The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-12-06
A DOUBLE EVENT
A Story of Two People
Struggling For Literary Fame.
BY AMELIA PAIN.

z -
600 COCO occo ocoo ooco ooooocS
The first letter fell out Of q blue sky,
signed John Giddens," on to unprepared
soil, addressed as "E. r. Cornish, ESQ,
Care of the Editor" and ran as follows:
Dear Sri have Just read your story, The
CGrhuncle." May l refer you to sketch of
mine entitled THE Ruby and published in
Stoner's Magazine for April lastf l am naturally
much iattered at being found worthy Of imita-
non-an imitation 30 frank and obvious as to
leave no room for question Of chance or coinci-
dence. At the same time, ss / hope some day to
republish my story in book form, should con-
slider 1t both honest and courteous on your part
If you would insert In the next number Of the
magazine an acknowledgment that your story
was founded on mine / am, Of course only
beginner in the field Of literature, but had hoped
that this need not absolve my colleagues from
ordinary fair play. Faithfully yours,
JoHs GrDDEzs
The answer came three days later:
Dear sE-Your letter Of the 4th has been for.
warded to me- had not read your story, Tho
Ruby" until this morning. I had never, as it
happens, heard Of 1t or Stoner's Magazine for
April last. OF course 1 cannot prove this state
ment. l can and do here swear to the truth Of it,
but am aware that 1t still rests with you to be-
Heve or disbelieve 1t and that disbelief Is the
pEOudDle- Inc reeeTlDlanCe between the
two stories Is extraordinary. 1t Is q most amaz
ing coincidence, nothing more. Faithfully yours,
E. =. CORNISH
John Giddens Immediately wrote again,
declaring himself perfectly satisfied with
the explanation, apologizing for his in
dignation and flippantly suggesting that
in future they should revise each others
proofs to avoid further risks.
tbo =
herewith as a peace ofIeringf 1t is my first at
tempt at a novel, Just published. My excuses
must BIO ~ that 1t is short; (2) that naturally
have feeling Of fellowship with the author Of
The Carbuncle," and 90 that-with the above
notable exception 30 genuinely admire your
work and would value your criticism accordingly.
The qualities which enjoy most in your writ
ing-the extreme delicacy and subtlety-haps led
me TO giess that your masculine title Is assumed.
II l am mistaken. IL Will be my first error In
judging the Of writer, and should be apol-
ogetically yours, JOHN GIDDEEs.
E. F. Cornish allowed the lapse Of a
week before returning thanks for the book.
81 waited TO read it, contrary to my gen
eral rule" was the reason given, borne out
by a most careful criticism and most IN
common praise. "The book has appealed
to me more strongly perhaps than any
other modern novel. l hardly dare or
care to tell you latter what has already
passed between us) that the plot Is almost
identical with one which l have been Sc
cretly nursing In my mind for years.
But so 1t is. 1t gave me the oldest SEN
sation-as II my thoughts had somehow
escaped my brain or had been stolen from
me. l had a moment of senseless rage"
And toward the end OF the letter: "Of
course you are right about my name and
sex being assumed. but you are the first
who has unmasked ME. | trust to your
discretion. l am sure that / safely may.
There are reasons why this should be Of
importance to me. As to your feeling Of
fellowship, how should one not feel drawn
toward an intellectual twin? l. for my
part. am frankly curious to know more of
yourself as well as of your work. Will
you let me? Remember that 1 know
nothing Of your personal history beyond
your address. and that l am no less curl.
GUS than the rest of my SEX"
Wherein John Giddens showed himself
no less fatterable than the rest Of hts sex
by replying with long letter, delicately
personal, a trile sentimental In parts,
but with high lights of humor that must
have appealed particularly to e. F. Cor
nish, il sympathy in humor goes for any
IlluP. Anu Ol CouISc WIS u COuhleE
petition for personal information. "Therc
is always q satisfaction" he ended, "in
seeing n portrait of any one Of whom we
have wildly imagined. May I not see a
portrait of you-a sketch, a photograph
anything that can give me the faintest
clew? intend faithfully to return 1t. If
you refuse, you must. Of course. bear my
differences"
81 haven't got one photograph Of my
self that would show to a stuffed cat"
answered L. F. Cornish. but to stiae in
fercnccs must tell you that there will be
at least two portraits Of me In next years |
exhibitions Il am victim of painters), |
and those you shall see and know. Tell |
me, meanwhile, what your imagination |
has painted ME. Describe me. | will de-
scribe you by way of encouragement. |
You are of medium height. A trifie sal |
low. Short, brown beurd. and. l think. |
grayish eyes. A sensitive mouth-almost |
feminineIy so-and very white hands. |
You are not strong. physically. and you |
are thin and stoop a little. You are |
emotional and q bad sleeper. There! |
Send exhaustive corrections and forgive |
ness as soon as you like" A short and |
whimsical lament on the "abysmal diff |
culties" that beset the work of young |
girl who is writing entirely In secret |
closed the letter.
Dark" John Giddens painted her In
his reply, with straight brows and full |
lips, strong, self reliant face and up
right figure. Large ind rather restless |
eyes, with bit of the devil in them. |
Age about twenty-five. but sometimes |
three. little bit too wealthy for your |
own happiness as an artist, a little bit
spoiled by worldly admiration. Heavens,
how | shall tremble before your next let |
terri
The next letter was already a certainty. |
From now they wrote constantly, letters |
that slipped gradually into intimacy. let
tiers full Of kindred humor, often frankly |
personal.
1t was John Giddens who at last. after |
two months of this correspondence. ap- |
preached the question of meeting. till
then carefully avoided. "Why should we
remain mere paper friends when fate so
clearly Intended more? Think Of all we
may be foregoing: or. better still. think
not at all, but send me simple. trustful
Yes"
And she Sid send by return colossal
"Yes" that occupied the whole of the first
page. On the second came instructions:
'Iet II be at the British museum flor re-
ctabilityl by the Elgin marbles flor in
spiration) next Tuesday afternoon at 3
o'clock And, to avoid assaulting the
wrong people, let each wear yellow
orchid-I in my dress, you In your cont
Rob (of John Giddens' novel; has decided
me. l was rereading last night. Those
whom a common humor hath joined to-
gether let no nan put asunder.'
Tuesday was pouring wet day. but at
five minutes to 5 a tall gaunt woman,
large footed. with yellow orchid in her
dress, entered the Elgin marble room,
wiped some spots of rain off her gloves
and cape. twcaked nervonSIy At her veil
and looked about her with furtive, short