Gilpin observer., 1918-03-14

Joseph was svery conscientious
young man. AS boy he had been
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 a reviewer
of fiction for the Sun 1t happened that
he met Florence. Florence was a Jolly
Southern girl, and had at comparative
ly early age been left an orphan. 1t
was shortly after Florence had become
governess 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. 1t may have been the effect Of
the music or Of the tea anc toas. at the
Eastman cafe afterward, or Of the Ions
ride to Baltimore over the Washington
pike.
The fact remains that when they
climbed into the touring car he callet
her Miss Bordeaux, and when they
parted at the end of the journey hi
called her Florence. One night there
was an air Of mystery about her.
shortly" she said, "you will see m,
In new light, Joseph"
II would not have you different
said Joseph.
"East side of Mount Vernon bridge
about six tomorrow" said Florence.
"Right," said Joseph.
The next morning there was brough-
to his room d large parcel of novel;
from the Sun. He groaned, becaus
they meant work, and even the readin,
of novels Is not pleasant If you ar
paid for 1t.
He tore his mind away from romano
in real life and settled down to 70
nance as 1t is written, and the yer,
first volume that he picked up was er
titled MY Love of Bygone Days." b:
Florence Bordeaux. This, then, wa
the new light in which Florence wa
to appear. She had written a move
and he was to review 1t.
He wondered If the editor of the Su
would stand an entire column abou
an unknown genius. Joseph -almos
regretted that he had discovered thre
unknown geniuses the week before; /
was likely to spoil the market.
He noticed the name Of the publish
ers with regret. Florence would hav
done better to have consulted him
Then he read the book, and buried hi
face in his hands, for that novel b.
Florence Bordeaux was about the mos
putrid thing in fiction that had pollute,
his chambers for the last 1S months
1t was wrong everywhere; 1t wa
wrong all through. There Is NO wOrs
thing on earth than q bad historica
novel, and this was very bad his
torical novel.
Here, then, was conflict between Low,
and duty. Duty was scratched an,
love walked in. By the evening he hat
written column haillng Florence Bor
deaux as the greatest genius that thu
century had yet seen. But his hear
was broken. For once he had not beer
conscientious. He could not live will
that stain upon his soul. So he de
termined to meet Florence on Noun
Vernon bridge, take one long. last fare
well, then send of the review and thet
leave town and his growing reputation
as literary critic forever.
Florence was a little late for heI
appointment and looked very pleased
with herself.
"Well," he said. "why did you moi
confide in me? Why did you not tell
me you had written book? Possibly
my practiced judgment might"
what on earth are you talking
about? I have not written any book.
I shouldn't be so silly"
'Then some one else with your name
has"
HAS she? What cheek" She still
laughed at Joseph, somewhat inqulr.
ingly. He had an uneasy sense that
she was expecting him to say some.
thing and that he was not saying it.
"Well," he said, ''whnt did you mean.
then, by saying you were going to ap-
pear In a new light7"
IF you happen to be blind" she
answered rather snappishly. II can't
give you new eyesw
Don't be cross, dear. Let's see-its
the same jacket you always wear, and
the same skirt"
"Oh, don't bother. I've got my hair
done differently, and I've got a new
hat. don't want to talk about It. If
you take no interest in my appearancel
there's no more to be said"
The rest Of his interview with Flor
ence was far more pleasant. But Joll
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.
oaponln, q Food AdulteratIon.