Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-04-05
The Tale of a Tale

~~O0-~.N-~0~O~-~-~~-
81 7 started on the small sofa in the
alcoye 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 other as she
sat lingering the manuscript on her
lap
why do you want to read it," 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 1 get such nice
puffs in the papers"
Those reasons may suffice for the
rest Of the world, but they don't for
me"'
Perhaps you expect too muchw she
said, and studied her manuscript
deeply.
do II" he asked, and studied her
profoundly. The clock licked loudly
and the fire cracked.
by the way!" she remarked. You'll
be the first person to read this story
of mine, so that 1 shall be impatient
for your verdictp'
I'll read it tonight and report to-
morrow" he assured her, promptly.
Does the first necessitate the sec
Ond" she asked. raising her eyebrows.
las 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 1t, and-oh-
well!
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 a certain house till a certain small
hour Of the morning, when he re-
turned to his aboue uttering unholy
words
What are you looking for?" she de-
manded. on entering the drawing room
the next morning.
Nothing" he answered. rising hasti-
ly 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, nor he responded. definantly.
SO she sat down on the sofa, her face
very grave, but the corner of her
mouth slightly twitching.
"wen. what do you think OF it
she inquired.
"Ohw he said. with a start. THAT
story Of yours? 1t was great-really
absorbing! 1 can assure you it kept
me awake until o'clock this morn
ing"
and yet it is comparatively short.
You must read very slowly! Do tell
me what you like hest about It."
"Oh. WELL" he aoUndered. Il liked (.
all immensely. but what appealed to
me especially was that-er-scene
where the heroine-er-gets the best
of IT,"
And, paying no heed TO her blank
looks. he FASTENED on into the safe
waters of abstract literary criticism,
SAYING: I'm those few passages you
show a breadth OF view, a right sp-
probation of value. Use OF the
tonal significance which. 4 l 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, ear
nest and wide-eyed. that Gregory
ought to have done itg'
'Who2" he asked, staggered for the
moment. "Whatg And then recol.
lecting himself-"Yes." This stoutly.
Il think Gregory was perfectly justi-
fed. | don't see how. under the cir
cumstances, he could have done other
wise. I am quite certain mat in his
place l should have done just the
same thingr'
What thing?" she asked. as she
posSd the fire with her back turned.
Then. as he did not answer immedi-
ately, she said. gently: Il don't think
that you quite understand what scene
I referred to. but I'll show you in a
moment II you'll just hand me the
manuscript"
The manuscript he queried.
blankly.
lie took two turns up and down the
room. then faced her. crimson and
crestfallen.
I'm extremely sorry TO tell you"
he said. hoarsely, that your manu-
script is-(the arctic blue OF her eyes
froze the truth upon his lips)-is left
behind" he finished. Il hope YOU do
not need il Immediately"
Woo" shs admitted. mot to-day.
hut really must dispatch II to the
publishers tomorrow"
~An right" he said IN call In the
morning"
With the manuscript" she asked
him. smilingly.
"with the manuscript" he echoed.
despairingly.
And as he went out OF the house he
held brief. Intellectual conversation
With the butler. punctuated with IS
bin, and then paced the street for
many hours-prey 10 thought OF for
gerry and flight