The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-05-02

and reclining in his chair, he gave
himself up to the luxury of conject.
ure. But 1t proved for once rather
more of torture than luxury.
He was quick to evolve theory oi
his own. Rose must be very intimate
with Sebastian Rule, and must have
confded In him touching the Gu.
riously conducted wooing of his al
Saxton.
Having reached that conclusion
Martin rose. He must see Rule at
once, and they must discuss what
attitude they were to take towards
the public, particularly If the SEEM
ingly inevitable imputation came to
be cast upon their work of having
been plagiarized from a common
source.
To this end he repaired there and
then to Brett and Hackett, Sebas-
tian Rules publishers. to ascertain
Mr.. Rules address.
"Mr. Rule" said the publisher,
Chooses to maintain the strictest
incognito, and am under promise
not to divulge his address to any
body But II you care to write to
him. will see that your letter is
forwarded"
Martin, however, did not care to
write. He insisted upon seeing the
author of The Ideallsts," and in
the end he won his way.
Half an hour later saw him on the
door step of pretty villa in St.
Johns Wood, asking to see Mr.. Rule
For some moments he was kept walt
ing. At last Martin CAPPED to behold
Rose Gerard herself standing before
him.
How do you do?" came her pleas
ant greeting.
What are you doing here?" he
blurted out
II live here with my mother. This
Is my house"
But Mr.. Rule?" he asked. Z"
II am Mr.. Rule" she answered,
with a quiet, halfwistful smile.
YOU" he cried, in unbelief,
. "you?" and his fine eyes were open
ed very wide. you are Sebastian
Rule?"
Yes" she reassured him, 81 am
the man" Then, with a laugh,
Don't look so shocked, Martini"
she continued. II know that you
find 1t hard to credit-you, whose
opinion of womans intellectually is
so unflattering to us. But If you will
think for yourself, you will see that
1t could not be otherwise. You have,
Of course, seen what the Daily
Wire" says about this literary coin
cidence AT least, l assume that that
is the explanation of your presence
here"
Then Martin understood. He un-
derstood the verve and sympathy
with which she had entered upon
those make believe conversations at
Saxton. Whilst he was making copy
of her, she was making copy of him.
Each had been posing unconsciously
for the others benefit.
I'VE have" said he. made very
charming mess of It,"
Hardly so bad as that" she
laughed. People will wonder and
the wonder will advertise our
books"
Il was an ass" he acknowledged,
with melancholy conviction, and for
the moment-as he met her brown
eyes-he forgot the literary coinci-
dence. 81 was an ass" he repeated.
NO, no." she answered, with
soothing politeness.
But l was" he insisted. You
don't know the worst"
Tell me-" she begged. She was
standing close to him. The proxim-
ity seemed to affect him. His hand
fell upon her arms as It had done
that day at Saxton.
by dint of posing as lovelorn I
became lovelorn." he bluntly avowed,
"and without knowing It. But !
found 1t out after you had gone
away, Rose, and l 80 wanted to come
after you. But didn't dare. I don't
suppose that you'll ever forgive me.
I'm sure l don't deserve that you
should. I behaved"
SILLY boy. you forget that l was
Just as bad. II you talk of forgiving
you have quite as much to forgive
me. And, oh. Martin. have been
punished" she cried.
Punished"
Just as you have been punished.
/ acted q part until It ceased to be
acting, and"
"Rose!" he exclaimed, and at
that moment the literary coincidence
was completely forgotten.
He took her by the shoulders and
held her at arms length, solemnly
regarding her.
TITS true, Rose?"
TITS true, dear" said she. "and I
think that in future we might col
laborate very satifactorily-don't
you ?"-London Answers