The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-05-17


prise, for the thing was not so common
as it has since become. But when it
transpired that gift of peculiar sig
nificance was to follow the congratula-
tons, to give them weight the infer
ence prevailed that the white potentate
and the black had taken simultaneous
leave Of their fourteen senses. For the
gift was pearl of price unparalleled,
picked aforetime by British cutlasses
from Polynesian setting and present
ed by British royalty to the sovereign
who seized this opportunity Of restor
ing it to its original possessor.
The incident would have been god
send to the press few weeks later.
Even in June there were leaders, let
tiers, large headlines, loaded type, the
Daily Chronicle devoting half its liter
airy page to charming drawing Of the
island capital, which the new Pail
Mall, in a leading article headed by
pun, advised the government to blow
to flinders. l was myself driving a
poor but not dishonest quill at the
time, and the topic Of the hour goaded
better place than anything l had yet
turned out. 1 had let my fiat in town
and taken inexpensive quarters at
Thames Ditton on the plea of disin-
terested passion for the river.
First rate, old boy" said Raftles
(who must needs come and see me
there), lying back in the boat while
HI c%N NOV,
pay you pretty well for these, eh?"
"Not penny"
Nonsense, Bunny! I thought they
paid so Well? Give them time and
you'll get your check"
ooh, no, l shan't," said l gloomily.
"I've got to be content with the honor
of getting in. The editor wrote to say
so in so many Words" 1 added. But
gave the gentleman his distinguished
name.
"You don't mean to say you've writ
ten for payment already"
No. 1t was the last thing had i'll.
tended to admit. But l had done it.
The murder was out. There was no
sense in further concealment. had
written for my money because really
needed it. If he must know, was
cursedly hard up. Raffles nodded as
though he knew already. l warmed
to my woes. 1t was no easy matter
to keep your end up as a raw free
lance of letters. For my part was
afraid wrote neither we'll enough nor
ill enough for success. suffered from
persistent Intellectual feeling after
style. Verse could manage, but it
did not pay. To personal paragraphs
and the baser journalism l could not
and l would not stoop.
Raffies nodded again, this time with
a smile that stayed in his eyes as he
leaned back watching me. I knew
that he was thinking of other things !
had stopped to. and thought knew
what he was going to say. He had
said it before SO often. He was sure
to say 1t again. l had my answer
ready, but evidently he was tired OF
asking the same question. His lids
lell, he took up the paper he had
dropped and sculled the length of the
old red wall of Hampton Court before
he spoke again.
"And they gave you nothing fol
these? My dear Bunny, they're CAPT
tai; not only qua verses, but for crys
tallizing your subject and putting it IN
nutshell. Certainly you've taught me
more about it than l knew before. But
is 1t really worth f5O,OOO-a single
pearl?"
"a hundred, believe. But thai
wouldn't scan"
"a hundred thousand poundsv' sale
Raffles with his eyes shut. And agair
/ made certain what was coming, bu
again was mistaken. IF it's wortt
all that" he cried at last, "there would
be no getting rid Of it at all. It's no
like diamond that you can subdivide
But beg your pardon, Bunny. I was
forgetting"
And we said no more about the EN-
perors gift, for pride thrives on al
empty pocket, and no privation would
have drawn from me the propose
which had expected Ratiies to make
My expectation had been half n hope
IuOuSu OAiy hACW ~ AOW. ou
neither did we touch again on wha
Rallies protested to have forgotten
my "apostasy," my 'lapse into virtue,
as he had been pleased to call 1t. W.
We're both little silent, little con
strained, each preoccupied with hi
own thoughts. 1t was months sine
we had met, and as saw him of
toward II o'clock that Sunday night
fancied it was for more months tina
we were saying goodby.
But as we waited for the train saw
those clear eyes peer1ng at me unde
the station lamps. and when me
their glance Raffles shook his head.
.'You don't look we'll on 1t, Bunny.
said he. II never did believe in thi
Thames valley. You want change o
air"
wished I might get 1t.
what you really want Is sea voy
age"
"And winter at st. NORTH, or d