Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1883-11-10 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE STOCKTON HERALD.  I"How r queried Mr Wingfield. " How !" echoed she Editor, emptying his glass. "Row? By Allowing his blue-blooded nose to be pulled by a woman whither she ! pleases. The ass I" "18 he or the woman to blame?" asked Mr Wingfield. "The woman? No; I believe not. If she ran away (and fancy a woman running sway from a lordly pair of purse-strings) he—the idiot—would follow her to the end of the world." " infatuation, I suppose," ventured Mr Wingfield. " Infatuation ? Ye.; moral suicide! Do you know that young man who has just entered the room? He rtx2rns to possess an uncommonly reliant air." "That is young Melrose; trust me, the coming dramatist. I have an instinctive liking for the lad; and if I can make him I will." "Introduce me, will you ?" "With pleasure," replied Wingfield. "Good morning, Mr Melrose,' he added, as Frank approached the table; "finished the play ?" "I have," replied Frank, handing the MAIMSCI:pt to his patron, and intently diagnosing the character of the men in black. "Good boy!" continued Mr Wingfield, consulting the roll. "Finis'u of first act, capital; interest created; end of second act—immense; interest sustained; finale, brilliant. The piece will go. I can see it at a glance." During the delivery of this brief critique ! Frank kept his eyes rivet-tad upon the dark face of the Editor. He imagined that he saw Mr ! Honeycomb's lips curl significantly. "Mr Melrose," said -Wingfield, addressing • Frank, "allow ree to have the pleasure of introducing to you Mr Ferdinand Honeycomb, pro; prietor and editor of the Lantern Frank gave a short start. The Lantern's reviews were always exhaustive and sternly critical. —"And One of my dearest frienAs."  Frank felt more at ease. "Mr Honeycomb," pursued Wingfield, "allow ; nie to have the pleasure of introducing to you Mr Frank Melrose, a dramatist whose first essay, in London, will be tried on my boards." The Editor bowed stiffly. Frank did likewise. , "Taste thls champagne, Mr Melrose; it is a : positively delicious brand," said Mr Wingfield, pouring out a glassful and handing it to Frank. "Your success, my boy I" The manager drained his '"lags. The Editor abstained from honouring the toast. . "Your success, Ur Wingfield," responded Frank. "It will be a monetary triumph, I think; but I am equally convinced that it will be a literary failure. I say so advisedly." The E litor raised his black eyebrows and looked with some show of interest at the speaker. "I have supplied you with a dish," resumed Frank, "appetising enough for your hungry customers, but from which an Epicure would turn away disgusted. I fully expect, and am prepared to bear, the lash of the critics. But the time will come, I hope, when I shall be able to make a more substantial claim upon the mercy of those who sit in judgment upon me." . Mr Honeycomb, bowing his head, seemingly aigniliod that when that happy moment should arrive ho and his professional brethren would deal out justice—nothing more. "May I enquire when the play will be put in rehearsal?" asked Frank. "A week hence," answered Mr Wingfield. "Will you dine with me to-night ?" "Thank you very much—l cannot. The fact is that a youth fresh and green frond the country—a vicar's son—has domiciled himself where f live. If I mistake not, he is ripe for the hawks, and I should not like to see him en6oared. It is his second night alone in London, and I .prefer to spend it with him—to keep a kind of paternal eye upon him, and perhaps you will pardon my leaving you now, as I must apply myself to work this afternoon." .Frank shook Mr Wingfield warmly by the hand, and, preserving the stiffness of demeanour initiated by Mr Honeycomb, raised his bat to that gentleman, and departed. "That young man, Mr Wingfield, has , the heart of a hero and the soul of a genius. He wll succeed I" This sententious prediction, Iron the lips of the Editor, was followed, by the , absorption of a whole glass of champagne. "I know RI" exclaimed Mr Wingfield, enthusiastically. 'file is made of the proper m.tal. Waiter—bring another bottle of Porn; mery and some biscuits." • (To be continued.)