The Caldwell tribune., 1904-04-30
The Tale of a Tale

~S~-~S~S~o~~.~~.~.
81 T 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
fire, looking down on the other as she
sat lingering the manuscript on her
lap.
why do you want to read it2" 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 muchv' 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 shall be impatient
for your Yerdictp'
''I'll read it tonight and report to-
morrow" he assured her, promutly.
Does the first necessitate the Sec
ond?" 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 grasping dis
position, took first the manuscript and
then the hand that held 1t, and-oh-
we'll!
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 aboue uttering unholy
words.
What are you looking for2'' 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.
II thought you might have dropped
something!' she suggested, casually.
"Oh, mo-" he responded, definantly.
So she sat down on the sofa, her face
very grave, but the corner Of her
mouth slightly twitching.
"Well, what do you think of it I"
she inquired.
"Oh!' he said, with a start "That
story of yours? 1t was great-really
absorbing! I can assure you it kent
me awake until 4 o'clock this morn
ing"
"And yet it is comparatively short
You must read very slowly! Do tell
me what you like best about it."
"Oh, WELL" he foundered, "I liked II
all immensely, but what appealed to
me especially was that-er-scena
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 an.
probation Of value, a sense of the
tonal significance which, if I 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 itf"
"Whof" he asked, staggered for the
moment "What" And then recoI-
lecting himself-"Yes." This stoutlv
II think Gregory was perfectly tusti-
fed. don't see how, under the cir
cumstances, he could have done other
wise. / am quite certain that In his
place l should have done Just the
same thingr'
What thing?" she asked, as Rba
poked the fire with her back turned