The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-04-07
The Tale of a Tale


e-N~-@~.o>SNN-oN.
1T started on the small sofa in the
alcove beside the reading lamp,
and there were only two people
In the room. One of them stood on
the hearth rug, with his back to the
IRE, looking down ON the other as she
sat lingering the manuscript on her
lap.
why do you want to read itT' she
asked.
Because you wrote It," he an
swered, with great simplicity.
She frowned. "You ought to say,
it's because my other stories have been
so successful, and | get such nice
puffs in the papers"
Those reasons may suffice for the
rest Of the world, but they don't for
mep'
Perhaps you expect too muchF she
said, and studied her manuscript
deeply.
DO IT he asked, and studied her
profoundly. The clock licked loudly
and the fire cracked.
"By the wayP' she remarked. you'll
be the first person to read this story
Of mine, so that | shall be impatient
for your verdictg'
"I'll read it tonight and report to-
morrow" he assured her, promutly.
Does the first necessitate the Sec
Ondr' she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"As far as I'm concerned" he an
swered, lowering his, whereupon she
held out her story with a heavenly
smile; but he, being Of a grasping dis
position, took first the manuscript and
then the hand that held II, and-oh--
welll
The clock licked loudly and the fire
cracked.
Two hours later he stood in his own
front hall, turning his pockets inside
out by the light of the midnight oil;
then he searched for the front steps
and examined the pavement outside,
and finally patrolled a certain street
to certain house till certain small
hour Of the morning, when he re-
turned to his abode uttering unholy
words.
What are you looking forT' she de-
on entering the drawing room
the next morning
Nothing" he answered, rising hasti-
y from an evident inspection of the
carpet. His face was pale, and his
searching eye roamed uneaslly over
he furniture.
Il thought you might have dropped |
'omethlngP' she suggested, casually.
"oh, mol" he responded, definantly.
So she sat down on the sofa, her face
1ery grave, but the corner Of her
mouth slightly twltching.
"Well. what do you think Of It
he inquired.
"ohv he said, with start. ''That
tory of yoursl 1t was great-reslly
bsorblngl can assure you 1t kept
ne awake until o'clock this morn
ng."
"And yet 1t Is comparatively short.
'ou must read very slowly! Do tell
ne what you like best about It"
"Oh, well," he houndered, II liked It
Il immensely but what appealed to
no especially was that-er-scene
ghere the heroine-er-gets the best
{ II"
And, paying no heed to her blank
,oks, he hastened on into the safe
'aters of abstract literary criticism,
aging; "In those few passages you
how a breadth of view, a right an
recitation Of value, sense of the
onal significance which, II / may be
ermitted to say 80, Is quite above
he average"
He felt that he was doing well, but
this point she brought him back to
arth.
DO you think" she asked him, ear
est and wide-eyed, that Gregory
ught to have done iti"
"whol" he asked, staggered for the
loment. "WhatT And then recol-
citing himself-"Yes." This stoutly.
think Gregory was perfectly justi-
ed. l don't see how, under the cir
he could have done other
Use. am quite certain that in his
lace should have done just the
lme thingF
What thing7" she asked, as she
oked the fire with her back turned.
hen, as he did not answer immedI-
ely, she said. gently: Il don't think
at you quite understand what scene
referred to, but I'll show you in a
oment, II you'll Just hand me the
anuscript."
THE manuscript he queried,
ankly.
He took two turns up and down the
ON, then faced her, crimson and
sstfallen
I'm extremely sorry to tell you"
said, hoarsely, shat your manu-
ript is-(the arctic blue OF her eyes
oze the ruth upon his lips)-is left