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Show THE STENOGRAPHER. By Oliver White. We were in a Bohemian cafe; that is, a cafe where one can charge things. Around tables conversing con-versing with much earnestness were many men of fartie I knew them all by sight, they had all been caricatured, all, save one, the most distinguished looking man in the assemblage. He sat alone and drank "absinthe" in a most absent-minded I manner. "Who is he?" I asked my friend. "The most disappointed man in letters the greatest 'almost' genius in New York," was the reply. " 'Almost' genius, I don't understand." "A little trick of Fate that leads him to within with-in a foot of success, then holds him back." "I'd like to meet him," said I. We were introduced, and my friend deftly brought him to the topic of artistic glory. The Genius smiled in a most beatific manner, sipped his drink and began: '"Tis not for me," he said, "something up there," pointing toward the celling, "has said 'no.' " "Nonsense," said I. "Sh " said my friend. The Genius looked at me kindly, and I ordered another drink. The drink came, and the Genius thanked me with an odd motion of his head. "I have had success at my elbow since I was o babe, yet Fate weans it from me at the crucial moment. I am a poet." "Oh!" said I. i "I am a poet, and have penetrated men's i souls and thrust my head, through the heavens and seen things and yet " ; "Why haven't you written them out?" said I. ; "Why," said the Genius dreamily, "because thoughts, such thoughts as mine, are intangible. i Time after time I have sat at my table, my heart ' bursting with the message, taken my pen between be-tween my fingers, only to have the thought go pouf into the air." "" "Awful," said I. "Pitiful," said my friend. "No remedy," said the Genius. "Stay," I ventured, "why not hire a stenographer, stenog-rapher, secrete her some place, and when your heart fills let her empty it." "Beautiful," said the Genius, and bowing, he letft us to settle at the table. My friend and I sat for hours .and finally separated. sep-arated. We were to meet the next night. "You have done a fine thing," said my friend. I'oiiHBmaiHrflaaanaaBnBBaBBHBBHHBHn "Oh, a mere nothing," I answered, but I knew I was lying. The next night wo were together again, the Genius was seated at his accustomed place, paler and more disconsolate than over. We walked over to him and he shook our hands mechanically. "Well," I said, "let us hear it." He smiled feebly, and In u harsh voice replied, re-plied, "I am through, fame Is a snare, life is a burden." bur-den." "Indeed," said I. "Listen," he resumed, "I advertised for a stenographer, sten-ographer, and the answer came in two hours. She was beautiful, but thin and hungry looking. Her clothes were mouldy, her manner was listless. list-less. 'You won't do,' said I." " 'For God's sake try me,' she said. There was something peculiar about her face that gave me a miraculous vision. T have found an Inspiration,' Inspira-tion,' I whispered to myself. 'At last fate has given me its hand. 'Sit down,' I said to her, 'and write what you hear.' She obeyed, and I paced the floor. For five minutes my mind was a blank, and then, gentlemen, something came Into my heart. Heaven opened before me, Heaven with all its mysteries; man's destiny and purpose, pur-pose, became an open book. Up 'and down the hall I strode and spoke my Soul, when I had finished fin-ished I knew that the greatest human document of a decade had been written. I turned to the girl; she was finishing the last word. 'Read it,' I commanded, and closed my eyes. A minute went by in silence. " 'Read it I repeated. "She burst into tears. " "'Well,' I called imperatively. " 'Sir,' she sobbed, 'I have a little brother to support. He is ill, we are starving. I have tried to get work, but have failed. I saw your advertisement adver-tisement and resolved to try once more. I thought, perhaps, if you could only see how wretched and sickly I am you would aid me. I don't know anything about shorthand, but I am sure I could learn if you'll only have patience.' " The cafe was deserted, my friend was asleep. I settled the bill again and went outside. The fellow was actually getting on my nerves. The Mirror. |
