A yciil Adventure. 369
amateur theatricals, and kindred excused from exposing them and hu- anuisements. They agreed that they miliating himself. And, l)esides, he were bored by fashionable wediliugs feared that if the story got abroad, and the interviews of aspiring states- some indiscreet brother would event- men. They were mildly enthusiastic ually blazon it in cold type — a dis- over lectures, operas, concerts, balls, aster which he devoutly wished to and parties, and unanimous in praise avoid.
of social events at which a feast was The party nnauimouslv decided spread. They discoursed on politics that his point was not "well taken," and religion briefly, and, like the and therefore, after several urgent same number of persons in any other appeals and much coaxing, he finally calling, they disagreed. In a few consented to make a hero and mar- words, they touched lightly on mauv tvr" of himself rather than have it other themes of public moment, fired said that he was '-a disobliging fel- random and witty shots at each other, low." He thereupon lighted a fresh and finally took refuge from ew?ii«" in weed (the gift of Mr. Calliugton), personal reminiscences. crossed liis legs with mechanical pre-
For a while the conversation drifted cisiou. pulled his hat over his eyes
carelessly. with marked indifference, and began
At length Thomas McVeaigh, a the story of A Journalist's Expe-
Pennsylvania Bohemian, who had rieuce in Jail" with marked solem-
strayed East in hope of obtaining nity.
fame and fortune, was urged by Rob- "To begin with, I confess myself
inson and Calliugton to relate inci- a failure as a storv-teller. I have
dents in connection with his first ex- tried it orally and in type, and I am
perience among the New England as certain as I am of my existence
provincial members of the guild, that I shall never succeed in making
They had heard, so they said, some- myself interesting. For this, and
where, that it was as entertaining as man}' other reasons which might be
romance. given if necessary, I had faithfully
McVeaigh declared that some one agreed with myself never again to be
had deceived them. guilty of the high crime and misde-
Mr. Bragg boldly proclaimed that meanor of inflicting a harrowing tale
they had not been deceived. He upon unoffending readers or a party
suggested that the facts should be of innocent people,
given in detail, and assured McVeaigh "Gentlemen, I yield to your gen-
that they would prove interesting to erous and unanimous invitation with
every member of the party, except many misgivings. Like the posipran-
possibly himself. dial speech-maker, who makes life
McVeaigh finally admitted that he burdensome for an hour, 'I am un-
liad suffered considerable hardship prepared.' Permit me to say, how-
" once on a time" at the hands of ever, that when I shall have reached
some of "the boys," but inasmuch as the denouement., my happiness will be
they had long since made the amende enhanced by your assurance that you
honorable, he thought he ought to be have been highly edifled, and a vote
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