Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-14
THE TALE OF A TALE.

ii started on the small sofa in the al
cove beside the reading lamp. ana IbeYc
were only two people in the room. One
~ them stood on the hearth ruiz, with
ms back to the fire. looking down on the
other as She sat, lingering the Ms. on
h.r lap.
Why do you want to read liz" she
asked.
Because you wrote it," he answered.
with great simplicity.
She frowned You ought to saw. its
because my other stories have been 50
Successful. and ] Get such nice pufs III
the napersr'
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 = he asked. and studied her pro-
l"undly. The clock licked loudly and the
fire crackledi
by the way! she remarked. you'll
he The first person to read this story of
lhlne, so that | shall be impatient for
ycur verdict
IN read it tonight and report tomor-
row.. he assured der promptly.
Docs the first necessitate the socond?"
she asked. raising her eyebrows
IA as 4 ~ tOAlCtIlttu. he an
Swcred, lowering his, whereupon she held
cut her story wish Il heavenly smile: hui
he, beng of grasping disposition, took
first the Ms. ana then the hand that held
it, 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
10y the light Of the midnight oil, then he
- ,laI Ia, =.
the pavement outside. and finally pa
tloD>d certain street to Il certain house
uti certain small hour of the morning.
when he returned to his abode utteYing
unholy words.
What are you looking for?" she de-
inanded on entering the drawing room
the next morning.
Nothing. he answered. rising hastily
from an evident Inspection of the ear
h't His face WIS pale, and his search
me eye roameG uneasily over the furni-
;ure
Il thought YOU might have dropped
something. she suggested, casually.
oh, no. he responded defantly.
50 she sat down on the sofa, her face
very grave. but the corner Of her mouth
slightly twitchng.
We'll, what did you think Of it," She
inquired
"Oh'" he said. with start 'That
story Of yours? 1t was great-really ab-
sorbin2. ] assure YOU it kept me awake
until I O'Clock this morningt'
And yet it is comparatively short
You must read very slowly! DO tell
me what you like hest about it.
oh, WE'LL" he floundered: Il liked ii
ait immensely, but what appealed to me
especially was that--er-Scene where tho
heroine-er-gets the best of it,"
And paying no heed TO her blank looks.
he FASTENED on into the safe waters of
abstract literature criticism, saying; in
those few passages You snow a breadth
OF view, a right appreciation of value. a
sense Of the tonal significance which, If
may be permitted to say so, is quite
above the average"
lie felt that he was doing well. hnt nj
this point She brought him back to earth.
DO you think" she asked him,
earnest and wide eyed. that Gregory
ought TO have done, it,
'Who"' he asked, staggered for the
moment What And then rccollcct-
ing himself--"Yes.' This stoutly. Il
think Gregory was perfectly justified: |
don't see how, under the circumstances
he could have done otherwise am
quite certain that in his place | should
h2ve lone just the same thing
What thing:" she asked as she poked
the fire with her back turned. Then, as
gently. II don't think that you quite un-
derstand what scere | referred to- but
Il show you in moment, if you'll just
hand me the MS
The MS. y he queried blaukly.
The MS" she repeated determinedlY.
lie took two turns up and down the
room. then faced her, crimson and crest
fallen.
I'm 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
ishcd. Il hope you don't need it immc-
diatclv:"
MO" she admitted; mot today, bat
! really must dispatch it to the PUBLISH
erS tomorrow.
All right" he said. "I'lI call in the
morning."
With the Ms. 2 she asked him, smil-
ingy.
with the MS" he echoed despair
iEgly
And as he went ont Of the house he
held brief Intellectual conversation with
the butler. punctuated with tive-doIlar
bill. and then paced the street for many
hourS-a prey to thoughts OF forgery AMI
fight
1t was the next morning and he had
been talking vGlubly and long on differ
cHt subjects when she at length managed
10 get in Il word
We'll" She asked, "have you got it>'
WHAT" he answered quickly. The
measles? NJ, Although YOU seemed 70
think So judging from the way iu which
Won avoided me ut the reception last
night. and again at the opera afterward.
You wouldn't give me 50 much as
bow"
II Didn't see YOU" She told him.
"Whorc--wlcre was II" he interrupted
"a explain. in the dress circle. on the
opposite side, with my glasses ieveied on
voW box.
THAT was waste Of time" she said
impaticntly, aud So is this. What is the
rs. hiding the truth any longert Why
win you not acknowledge thar you've
lost my MS
'Becausp ! haven't he aswncred
doc.cdly. NO. CAS- She stared al him
in amazeinentl IF that M. has dis
AMP AIRED. vanished irleparaby. You are
RESPONSIBLE. and you alone"
lie ,;rode to The door. then wheeling
round. faced her.
II 7 forgot Your story" be said
harsilv. 1T WIS because / waS thinking
only If son. If was absent-niHded. II
wa herau>e you were present If l-er
lust hat Ms. II was because. well,
suppose y,u know i'll had already lost
j q