Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1918-02-28

/, 1917, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per eyndicate.)

Joseph was q very consideration.
young man. As boy he had beer
known at baseball to dispute the de
cision Of an umpire In his favor. Even
the ordinary social lines were repel-
liant to him.
With such character there was only
one thing that the young man could
ultimately become.
Shortly after he became reviewer
OF fiction for the Sun 1t happened that
he met Florence. Florence was a Jolly
Southern girl, and had at comparative.
" early age been left an orphan. It
was shortly after Florence had become
q goyerness that she and Joseph met.
Her face was wholesome and practical
rather than beautiful. For some weeks
he never told her his love. Then one
afternoon he took her to hear an ora
torio. It may have been the effect OF
the music or Of the tea anc toas. at the
Eastman cafe afterward or Of the long
ride to Baltimore over the Washington
pike.
The fact remains that sihen they
climbed Into the touring car he called
her Miss Bordeaux, and when they
parted at the end of the Journey he
called her Florence. One night there
was an air Of mystery about her.
shortly" she said, ''you win see me
In new light, Joseph"
Il would not have you different"
said Joseph.
East side Of Mount Vernon bridge,
about six tomorrow" said Florence.
fright" said Joseph.
The next morning there was brought
to his room large parcel OF novels
from the Sun. He groaned, because
they meant work. and even the reading
Of novels is not pleasant X you are
pnid for It.
lie tore his mind away from romance
In real life and settled down TO ro-
nance as II is written, and the very
first volume that he picked up was en-.
titled ''hfy Love Of Bygone Days" by
Florence Bordeaux. This, then, was
the new light In which Florence was
to appear. She had written a novel
HHfAA AC WIS 10 IeNAtW II.
lie wondered IL the editor OF the sun
would stand an entire column about
an unknown genius. Joseph almost
regretted that he had discovered three
unknown geriuses the week before II
was likely to spoil the market.
He noticed the name Of the publish.
ers with regret. Florence would have
done better to have consulted him.
'lhen he read the book, and buried his
Race In his hands, for that novel by
Florence Bordeaux was about the most
pHfrid thing In Action that had polluted
lis chambers for the last IS months.
It was wrong everywhere; Il was
wrong all through. There is NO worse
thing on earth than a bad historical
7, and this was very bad his
torical novel.
Here. then, was conflict between love
and duty. Duty was scratched ana
love walked In. BY the evening he had
written column haiIing Fiofenee Bor.
deaax ~ tia greatest genius that Che
century had yet seem. nMs his heart
broken. For ones hs liad not aaH
conscientious. He could NOT live wltg
flisst stain upon his soul. 80 he de-
terInined to meet Florence on Mount |
Vernon bridge. take one lona. last fare.
well, then send on the review and then |
leave town and HIS growing reputation |
as literary critic forever.
Florence was q little late for her 1
appointment and looked very pleased |
with herself.
WELL" he said, "why did yon net
confde in met Why ala you not tell |
me you had written a bookf Possibly
my prncticed judgment mIght--"
what on earth are you taking
lboutf ] have not written any book.
shouldn't be 20 silly
has, ""'"A
"Has shef What cheek" She still |
laughed at Joseph, somewhat inquir-
Ingly. He had an uneasy sense that
she was expecting him TO say some
thing and that he was not saying II.
We'll, be said, ''what did you mean,
then. By saving ycl were going 70 ap-
pear In a new light?n
III you happen 10 be blind" she
answered rather snapplshly, Il can't
give you new eyesP
..Don't be cross. dear. Let's see--it'a |
the same jacket you always wear. and
the same skirt"
"0h. don't bother. I've got my hair
done differently, and I've got new
hat. I don't want to talk about IL II
you take no interest In my appearance
there's no more 70 be said"
The rest OF his interview with Flor
ence was far more pleasant. But Jo-
seph's column review Of the novel by
her namesake was reduced TO two lines
on the subject Of literary rubbish.
And he was still conscientious.