New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-02


some minutes now he had been regarding rather
hlankly the equally blank sheets of paper living
before him on his desk. IL June morning
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of another June morning
tar of in the long ago. obtruded.
Mayhap, II the bright sunshine streaming
IN through the open London window filing the
air with dancing thoughts that made our novelist
so retrospective-and idle. He had in his mind.
vaguely. vision of that June morning in a Devon
cider orchard when in the eternal egotism OF
youth he had talked and she had listened When.
half fearfully he had touched the mysteries OF
love
Long ago-oh. very long ago! Bless me-what
was the girls name? She had had ridiculous ideals
incompatible with such merry round face and
such impairment red hair-the Eminent Novelist
recollected- Her father had owned the cider
chard and many others. What the name?
sampford. or wddicombe. or Debbyhouse?
Not any OF them a bit like il. She a memory
nothing more. The Eminent novelist sighed.
Times had changed since then. Now he was-weu.
famous, In a sort of way. That is. he had
A discreet tap at the door disturbed these more
comfortable reflections II was the page boy.
Please. sir. lady
Won't give her name. sir. Wants to see you very
r ask her TO be good enough to come in. inter.
copy copy" rising within HIM Those blank sheets were
She dressed in E Violet vG made n the en-
IRENE Of fashion with great black seathery hat
at at ease, and smiled affably enough toward the
she cum must tGggiye my boarding you like this
n go be H0a that Son ss aS
bowed Thanks awfpl{ y see In have disturbed
have. come 10 talk about Your books, Your last
one is distinct falling away"
The Novelist sank into his round backed chair.
and waited In silence.
speak ones orinion in the open the girl went on.
airy She had perfume Of vioets about her
Novelist scored to have REMEMBERED having seen seen
and cleaning hair and nice sense OF gesture.
Altogether. the Novelist found it in him to over
Il have read ali your books. don't you know"
And. in a manner have rather gone in for them
A woman's first enthusiasm sort OF thing
s fslipg in love with portrait idea You under
II think So CHe rather fattered himself on
Wei. honestly You know-youre not doing
exactly; but. at any rate you're lighting the IRE
PreparatoTy 70 it Now I'm s9Try- and so are
ITS very good Of YOU
Not at an As said one has ideals and things ih
Sar rather nay my deaor , sEH Tav Tsk
-four fist book for Instance
Crude. and very young" suggested the Noyens Li
swiftly Il begin to believe that with age and
So N k gqT a1 but a the
soul. decay appears to set in much earlier
I'm not keeping YOU?
Well do just read some OF your early work
again. m sure
IF you can really prove 10 that my stuff Is
becoming worse instead of slightly better, the
Novelist checked her Il will very willingly give
check for one hundred guineas to any charity you
The violet girl laughed again. and dimpled her
and I'd dearly like 10 take up the challenge! But
| want TO speak OF your boks generally. with
view 10 helping you-and myself. You know that
now it's your name that sells.
The Novelist shrugged his shoulders, and glanced
IRIS SO. am afraid" said the girl. smoothing
her skirts depreCa tinEy. u won't keep you "A
minute longer This is my notion. III write your
stories for Won and you'll sign them II will he
good deal less work for you. while T.
"Yes?' inquired he. rising
Il don't seem TO be able to sell my stories as II
is don't you see?' she continued. with the first
signs of losing her nerve, Her dimple had van
ished temporarily And I'm sure
Eminent Novelist very Codly. but fear that such
an arrangement would be scarcely fair
Not fair?" she echoed. with A touch OF scorn
Not fair? To whom? To your publisher? he
doesn't even read your manuscripts now. or course
It's lust your name. and his imprint To your
public? They'll Gobble anything signed by you
because it's the thing don't YOU know. Not fa1r
q YOURSELF I maintain that shall do YOU more
1haD Justice Here's a short piece She
produced from a little bag hanging at her waist a
folded paper in COnjuring trick kind or way
Read that: sign it-and do me the honor or MAX
ing the attempt. Good morning
She dropped the paper into the hand outstretched
in dismissal. courtesied charmingy smiled ana