The Sketcher.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1146, 12 February 1903, Page 3

The Sketcher.

How Mp. Beerhom Tree was "Interviewed."

" Your huaband, Mrs. Treel" I caught at the allusioc* " I can see him, can't I, to ask iilm a few questions about bid plans and about Svengwli, and things In general, too ?"

" He te fearfuHy busy," said Mrs. Tree, " but I am Bare he te anxious to tell you abingg. He is downstairs with big secretary, Mr. Luther Muuday. I don't think lie's gone out yet. Let us go down and beard the Hon in his den."

And in a "bright orange-coloured den we found Mr. Tree. The creating of quills, the discreet secretary, and, mo*t of all. the wildly upstanding hair on Mr. Tree's head, betokened a busy morning indeed. My courage liegan to decline. " Herbert!" said Mrs. Tree softly. "Darling! One, one moment]" was the fcverwl answer as the quit! went running on. In a little while he murmured to hi* secretary. " • Yours faithfully' «r ' Yours sincerely'—mhicb d'yuu think ?"

"' Yours sincerely," perhaps, will do, Mr. Tree." " I hate tlie man—lie bents his wife," said Mr. Tree. " I'll put ' very siaeerel.v' ; he'll know 1 don't, mean that, so there's no viola tion lo my eonscience." Auonher scratch or two of the quill and Chen, with a deep nigh of relief, Mr. Tree wheeled round and looked rather sttirtled at seeing me there with Mrs. Tree.

| "Of course -yes," he said as T was r being (introduced. " Delighted to see you. I remember—but have you ever acted Iwfore ? . . . I beg) your pardon. A gentleman who was anxious to be an actor was coming to see me to-day. . . . ' The BuglMi Illustrated."" The manager rose to his fuH height, brushed, back his hair with one baud, and Used me with his blue eyes. " A ((harming magazine ! Well, as to me modern drama—" Pausing, he glanced at his watch, and gave a ?ii<>rt whistle. "1 have some letters 1 mi:.*t get done for the post. Could my wife show you things in the mean I line ? I'll come up to you In five minute*. So, sorry to have to keep you waiting, Au re voir! There are some cigarettes u;c s hairs.'*

A big bind; poodle followed us out of the room, under the impression, an M: s. Tree explained, that wo ww going to take him out for a walk. " Poor darlills' Bingo !" Mr*. Tree said, runniiiK Jut hand through the dog's luxuriant ringlets as we went upstairs once rao-c, " I would put him througih nil his trii"s for you, only the poor hound has vu tricks ; but ho loves ine very dearly. Now let me 'show you things.' Now, what is there ?"

And so Mrs.. Tree talked on. When 1 asked if.it were true that, a great Khaksitejirean production, with a great parr, for -her, was to follow " Trilby" at nome far-distant date, she said quickly tint she could not tell me "anything tint really matters, you know." and that it would be abmird to i.hink of putting on another play before Doomsday.

"And that, reminds tm>." she added; " far more than five minutes have gniie by. and my 'husband hasn't kept -lite promise to you. We had better go down again, and you shall drat; his secrets from him."

•Mr. Tree was standing. aR we made our rentrec, dictating sometliing to !tLs secretary. I was not mire from ins look Wiat. he remembered my face ; but. as he shook me by the hand with great, if distant, courtesy, I murmured an apology ami a 'hope for a few moments' tclk. Mr. Tree opened lite eyes very wide ami gazed at the carpet. I could not h ■!]> sioiling as I contrasted rlils nwt gcniicman. ruddy-faced, and blonde of hair, wirli the sinister Svengali I had seen ;i few niphts before. "Well," he began, "of course i.no actor's art more than any oilier is semewhat—"

Ho turned nuinil at this mnmenf. ,r:d, noticing a littlo array of loiters iiwiit'nif h.l.s ■signature, lie took up a ipi-lU. and began signing thilii slowly, one by one. " My liar ; where is il ''" he murmured. Hi« secretary took it from an adjacent eilinir. "Ami my stick '!" His lingers closed instinctively upnii lhe Unob of !; as it was offered to him.

" (Jond-bye." ho said, jrrippin.:: nir hand with grave cordiality. " i;,i nt-ln-. darlInpr." lie said as lie kissed his wife " I shall be in so soon." As he retreated he caught, sijrlit of the little chick upon the mantelpiece, and pave a low whistle.---A. 15.. in Hie " English Illustrated Magazine."