New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-13
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR APRIL Is. 1913

FOR APRIL Is. 1913
overpowering desire to work on my story.
For two long and extremely mon9tonous
days | toilcd. y chapter shaped itself
after a fashion. Even as | wrote, | knew
that il wasn't satisfactory and that | should
tear il up the instant it was finished. What
irritated me more than anything else was the
certain conviction that Poopcndyke, who
typed it as | advanced, also knew that 1t
would 60 into the waste paper basket.
Both nights | went TO bed early and TO
sleep late. could not deny to myself that
| was missing those pleasant hours with the
Countess. did miss them. | missed Rose
mary and Jinko and Helene Marie Antoi-
ncttc Louise and Blake.
An atmosphere Of gloom settled round
Poopcndyke and Britton. They eyed me
with a sort Of pathetic wonder. As time
went on, they began TO look positively for
lorn and unhappy. Once or twice caught
them whispering in the hallway. On seeing
me they assumed an air If nonchalance that
brought grim smile % my lips. | was be-
ginning % hate them. Toward the end OF
the second day the four Schmicks became
50 aggravatingly dolcful that ordered them
one and all 10 keep out Of my sight. Even
the emotionlcss Hawkes. and the perfect
Blatchford were infected. | don't believe
I've ever seen a human face 50 solemnly
respectful as Hawkes. was that night At din
ner. He seemed 20 be plying me from the
bottom Of his heart. 1t was getting on my
nerves.
TOOK a stroll in the courtyard after din
ner, and | may be forgiven, | hope, for
the few surrcptitious glances | sent upward
in the direction OF the rear windows IN the
eastern wing | wondered what She was
doing, and what she was thinking Of my ex-
traordinary behavior, and why the deuce
she hadn't sent down 10 ask me 10 come up
and tell her how busy | was She had not
made single sign. The omission was not
particularly gratifying, to say the least.
Before going TO bed went into the loggia
for the first time in three dayS-and, keep
ing myself pretty well hidden behind
projection in the wall. tried to get glimpse
of the CounteSs's windows. Failing there,
| turned my steps in another direction, and
soon stood upon my little balcony. There
was no sign OF her in the windows; although
a faint light glowed against the curtains OF
a well remembered room near the top OF the
tower.
1t was cool on the balcony. and | was abb
normally warm. It occurred To me that !
might do worse than sit out there in the cool
of the evening and ENJOY a cigar or two.
But. though | sat there until nearly md
night and chartered my teeth almost out OF
my head with the cold, she did not appear
at her window. The aggravating part OF 1t
was that while | was Shivering out there IN
the bcaStly, raw, miaSmic air she was doubt
less living on a luxurious couch before a
warm fire in a dressing gown and slippers,
reading a novel. and thinking OF nothing in
the world but her comfort. And those raS-
cally bcggarS presumed to think that | was
in love with selfish, Self-centered spoiled
creature like that Rubbish.
IAN afraid that Poopcndyke found me
in a particularly iraScibe frame OF mind
the next morning. know that Britton
did. | was determined that, for begin
ming. Hawkes. and Blatchford would have
"Mr. Poopcndyke," said |, after Batch
ford had left the breakfast room, 81 want
you to give notice to Hawkes. and Blatchford
today"
Notice" he exclaimed ncredulously. 81
thought they were most satisfactory to you.
"l'vc changed my opinion.
"By Jove, Mr.. Smart Il don't know
how the Countess will take such high-handed
-aheml You see, Sir, shc-She was good
pnnuob =, ra.,ro,,.p1 than, =, ~. |, will