New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-11

walked 10 the window, without knowing what he
did. and stood staring down on the angular street
Sodden with spring snow, gray the dull skies
filled with the halt hearted numbering activity
OF the village market-day. Above the street hung
Reeves trim git-lettered sign, promising the town
the services OF the law. In all that dreary year Reeve
had never hated Cobetown as he did whenever he
noted his sign nonchalantly swaving its prosper
Gus gilt letters before his bare Office Someway
that SNUG well-fed sign was of place in Cobe-
town as WAS Reeve himself.
And now He might smash the sign and the
antque-oak desk together, he thought buoy
auty, and make a bonfire of them in the middle
OF the pine floor; for ''Ttte-a- Tete," the musical
comedy OF which he had done the book and Caldwell
the score had been positively snapped up by Wynd
winner would have its New-lork production that
iall. and at an advance consideration that was to
Reeves riChes-richesi As for Caldwell he was
vaudeville skt and finding fault with the climate.
and TO that connosseur in climates the sale would
mean merely another smile OF Fortune.
But to Reeve II meant Misunderstanding.
Moreover Myndwynner announced in this letter
that he intended using the piece to star Miss Elm
Miss Penelope Elm who in a minor role last
season had saved the soul of a non-supporting COM
edy. Wyndwynncr said that for the third act
IN which the heroine. a travelling American girl,
would npcrsonate a princess and duchy,
Hiss Elm was born, and more than born.
We're going in for cut-glass furniture and
diamonds in the footlights and so on" wrote
Wyndwynner, ana the little Elm viii blaze.
Size can do II"
Reeve stood long by the window, lost in the
proposition. idiotically milling some of the
best scenes in his play; then he went feverishly
through his desk to hunt ont the manuscript.
And when an hour later Miss Ada Rogeda tapped
ar his door to press her claim upon rival mllfner
who mad copied her one Chicago tobacco-brown
model toque. she found Reeve laughing almost
r-nderly over the scene in the throne-room. He
had never appreciated how fine the stuff really
I'm glad YOU can laugh, Mr.. Reeve, I'm sure,
SAID Miss Ada Rogcda dolefully, ." but when per
sons 1nilliner | declare don't seem as if there
was much 10 laugh at. An when 1t comes to
downright toque-stoallng in the profession, / no
longer feel respectable let alone proud
SIX weeks later Reeve, having settled upon the
damages due the owner OF the Chicago toque, and
having persuaded old Tivton that he must stop
harpng upon how his employers had deserved to
bc robbed and try To put forward some proof that
he had not robbed them, turned his Office to
willing hands and set his face toward NeW-G ork.
There he met the returned Caldwell, who ban
tered him numerically upon never having heard
the score Of TGte-a-ttte" which was true, partly
because Caldwell had composed most OF the music
abroad and partly because Reeve knew no music
and could barely distinguish a catchy chorus from
the national HYMN. Caldwell played MN bits OF
tn. lrrics and Reeve listened with polite attention
and showed strong appreciation for his own lines;
and the TWO held conferences with Wyndwynncr
and had uncheons for the sake of conferences, and
...... versa and nourned that Miss Elm would not
fe back in town until after her vacation. And
when Tune came Reeve found his delight that he
could now languidv admit that he needed q change
and could hear of the allurement Of various summer
....r.. without becoming a momenldry anarchist
'.5 pursue the mere habits of "a white man. and not
E.. . rlliser was a luxury for which he had long
n understood himself TO be designed.
i.e chose TO spend June Al Applegate Farm, Sc
- FIRST Bi