''Please send him to me as soon as nos
sible, dear Mr.. Popham. Thank YOU
80 very much"
Lady Alice Lyllie was the only and
spoiled daughter of q venerable orna-
ment of the peerage, whom she ruled
with rod of iron. Pretty, clever and
rich, she had reached her twenty
fourth birthday without marrying. and
the gossips were beginning to look
knowing when "dear LaP' was men
toned in the course of conversation.
Meanwhile, "dear Lal" rocked not at
all. She was girl of many hobbies.
Photography, spiritualism and sports
of various kinds-each had their little
day-or, one would rather say, hour
with this versatile young woman. Then
music reigned and Lady Alice compos-
ed a "Mafeking March, which was
arranged" by the patient professor,
who guided her somewhat erratic foot
steps along the paths of composition.
Finally Lady Alice decided that she
must write a novel; "That stupid Lady
Lister has written one-or says she
has," remarked the young woman
''and I'm sure Pm better able to write
q decent novel than She"