The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-02-05
THE TALE OF A TALE


cove 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 fire, looking down on the
othr as she sat, lingering the MS. on her
lap
why do you want to read it?" she
asled.
Because you wrote it," he answered.
with great simplicity.
She frowned. You ought to say it's
bcause my other stories have been so
successful, and 1 get such nice puffs in
ne papers
.'Those reasons may suffice for The rest
of the world, but they don't for me-
Perhaps you expect too much she
said. and studied her MS deeply.
do IT, he asked and studied her pro-
foundly The clock tiche loudly and the
FIRE cracked
by the way" she remarked, you'll
be the first person to read this story of
mine. so that l shall be impatient for
Your verdict
.'rH read it tonight and report tomor-
row." he answered. promptly
Does the first necessitate the second ?"
she asked, raising her eyebrows
'As far as I'm concerned" he an
swered, lowering his. whereupon she held
out her tsory with a heavenly smile But
ne. being OF a grasping disposition. first
took the Ms. and then the hand that held
IL. and-oh,-well.
The clock ticked loudly and the fire
cracked.
Two hours later he stood in his own
baH l.;
by the light of the midnight oil, then he
searched the front steps and examined
the pavement outside, and finally pa
trolled certain street 70 a certain house
till certain small hour of the morning,
when he returned to his abode uttering
unholy words
What are you looking for?" she de-
manded on entering the drawing room the
next morning."
Nothing he answered, rising hastily
from an evident inspection of The carpet.
His face was pale, and his searching eye
roamed uneasily over the furniture.
Il thought you might have dropped
something!' she suggested, casually.
''oh, no." he responded Gefantly.
So she sat down on the sofa, her face
very grave, but tie corner Of her mouth
slightly twitching
We'll. what did you think of it?" she
Inquired.
fOh!" he said with a start. That
sory of yours? 1t was great-really alb
'orbing, 1 assure You it kept me awake
antil O'Clock this morning"
And yet it is comparatively short You
must read very slowly. Do tell me what
you like best about it
"Oh, well" he noundered; 4 liked it all
Immensely, but what appealed to me es-
peciaIy was that-er-sceace where the
heroine-er-gets the best of it
And paying no heed to Eer blank looks.
he hastened on into the sdee waters of
abstract literary criticism, saying: In
those few passages you show breadth
OF view, right appreciation of value, a
sense of the tonal significance which, If
/ may be permitted to say so, is quite
above the average"
He felt that he was doing well, but at
this point she brought him back TO earth
DO you think, she asked him, earnest
and wide-ewed, that Gregory ought to
have done it?''
'Who?' he asked, staggered for the
moment What" And then receIect-
ing himself-"Yes'' This stoutly u
think Gregory was perfectly justified; I
don't see how, under the circumstances
he could have done otherwise I am
quite certain that in his place l should
have done just the same thing
What thing?" she asked. as she poked
the fire, with her back turned. Then, as
he did not answer Immediately, she said.
gntly: Il don't quite think you under
sand what scene I referred TO but I'll
slow you in a moment, if you'll just hand
ne the MS"
The MS?' he queried, blankly
'''rhe MS" she repeated. determinejly
He took two turns up and down the
room. then faced her, crimson and crest
fallen
Il am extremely sorry TO tell you" he
said. hoarsely. that your MS. is-the
arctic blue of her eyes froze the truth
upon his lips-is left behind" He fin
ished Il hope you don't need it imme-
diately?'
"N-no.' she admitted, mot today; but
i really must dispatch it to the publishers
tomorrow"
"All right" he said. I'm call in the
morning"
with the Ms.?" she asked him. smil-
ingly.
with the MS" he echoed, despair
ingly.
And as he went out of the house he
held a brief Intellectual conversation with
the butler. punctuated with five-dollar
bill. and the npaced the street for many
hours-a prey to thoughts of forgery and
flight
1t was the next morning. and he had
been talking volubly and long ON different .
subjects when she at length managed to
get na word
We'll" she asked; have you got it?"
"What?" he answered quickly. The
measles? No. Although you seemed to .
think SO. judging from the way in which
you avoided me at the receptionSlast {
night. and again at the opera atterward. I
You wouldn't give me so much as n bow"
Il didn't see you she told him
''Nhere-where was l." ne interrupted I
to explain. In the dress circle. on the +,
opposite side. with my glasses leveled on .
your box
THAT was waste of time" she said (
impatienty. and SO is this. What is the .
use hiding the truth any longer? Why
viii you not acknowledge that you've lost F.
my MS"
Because l haven't"' he answered dog
gedly. NO, CAS- she stared at him In .
amazement) If that Ms. has disap- T
peared, vanished irreparahly. you are re- +
sponsible. and You alone
He strode to the door, then wheeling /
round. faced her.
IF l forgot your story he said. harsh 4
Iy 'itw as because I was thinking only