The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-11
Betrayal of Condolences"

THAT was its reai name, and It's
nature was like unto it; but
what else could l do? You
must Judge for me.
They brought n card-the
housemaid with the fan teeth held 1t
gingerly between black finger and
bhcker thumb-and 1t carried the
name Mr.. II. II. Hoffer in old Gothic
letters. A hasty rush through the file
Of bills showed me that I owed
nothing to any Mr.. Hoffcr, and as
Stunning my sweetest smile, I babe
Fan of the Teeth g ow him up. Enter
stumblingly an entirely canary colored
young person about 20 years of age,
with a suspicious bulge in the bosom
of his coat. He had grown no hair
on his face; his ey' were of a delicate
water green. and his hat was a brown
billycock, which he fingered nervously.
AS the room was blue with tobacco
smoke land Latakia at thaO he
coughed even more nervously and be-
gan seeking for me. hid behind the
writing table and took notes. What I
most noted was the bulge in his
bosom. When a man begins to
wv sc aS W thdt Boitioii VI uhutohis'
hit him in the eye. for reasons which
will be apparent later on.
II, saw me and advanced timidly. I
invited him seductively to the only
other chair. and Whats the trouble 2"
said /.
81 wanted to see you." said he.
Il am me-" said I.
I'LL thought you would be quite
otherwise" said he.
II am. on the contrary, completely
this way" said I. "Sit still, take your
time and tell me al about IT,"
He wriggled TREMENDOUSLY for three
minutes and coughed again. I sur
veyed him and waited developments
The bulge under the bosom cracked
Then ] frowned. At the end Of three
minutes he began.
Il wanted to see what you were
like" said he.
inclined my head stiffiy. as though
all London habitually Climbed the
storeys on the same errand and rather
wearied me.
Then he delivered himself Of a
speech which he had evidently got by
heart. He flushed painfully in the de-
livery.
IL am fattered," said at the con-
clusion. It's beastly gratifying. What
40 you want?"
advice. IL you will be so good" said
the young man.
"Then you had better go somewhere
csc" said I.
The young man turned pink. But I
thought after I had read your works
ali your works. on my world had
hoped that you would understand me.
and l really have come for advice"
The bulge cracked more ominously
than ever.
IL understand perfectly" said I.
"You are oppressed with vague and
nameless longings, are you not?"
81 am. terribly" said he.
You do not wish to be as other men
are? You desire to emerge from the
common herd to make your mark. and
so FORTH"
Yes said he in an awestricken
whisper. THAT is my desire"
Also" said I, you love. excessively,
in several places at once cooks. house
maids, governesses. schoolgirls and the
aunts Of other people"
But one only" said he, and the pink
d'epened to beetroot.
Consequently" said I. you have
written much-you have written
verses"
1T was to teach me to write prose
only to teach me to write prose" he
murmured. You do it yourself, be-
cause l have bought your works
all your works"
He spoke as II he had purchased
dunghils en- bloc.
I'VE will waive that question
said loftily. produce the verses"
'They-they aren't exactly verses,
said the young man, plunging his hand
into his bosom.
Il beg your pardon. l meant viii
you be good enough to read your
five act tragedy"
"How-how in the world did yor