The Project Gutenberg eBook ofQuick ActionThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: Quick ActionAuthor: Robert W. ChambersIllustrator: Edmund FrederickRelease date: September 25, 2011 [eBook #37528]Most recently updated: January 8, 2021Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Suzanne Shell, Matthew Wheaton and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUICK ACTION ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: Quick ActionAuthor: Robert W. ChambersIllustrator: Edmund FrederickRelease date: September 25, 2011 [eBook #37528]Most recently updated: January 8, 2021Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Suzanne Shell, Matthew Wheaton and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Title: Quick Action
Author: Robert W. ChambersIllustrator: Edmund Frederick
Author: Robert W. Chambers
Illustrator: Edmund Frederick
Release date: September 25, 2011 [eBook #37528]Most recently updated: January 8, 2021
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Suzanne Shell, Matthew Wheaton and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUICK ACTION ***
QUICK ACTION"'Are you preaching?' asked Athalie, raising her eyes from the Green God.""'Are you preaching?' asked Athalie, raising her eyes from the Green God."[Page 252]QUICK ACTIONByROBERT W. CHAMBERSILLUSTRATED BYEDMUND FREDERICKD. APPLETON AND COMPANYNEW YORK AND LONDON: MCMXIVCopyright, 1914, byROBERT W. CHAMBERSCopyright, 1913, by Harper's Bazaar, Inc.Copyright, 1914, by The Star Co.Printed in the United States of AmericaTOPENELOPE SEARSDEBUTANTETo rhyme your nameWith something lovely, fresh and young,And sing the sameIn measures heretofore unsung,Is far beyond me, I'm afraid;I'll not attempt it, dearest maid.No, not in verse,Synthetic, stately, classic, chaste,Shall I rehearse—Although in perfectly good taste—A catalogue of every graceThat you inherit from your race.Gracious and kind,The gods your beauty gave to you,And with a mindThese same kind gods endowed you, too;That charming union is, I fear,Somewhat uncommon on this sphere.I have no doubtThat scores of poets chant your fame;No doubt, aboutA million suitors press their claim;And fashion, elegance and witAre at your feet inclined to sit.Penelope,The fire-light flickers to and fro:In you I seeThe winsome child I used to know—My little Maiden of RomanceStill whirling in your Shadow Dance.Though woman-grown,To my unreconciled surpriseI gladly ownThe same light lies within your eyes—The same sweet candour which beguiledYour rhymster when you were a child.And so I come,With limping verse to you again,Amid the humOf that young world wherein you reign—Only a moment to appearAnd say: "Your rhymster loves you, dear."R. W. C.
QUICK ACTION
"'Are you preaching?' asked Athalie, raising her eyes from the Green God."
"'Are you preaching?' asked Athalie, raising her eyes from the Green God."[Page 252]
By
ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
ILLUSTRATED BY
EDMUND FREDERICK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANYNEW YORK AND LONDON: MCMXIV
Copyright, 1914, by
ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
Copyright, 1913, by Harper's Bazaar, Inc.Copyright, 1914, by The Star Co.
Printed in the United States of America
TOPENELOPE SEARSDEBUTANTETo rhyme your nameWith something lovely, fresh and young,And sing the sameIn measures heretofore unsung,Is far beyond me, I'm afraid;I'll not attempt it, dearest maid.No, not in verse,Synthetic, stately, classic, chaste,Shall I rehearse—Although in perfectly good taste—A catalogue of every graceThat you inherit from your race.Gracious and kind,The gods your beauty gave to you,And with a mindThese same kind gods endowed you, too;That charming union is, I fear,Somewhat uncommon on this sphere.I have no doubtThat scores of poets chant your fame;No doubt, aboutA million suitors press their claim;And fashion, elegance and witAre at your feet inclined to sit.Penelope,The fire-light flickers to and fro:In you I seeThe winsome child I used to know—My little Maiden of RomanceStill whirling in your Shadow Dance.Though woman-grown,To my unreconciled surpriseI gladly ownThe same light lies within your eyes—The same sweet candour which beguiledYour rhymster when you were a child.And so I come,With limping verse to you again,Amid the humOf that young world wherein you reign—Only a moment to appearAnd say: "Your rhymster loves you, dear."R. W. C.
TO
PENELOPE SEARS
DEBUTANTE
To rhyme your nameWith something lovely, fresh and young,And sing the sameIn measures heretofore unsung,Is far beyond me, I'm afraid;I'll not attempt it, dearest maid.
No, not in verse,Synthetic, stately, classic, chaste,Shall I rehearse—Although in perfectly good taste—A catalogue of every graceThat you inherit from your race.
Gracious and kind,The gods your beauty gave to you,And with a mindThese same kind gods endowed you, too;That charming union is, I fear,Somewhat uncommon on this sphere.
I have no doubtThat scores of poets chant your fame;No doubt, aboutA million suitors press their claim;And fashion, elegance and witAre at your feet inclined to sit.
Penelope,The fire-light flickers to and fro:In you I seeThe winsome child I used to know—My little Maiden of RomanceStill whirling in your Shadow Dance.
Though woman-grown,To my unreconciled surpriseI gladly ownThe same light lies within your eyes—The same sweet candour which beguiledYour rhymster when you were a child.
And so I come,With limping verse to you again,Amid the humOf that young world wherein you reign—Only a moment to appearAnd say: "Your rhymster loves you, dear."
R. W. C.
Always animated by a desire to contribute in a small way toward scientific investigation, the author offers this humble volume to a more serious audience than he has so far ventured to address.
For all those who have outgrown the superficial amusement of mere fiction this volume, replete with purpose, is written in hopes that it may stimulate students to original research in certain obscure realms of science, the borderlands of which, hitherto, have been scarcely crossed.
There is perhaps no division of science as important, none so little understood, as the science of Crystal Gazing.
A vast field of individual research opens before the earnest, patient, and sober minded investigator who shall study the subject and discover those occult laws which govern the intimate relations between crystals, playing cards, cigarettes, soiled pink wrappers, and the Police.
Amor nihil est celerius!
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE"'Are you preaching?' asked Athalie, raising her eyes from the green god"Frontispiece"They inspected each other, apparently bereft of the power of speech"31"The magnificent realism of it fascinated the Lady Alene"84"'I am in possession of the dog and you merely claim possession'"157
QUICK ACTION