Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-04-22


modern writer and his cult.
I'm afraid should think you were
OF your head. MIR. Nugent," she re-
pied with the frankEess of long ac-
quaintance
That's just what think of Maeter-
linck." replied her companion dryly.
feeling that the writer must either be
conquered or crushed and leaning to-
ward the last named alternative.
Still, he could not give up. 1t seem
ed TO him preposterous that fellow
Ike Merton should understand things
which he. Nugent. could not. especial
" when Merton's diabolical keenness
gave him the advantage OF Virginia's
open interest and appreciation. 1t was
not thing to be borne quietly.
Perhaps we understand il more
clearly than you do" she acknowledge
Ell. And that I'VE that put her and
Merton together on one side Of the
question as opposed TO him on the 9th
er shook Nugent strangely.
Something of the dismay that he felt
showed in his face. and. seeing it, Miss
Dinsmore attempted once more TO ex-
plain the methods of the new school OF
writers. And her efforts were reward
ed. for at last light seemed to break
upon him.
Il see." he calculated slowly. q see
at last. The gentlemen write in cipher.
just as we send secret messages IN
business. and it doesn't mean a thing
unless you understand the cipher. Dog
pigment chair doesn't sound very in
telligible 10 you, does it,"
Il
Dinsmore shook her head he went on:
And yet ! sent that very message to
firm yesterday in a matter involving
the investment Of thousands Of dollars.
And they understood. just as you and
Merton understand your Maeterlinck
cOdei" he concluded airily, while Miss
Dinsmore studied him with a new in
terest. After ALL she reflected. these
practical minds were keen enough once
they got the point Of view.
Meanwhile Peter Nugent went his
way with a curious exhilaratiOn At
last. he felt he was catching up with
Merton. Since he had the important
question TO ask, why not heap Goals OF
fire on Nirginias head by asking il
symbolically? But how?
1t was the Saturday before Easter.
All the afternoon the bell Of the Dins-
more mansion had been ringing with
monOtonous regularity. which kept the
Buttons at the door at work like an
autOmaton.
Gee whiz.' be soliloquized rs he
took in an azalea almost as large as
himself Miss Virginia must be de
whole ting. ipQgin' By desc Easter
greetIaf,ss.''-
The very last Offering to arrive came
about . O'Clock in the evening, when
the Buttons. wearied out. was doing
at his post and dreaming that he sent
Sadie Flaherty n bunch OF American
Beauties with stems as long as tele-
graph poles. 1t was therefore with 4
somewhat bored and chastened air that
he carried the package that was hand
ed in up 10 Miss Nirgnia's room. where
In a low chair she sat reading "Monna
Wanna"
i'.Opcn IL. Thomas" she commanded
languidly. laying her book face down.
ward I'm her lap and watching him idly
as he removed the overlapping tissue
paper. But at sight OF the object he
lifted out OF the box a moment later
all her languor disappeared, and she ut.
tered an exclamation OF amazement
IL was a huge nest. upon which a
bantam hen-soft, white and with ma
trOnly, alert yellow eyes-sat with non.
chalant grace. Tucked under the edge
OF one wing was an envelope
Buttons did his best. but il was poor.
With a guffaw as involuntary as II
was hearty he deposited the nest and
its occupant upon table and. holding
his hand over his mouth. fed from the
room. Miss Dinsmore approached her
latest possession and removed the note.
saying, who under the sun
Having read IL. she sank into a chair
tears OF merriment streaming from her
eyes. for this was what she read:
Dear Vireinla-I call you that because
know instinctively that symbOlists have
no use FOR fOrmality. The Easter gift
that / am sending may at the first flash
seem bizarre. but when 1 explain that IL
| IS a symbolic Offering you will under
stand. II Is as symbolic as anything
/ Maeterlinck ever dared 10 do. and / inter-
| pref IL 20 you because in this particular
case ] fancy that / can do better than
| Merton himself
The nest-what is IL but the home that
| would offer you2 The egg therein
| please notice that it's been made beastly
| ugly-stands for me. and. "a with me. YOU
| viii have to get beneath the she'll 20 find
| its real significance. The hen that is sit
\ ting upon the egg In the nest.I come
now TO my Nvelicst bit OF symbolism. a
| touch that l pride myself upon-typines
| my frightened expectation OF being sat
upon" when this simple effort OF my
imagination reaches you! BE mercifuL
| then. TO r. -.
Weak with laughter, the recipient OF
this extraordinary missive approached
the table once more and gingerly re-
moved the hen, half expecting an an
| CRY. clucking protest. There in the
nest, sure enough. was an egg bearing
an ugly caricature OF Nugent. which
crumbled in her fingers as she clutcbed
1T, releasing a scrap Of paper that fiut.
tered back into the nest.
1t contained but few words. but in
them all the poetry OF Nugents strong,
sane nature had been compressed, and
| with a little catch OF the breath Miss
| Dinsmore pressed the slip OF paper TO