The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-05-05
The Tale of a Tale

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, 81 T started on the small sofa In tn,
alcove beside the reading lamp
and there were only two peopl,
In the room. One OF them stood OF
the hearth rug. with his back to tn,
nre, looking down on the other as shs
sat lingering the manuscript on bel
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
mer
Perhaps you expect too muchw she
deeply.
do I?' 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 verdictT
I'll read IT tonight and report to-
morrow" be assured her. promutly..
Does the first necessitate the sec
ond? she asked. raising her eyebrows.
AS far as I'm concerned" be an
swered, lowering his. whereupon she
held out her story with a heavenly
smile; but he. being OF grasping dis
position. took first the manuscript and
then the hand that held it, and-oh-
Welt
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
10 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?r she de-
on entering the drawing room
the next morning.
Nothing" he answered, rising hasti-
" from an evident inspection Of the
carpet His face was pale, and his
eye roamed uneasily over
the furniture
Il thought you might have dropped
something" she suggested. casually.
'-Oh, no,' he responded. defnantly
So she sat down on the sofa. her face |
Tery grave. but the corner of her
mouth slightly twitching.
well. what do you think of It
The inquired
"Ohr' he said. with a start. THAT
tory OF yours? 1t was great-really !
1 can assure you it kept
he awake until O'Clock this morn
ng"
And yet 1t is comparatively short.
Iou must read very slowly. Do tell
ne what you like best about it,
"Oh. WELL" he foundered, II liked II
II immensely. but what appealed to
ne especially was that-er-scene
where the heroine-er-gets the best
4 it"
And, paying no heed TO her blank
ooks, he FASTENED on into the safe
waters of abstract literary criticism.
aging: "In those few passages you
how a breadth Of view, a right ap-
of value. a sense of the
onal significance which, If / may be
'ermitted to say 20, il quite above
he average"
He felt that be was doing well. but
I this point she brought him back to
arth.
do you think" she asked him. ear
Iest and wide-eyed, that Gregory
ught TO have done itT
"WhoY' he asked. staggered for the
moment "WhatT And then recol-
Getting himself-"Yes." This stoutly.
I think Gregory was perfectly justi-
led / don't see how, under the cir
he could have done OTTER
wise. / am quite certain that in his
lace / should have done just the
anne thingr'
What thlngT she asked, as she
oked the fire with her back turned.
hen, as he did not answer immedi-
tely, she said, gently: II don't think
hat you quite understand what scene
referred to, but I'll show you in
,oment, II you'll just hand me the
THE manuscript he queried,
lankly.
He took two turns up and down the
pom, then faced her, crimson and
restfallen.
I'm extremely sorry to tell you"
Q said, hoarsely, that your manu-
.ript is-(tho arctic blue Of her eyes
-oze the truth upon his lips)-ls left