New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-27

By CHARLES ID. LESLIE.

Peterkin. Mrs. CayIey-Rivers's porty butler. felt
strong dsapproval of the instructions he received
Il expect Mr. Braithwaite" his mistress told him;
I'm not at home 10 any else"
That's the man Susan says she's sweet on he
unused. and he is clerk of no Importance in the
War Office. He's master here, for that's what
Susan says it's coming too Pretty state Of things
His particular grievance was that having ser ed
in families with titles hitherto he felt it a come
down 10 be butler to a mere commOner yet surely
Mrs. CayleyRivers would not always remain a
cOmmorer She young and handsome. rich.
and free to marry whom she pleased and during
Road had sutocs in abundance and more than one
opportunity of entering the peeTage But her mtiu,
widow changed her name il would merely be to
alter Cayley-Rivers to Braithwaite.
The visitor looked nervous wnen admitted, ana
not seem TO set him at his ease; indeed. he ad-
1nitted as much I regard you to-day more IN
how prisoners in the dock must feel" he said as
But / told you in my note how much had en-
joyed reading II; my verdict ts-simply that l N
It's been the dream of my life to be a dramatist
There's no woman l envy more than John oliver
You really think it good?"" he cried eagerly.
hood onGF Gn org We think ESg the pay Splendid Us
great, and I'm proud 10 be the friend of the author
Vii be snSin9 ti Won as {Re new sbakespeare
Shand flushed with pleasure He knew the praise
was extravagant. yet felt it was the genuine ex-
with no intima5es Of either sex and yet something
in his face had attracted Mrs. Ldyley- RfVerSS at
tenuon when they were introduced, ana she had
determined TO be friends with him, to ind pres
emily. as she had guessed. that under his reserve
hidden capabilities of order. He
was we'll read. and, when he chose, fluent and
feminine society but the lady broke down his re-
Sc Nc b, 49,, c b L I'm F 20 e[ 5, u tIisIs5 bar
with the secret. jealousy guarded. that he had
written a playa modern comedy of manners.
For Years ne hSd been s close follower OF me
technique OF playwFtting and the comedy was the
result
insisted on seeing it. She herself the head OF
literary coterie. and lions Of letters locked TO
poems and her frank 1rais Of heir worl writer tier
and critic Of the first rank.
But In such a hopeless outsider said Shand
London manager. For one thing IFS too literary;
there only three theatres that it's suitable for
and don't know the managers of any of them"
It's Just the play for the Crescent. and the lead
Cayley- Rivers naming a young and popular actor
manager. who had not long started theatre Of
Yes he is, the most likely man. but the last
that was BY Kenny HaTdy Is H8 it likely he se9t a
ouSly consider one by an obscure man when the
. ~Es win tHo II I b 55k him
Very well; haven't you met him here
snand Sld not, not remember having done so. but
actor-manager to read it to say it was written bS
a friend, not giving his name:
work ~ asked Mrs CavIev-Fivers with a smile
Il confess I'm siv OF fatherfng il at present hut
II ever IT is accepted I shall be proud 10 own il
You are. the only living person who knows
Am To- She took up the typescript and turned
the pages to the end. The Dramatic and Lit
Shand shook his head II left the manuscript at
the Office and called for 1t, and gave the name
7 expect the housernaid at your lodgings knows
al about IT, Servants always know more Of US
I'm sure She does not. keep my papers meth
odicalIy under lock and key and always carry the
keys about with And that's the only copy in
existence I aCCiGenfallv fire 10 the manuscript
with my pipe reduced IL 70 ashes, and nearly set
fire 10 the room as well last week -
KeIlet 10 do likewise. You will trust me-?
fore the frank Worship IN hs eyes eyes Mrs Cayley-
The weak points in your play, I think are the
women; they are not nearly so well drawn the
title was The IncousistencS Of Lord TaboJ''
men fbs esr ta2 R a But f the 9 tW6at an
why not shorten it-why not Lord Talbot
For some time longer they discussed the play.
and Shand Went away feeling happier than ne
bad ever done IN his life II was not so much MIS-.
CayleyRiysrss praise G his play n as her attitude
pered wild hopes to his brain-that the himself
and the play really interested her Hitherto he
IIi tg ,t vL0,I6 one dav 5rnp him a. eaSv as
OF position far exceeding his own. and was too dif
dent TO think ne stood a chance of winning her.
But her praise of the play changed his attitude.
Suppose. she We're right suppose Roy keIeJ &c,
cepted It and il proved big financial success. ne
would step into reputation and riches Immediately
whispering Gin the event OF her saying ''Yes'l that
she was making n shoCkingly bad match Then.
changing from extreme optimism to extreme pes
simism he told himself he a fool; the play
was not read vet far less accepted. by Roy Kellet.
and the odds thousand 10 one against his
doing so. He n fantastic dreamer. an obscure
clerk without prospects patrons aid him, and
an obscure clerk he would remain.
Ten days elapsed. during which he alternated be-
tween hope and des7ondenCy, and then, not hear
ing from Mrs. Cayley- Rivers, he called again AT
Cromwell Road: but the lCdy this occasion
not alone. and not till he was taking leave did he
hear any Roy keet has II. I put IL into
his hands myself. and he promised TO read it at