The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-01-09
MELICENT'S BALLOT.
Oh
THE TWO ELECTIONS.
By ELLEN GAL.vIS.

The questIoner was CRASH thing serrce
out of her teens, who stood before the e,i
tor desk with a shy and somewhat urac.
customed air a. If al editor 5 sanctuln had
by no means lost ITS saucity to her. Her
dress was plain as possible, her manner IN
assus,in. as her dress.
The gray headed, gold spectacled indi-
yidual whom she addressed eyed her over
his glasses and replied, somewhat sharr
ly:
Il have read all found patience to. 1t
- ,.i.-. SIis, Grey, to waste youi tine
writing III that style.
A faint color wavered along the gill =
sheek as she asked, in a quiet tone:
Will you be so kind as to tell me tie
special fault Was the style objection
able
The suiject vas. Why, it is rank abo,
liticn. Il would cost me fifty Subscribers
to publish it.
:! ap, sorry it doscn't please. Icouldn't
write dI!iereii.,, >L-.
Been reading Uncle Tom eh! We'll
we'll Get the nonsense Out of YOUR head
and .,y ssain.'
Acknowledging this -ratuitous advice
with respectful bow, sr,. took the frrrt
fered manuscript from his hand and pass
eh GU, WIN shi,'e god morning,
-. after her, you"
M" mn "wSf1dov, S'I apparently bq the Te?es, 80 :"
uo.lin. pa ar, rose and came f.itnait1u.' '''
Pray tell ME. urcls what that little
creature has done TO merit such a snub
bing at your hands. thought you We're
the pink of courtesy 10 authors, especially
the softer sex. What was there il that
unfortunate manuscript?
What Was there? What was there
not? Negro equality, sanitary r@f'rm
French Revolution, Fremont, the Burn,
redi,ion, Ben. Butler
lIeayer defend us interrupted III
Young man. Ali that in magazine s.C
ry?
AL that-yes, and Hungary anil Kos
south into the bargain
IS the young woman out Of her mind e?
or does she think 10 carry the temple sf
Fame by s'orm ? Is this her first sal
ly?
She has brought me several sketches
before 1t is the more provoki ing, that 81 e
can write sensible story
By which you mean = saleahle one.
OF course.
The yeung lady looks sane enough, and
quite modest.
Modest! She is perfect lady; and,
after all, the thing was caEitslly done
artistic, and all that
Was it though? fancied from your
description it was tumble of isms PHI
lanthropy in MASQUERADE, one tenth love
story to nine tsnths moral philosophy.-
Yoy know the kind of thing mean VIC
let's and pennyroyal.
Il know what you mean, but will do
Miss Grey the justice to say, that her
lzl 4
oifence to good taste. The trouble was il
wouldn'. read well in Baltimore
'Ah! and your virtuous publication cir
cIlates in that fastidious region. ! under
strnd | would give something to get a
YOU dencunce and defend with the same
breath. Where does the little inoendary
reside? d?
j have her address somewhere You
think Of extending your patronage?
thought fiction was out Of your line!
Yes; we are ia politics; i. pretty deep
for that matter. We shall have stout
tussle to bring our candidate through.
We'll, don't run the thing into the
ground UHere it is: Melicsnt Grey, u
- street) You young fellows are terri
bly, hot headed
Thank yon, uncle. We shall be cool
enough after election. Good morning
Good IT orning, Charlie.
While The above conver. alton was going
on, Melioent Grey was making her way
back in her lonely lodgings with a slow
step and teavy heart.
The story was to have brought her ter
kollars, half of which she owed. That ~ as
the worst of it. She felt no regret for ;he
hours OF patient labor she had bestowed
on her work. That was Its own reward
In it she had for the f1st time given rein
to her genius. As the words slided warm
and libing from her pen, her soul had ex-
panded with the glow and exaltation OF
true achievement Hervisiop cleared, and
che seemed the bearier 9fa message to man
kind. Under her band the simple sketch
of an outcast in the city streets grew and
grew, stretching out threRds across the sea
striking roots back into the centuries
reaching up to heaven, and down to hell
The throbbing heart. the crystle conscience
the imperative artist scene, wrought with
| in her, and how could she choose what
her story should be?
But when it was done. the feryor Qfcom
position over, the ordeal of msrciless criti
cism past, and after all no money earned
it was hardly to be wondered at that her
heart failed her, AID like q very girl she
sat down and cried You will agree that
other women have shed their teart as fool
ishly. Poor Milly,e flowed plentifuilly for
4 few minutes; then the sobs ceased, the
golden brown head was lifted bravely, the
tears were brushed away, and she sat about
tidyipg up the little room that seemed q
modle Of tidinsss already.
Putting ores house to rights in tho hes,