rable one, I think we
may consider the matter settled.

"Hoping that this meets with your entire approval,

"I am, faithfully,

"CHARLES FROHMAN.

"P.S. I told him that I understood the author was an unhappy wife, who
desired to be unknown."

The Professor looked up as Bambi pirouetted around the beds, waving a
fluttering white sheet in good melodrama style.

"This letter that I longed for, it has come!" she sang, lifting a
pointed toe over the top of a withered sunflower stalk.

"My dear, that ballet step is a trifle exaggerated for a lady!"

"The sunflower's dead, so it couldn't be shocked. The secret is working
fine. Oh, I'm so happy, I'm so happy!" she trilled, and whirled off
toward the house.

"If you are still thinking of a career, why not a whirling dervish?"
called her father.

She stopped, and turned to him.

"Career? Career, did you say, for stupid little me?"

"I never called you stupid," he protested.

"I should hope not. I'm the smartest child you ever had!" she cried as a
period to their discourse.

All day she waited for word from Jarvis and none came. She could have
cried with disappointment. Could he have been insane enough to refuse,
after he had read the story? Or did he think she was indifferent to his
good fortune? She went to bed determined to write him on the morrow.

The morning mail brought a second letter from the Empire Theatre. It
contained a line from Mr. Frohman, "He accepts," and an enclosure. This
proved to be a letter from Jarvis:

_"To the Author of 'Francesca,' care of Mr. Frohman, Empire Theatre, New
York._

"MY DEAR MADAM: Mr. Charles Frohman has given me your story 'Francesca'
to read, with a view to making it into a play. Of course you are
familiar with his plans in this respect. He has offered to entrust me
with the dramatization, and I have consented to accept, on the condition
that both you and he will allow me to use my own discretion in the work,
and not hamper me by superimposing your own ideas and desires. When I
have finished all I can do with it, I will then try to incorporate any
ideas you may have in the final version.

"I think the story very charming, the characters interesting. The part
of the musician seems to me rather fantastic, but I suppose there are
such men. The girl, Francesca, is delightful; the old fiddler, a
fine study.

"You are to be congratulated on your work, and I trust I may be able to