THE LADY NOVELIST

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 8292, 30 November 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LADY NOVELIST

/ (By it. S. G. Menzies.) Now, Miss Gray, if you're quite Teady, begin. I feel in" tremendous form :his morning ! Let me see, where were we? 3h, yes: we had just reached crisis n tiie-hero's liie, hadn't -We! He's go; to confess his love for the Baronei, s laugh tsr in this chapter, and reveal . thfsecret of his life. Now, 'Miss Gray!" _ Click, click, went the typewriter .is tne deft fingers of Evelyn Gray sped quickly Mid lightly across the keys. _ The lady novelist paused in her dictation. "One minute, Miss Gray! Do you happen 'to remember what was the secret of she hero's life? I can't for the life of Qi'e recollect. I declare weve had so many murders latelv that 'they've put everytliimg else out of imy head. Just look up xilit summary of t'he plot we drew up together, will you? And be quick, my dear, as 1 promised Mr Watson he should have these fresh chapters to-morrow. It's long past the usual time for sending to the Casket. However," she continued, uriisdiltativtiLy, as her .secretary searched in the "plot drawer" for -the plan of the latest powerful seriali, "Aubrey Watson, dear man. would give himself no end of trouble or mry account. Do you know, Miss Gray, I do beliave he's over head amd in love -witih one?" Evelyn itihoughifc it extremely ' probable. What else bub. the blindmess of infatuation couM indues tihe young editor to accep. weeik a-tftier weak the sensational ftrapn wlhioh it was his duty too- 'take down dail) bo- Mrs Cooper-King's dictation? Evelyi

was young —not long out of her -teens and though she had, perhaps, no exalted opinion of the public taste in literature, she had not- as yet sounded tih® Ml deptlhs of a depravity "which would welcome reguQiarlv every -week the publication of the Casket, and eagerly devour the stories of high life, with plenty of blood in theim, which were the most stinking feature of its sensational pages. The Casket the penny weekly over which Aubrey Watson had presided since t'he _ death, sis 11,10 nt ago, of Mrs Cooper-King's husband, the late editor. Evelyn liked ano admired Aubrey W'altson; but as she dio not realise that an editor's business is with tihe nublic rather than, the author, and tha: his duty is mot to -discover excellence but to gauge the popular sentiment, it was a const-ant mystery to her 'how 2ie coulc edit- such a paper. - Click, click! The necessary informabici had been found, Mrs Cooper-King hac resumed her dictation, and the plot wa: getting so beiwild'ering-ly thick that Evelyn if she had beem paying miuoh attention migjht well have wondered how they wen finally to extricate -themselveis from iti nittav labyrinths. But tih'e stiri'kinglj original characters —the bold adventuress the Duke's illegitimate son, tlhe sa-int-lik-and insipid iheroine, the imuoh-maligm-e-t hero, and so on —had all grown so tar rib'ly monotonous to the poor secretary that she had ceased 'bo take any interest ii the ingenious changes her employer man an-ed to ring on t'he same wearisome mate rials. In fact, she had soon learned t< abstract herself, so that-, though she hear< tihe words and produced them with never failing accuracy, very little of their rea moaning ever reached' her Sh •was indaed what Mrs Cooper-King in varinbly regarded her as—a mere machine How she hated the typewriter with it monotonous sounds —• -the neveir-ceasinj "click, click," and the horribly iuevitab'i little bell! That m'oming she felt sh •could have broken into fragments tlhe un sympathetic machine that was the emblen of he rslavery. But, tihen, did it not re present 30s a week, which, since he father's death not very many months f.go was Evelyn's sole means of subsistence It was a hard-earned 30s, for the lad; novelist, who was alternately kind aii< cross bo her secretary, was consistent ii her determination to geit as much out o he-r as possible, and was careful never ti let any foolish kindness interfere with lie own p'ersoTial inclinations or convenience. To-day she was in high good humour The sun was bright, tlhe air brisk and in vigoratin": she had slept weM, eaten aa excellent breakfast, and was in love -wit3 all the world. "You won't inind my opening the win dow, will you?" she asked presently, a she paced "up and down, dictating he: winged words. "I» get so hot walkki| about, and somehow my ideas don't seen to flow so well if I sit down. You don' mind, do you? A young thing like yoi ) doesn't know the feeling of cold, doe; she?" Mrs Cooper-King's sentences general!; began with an assertion and ended 5n ai interrogation ; but as she never seemed ti •dream, of a contradictory answer, or indeec of any answer at all, Evelyn could onli submit with as good a grace as possible though her hands were blue and her fee •felt icy cold. Fortunately it was not lonj before the gong sounded —tihe gond tha/ .'announced lunch, and, as a ru&, Evelyn': freedom till five o'clock. To-day she hac reckoned without her hostess. "You must stay to lunch, Miss Gray. I insist; you look half starved. I know •they don't" feed you properly dn these horrid 'lodgings. Besides, there .are one oi two things I want to talk to you about.' 1 Evelyn knew well that staying ibo lunch oneaint staying to work ail the afternoon. She must make Cine little struggle for

"Of course, if you wish me, I shiall stay, but I have 'tickets for tibe Lyceum for this afternoon, and the performance begins at two." "Oh, never mind; I wag" there last night, and the thing's really not worth SEieing. I'll get. you seats for Heir Majesty's one night next week, and that will do quite as' well, won't it?" There was nothing for it but to follow Mrs Co'opeT-tKing into the dining-room-. The lady iiad a way of forgetting the hostess in tihe employer. "I had a letiter from Hobson's. Weekly this morning,'' .she announced'. "The editor wants another serial from me, the first chapters to appear in about a fortnight. If you don't mind we'll just draw ut) a summary of the plot while we ©alb, aind then we cam set to work on the first instalment ito-morrow. Oh, and that reminds ine, Hobson's Weekly is by way of being rdligious. You might look up some nice texts to-night as headings for 'the different chapters. You'll find Cruden's 'Concordance' on my writing table." Evelyn rose (hungry. 'Why, Miss Gray," exclaimed her hostess, ''you've hardly eaten anything. You are not ill, are yon? Well, well, I suppose youth feeds o-n its own exuberant spirits. Just come and finish that chapter, and then you may be - off and enjoy yourself." • The tea tray was brought an before the lady novelist's inspiration dried up. ®hen she dismissed her tared secretary with a gracious smile. "I'll let you off this evening, my dear. I expect Mr Watson, and I know 'he likes •a tete-a-tete. Be sure you remember thie •texts! Good-bye."

Mrs Cooper-King lay back in her large comfortable armchair in the' drawingroom. Her feeit were crossed, and her hands, on whose long transparently-white fingers spairHed the light of many jewels, were diasped beneath her pretty auburn head; She wore >a handsome black teagown of a soft, clinging material, and her whole appearance indicated that stage of mourning in which grief no longer 'excludes eleorance. Nature had been kind to this lady, but she was not on that account inferior to the aids of art. Without being a slave to fashion, she was far too wise to despise the beau monde, or to ignore the dictates of Bond Street. She invariably dressed well, modelling her gowns on the fleeting fashion of the hour, but never forgetting, in a desire to be up-to-date, the nevea'-changing laws of good tasbe and beauty. Before her on the mantel-piece stood a photograph, and almost unconsciously her eyes turned in its direction. It was the likeness of a man who did not look much more than thirty, and had been presented in the days when Aubrey Watson had not been above ingratiating himself with the editor by a little harmless flirtation with the editor's wife.

"Men are so stupid!" sighed Mrs Coop-er-King. "In affairs of this kind it is generally the woman who has to hasten ■up matters and bring on tihe crisis. But lately I haven't had. th«i chance. Aubrey

ias always hnwened to come when tlir >oor little Gray thing was lure. oi:> .vould think he'd know h?r hours by thi. irne. Br .the w»v, I must remember ti, ist -him "if hs doesn't know any nice sub editor he could introduce to. the girl. 1 ar. sorrv for her, poor thing, and can t thinl what she would do it I dispensed will her services. Yes, I'll speak to Aubr.; ibout her when we've ssliUtd «ur iittHo affairs. I don't, imagine tiney wu give ni'e much difficulty, ihoug-n. I v - | had some experience of nun in love, ' ini - I ■an't- have mistaken the signs of the ia>. g few weeks. Pour Aubrey ! How jsKevw I he will ba." These reflections occupied the lady whih she awaited eagerly the arrival of theii object. Her small foot, tapped the floor Himatieni/iy at- intervals, and the slightest noise was enough 'to turn her eves ftoui Jhe study cf a dainty slipper expecuuit-1 \ :n tilie direction oi the door. ller hopuhad been several times disappointed, am. she was beginning to cast apprehensive j dances at- Itlie advancing hands of U». j clock, when Mr Watson was announced. "At last!" she cried. "I was begmmni; 0 think vou were going to desert me.' '•'My dear Mrs Cooper-King!" protested lubrey, looking round as L'nougn to s<f no "third person were present. "You are .so very late. I expected you, ih, hows ago." "I'm. sorry; I came up as early as i possibly could." "You -used to pet away earlier. _ '•But .to-nighb I had a very special engagement." • <• "Oh, indeed." ' "Yes, a. business engagement.,. lUonTatulate <mie! I've just 'had .the editcir hip of Once a Month o-fiered me, and I hi ;oing :to give up the Casket." A. sigh ot •elief escaped him.. , , ~ "I congratulate you, of course, but—"Butl what?" "I —I ami very sorry." "Sorry! Why ?" "Can you ask?" . , , She shot one swift glance of mingled oathos and .reproach at .tlhe young editor; hen, dropping her eyes —she lhad _ » OI 'S ind silk-" lashes—she continued softly m 1 tone of sentimental "Yes, Mr Watson, I am very, wry orry. The last few. months have been erv, verv happy. I like .to work foi ou; I liked to think of you as my «di'jor and my friend——" . "And shall I not be your friend still I She shook her head, and smiled sadly. "I know -what mien. are. They have no memories. New interests bring friends, and .the old ones are forgotten. "That's a libel on the sex. I swear "That vou will be different from all other men? Every man swears > that. But let us! change the subject-. It's horribly selfish of me to look at things from a-v own point of view, and, of course. : 'm delighted at your success. And now. Mr Watson, its your obvious duty tc narrv!" , . , . "Exactly what I was dunking myselt But., you see. I'm not quite sure tihait any>odv would have fflie." . "Nonsense! You're distinctly an eLiCible." "You really think so?" "Most certainly I do." Aubrey Watson mused for a moment ind the lady wat-clied himj "with obscrvan ©yies. Jie looked up and Haugilied a little nier vously; stlhen, crossing the iroom, caura and stood beside her. "My dear Mrs Cooper-King, you have always been <a yen kind frie-n.d to me. Do you think I migh still further intrude upon your goodnes: bv asking you to take pity on a poo: bachelor." "I .think you -may," she answered, smil ing. "Thank you. Tliere is something I havi wanted to tell you for a long time. Thi fact is, I— I have fallen in love." She cast doiwn her eves, and blushe< becomingly. "I -was afraid you would think it pre sumptuous in mie, for I am not wor.tlhi to be her slave. But she has been in m; thoughts by day and imy dreams by night and I cannot rest without 'her. Do yoi think she would have mie?" "You have never asked hear?" "Poor girl! She has just come tlirougl a great soairow —the loss of on® wlio was very dear to her, as dear as I hope sotni t&mie to be—and I -did wot like to speak o love when her heart was full of mournnig." The ladv brushed her eyes with a daint; lace handkerchief. • "You are very thoughtful, Mr Watson; but time will heal even the deepes wounds, and one does not w.ear weeds fo: eveT." "Then you think I might speak to her A thousand thanks." He caught 'her hand in, his and presset it) warmly. "But we are talking an riddles. Yoi haven't «ven told me her name." "And you never suspected?" "Do I know her?" "Very well indeed. Who is the besl and sweetest girl you 'have over known?" She shook her head, tlhough she smilec ■at the compliment. "Ah, you ane laughing at mie. Yoi have seen itlwough mie from the beginning." "No, upon my word! Please don't k-eep me in suspense." Aubrey Watson placed botli liis hands in hers. "Her naim'e is Evelyn Gray."