Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-07-24
Conquered.

Not the easiest question in the world to
ask. Yet Phil Graham asked it, bravely
and stood waiting his answer, his hand
some face flushed slightly, his dark eyes
eloquent with emotion.
Mr.. Bulbous evidently was not excited ;
in fact, he rather enjoyed Phils confusion.
To tell the truth, he had heard the same
amount of pleading, dozens of times be-
fore, from enamored young men, who had
done him the honor to ask for the hand of
his daughter heircss, pretty Emily Bull
bous.
Yet, somehow, he could not go through
the usual polite formula of rejection this
morning.
Certainly there was something in Phil's
favor, that no other suitor had yet attained
to for Emily herself loved him, and, be-
tween Phils manly pleading and Emily S
open perferment, the same old banker was
slightly puzzled.
Only once he thought of death bed,
where he had made q solemn promise to
Philips father, the friend to whom he
owed most of his own prosperity, to watch
over his only son with tenderness and
love that should repay him for the guiding
hand that death had taken from him.
But that was years ago, and great com
lnOlClttk Cllolo llhNl bWCDt uWhJ IOI-
tune. Was it not his duty to provide for
his daughter husband rich enough to
match the Bulbous brown-stone front, and
bank stock, and liveried equipagcP
And yet he could not help feeling that
Phil's true worth and manliness would do
more for his daughters happiness than all
the wealth and jewels, and what he knew
was the false glitter and show of fashion
able life, that he could bestow upon her.
But then Phil was only an author, a
rising one certainly but, if the nineteenth
century liberality of publishers has done
away with the romance of poetic allies
and dyspeptic misery of fifth-rate board
ing houses, it has not made authors mil
lionaires.
Possibly, it will do so in the future.
II is to be hoped SO!
II am afraid your income is not large
enough to support wife, the banker said
at last seeing the necessity for saying
something.
my income is over thousand year
SIR"
Mr.. Bulbous smiled grimly. "About
half rs much as Emily spends in year
for pin money" he said, brusquely.
"But / am rising in my profession, sir
and Emily has promised to wait"
Nonsense" interrupted Bulbous
"your income will never be any larger
Everybody writes stories nowadays
Why, bless you, Phil, / could do it myself
easily"
find it very much the custom for peo.
| pie, who know nothing about authorship
| to imagine that it is tlower-strewn path
| with unlimited greenbacks and undying
lanrels at convenient distances.
| nut that ruualo II Ennuyc hnftor
| Certainly, there are laurels and roses
and genius plucks them.
| All but the thorns the thornsi
Phil smiled little at the bankers asser
ton. He was thinking of his owp expert
ence as an amateur.
"You are certain of thisG" he asked
quietly.
Certain Of it? of course, am." Thi.
a little Indignantly.
Phils eyes sparkled mischicvously, as
he thought of the figure the portly ole
banker would cut in an editorial sanctunl
"I hope you don't doubt my ability y"
"Of course not, only should"
"rll write story this very day" sale
/ Bulbous, desperately, now thoroughly
aroused by Philips incredibly. "If /
isn't accepted before night, I'll give you
"Give me your daughter"
"On one condition"
"Name it."
"If l win, you must withdraw you
claim to her forever" said the banker
thinking he had disposed of anothe
suitor.
Pills face palcd little, and pretty
Emily clasped her white hands imploring
ly, but he answered firmly, al accept tn
offer"
"I think l will write little sketcl
after the manner of Dickens" the banke
said to himself, as the lovers sauntered GU
slowly into the long walks of the cOnser
vatory something that will be abov
the blood and thunder style of ordinar,
romance"
But half an hours attempt, with fre
quent extracts from Oliver Twist, conVinC
cd him that the task was hopeless. In fiv
minutes he could have written somethln
that would have startled half the brokers
from Trinity Church to Wall street ferry
out of their senses. But towrite Dickens
that was impossible. Then he orderel
some porter, and, four hours later, emerge,
from tho library, with half dozen sheet
of manuscript that was to make him IA
nous.
SO he imagined,
II think l will take 1t 10 Harpers," h
said, as he ordered the carriage.
A long ride and short walk took hin
over the busy streets, through the grea
counting-room, and up the winding stair
10 the editorial sanctum. "Mr. Bulbous,
he said, pompously, as he entered and pre-
sented his manuscript, with an air of con
descension.
The editor did not seem very mucl
awed by his august presence. So he re
peated the name.
"Ah yes; from Minnesota, ain't you 2
The banker looked horrified. 81 neve
expected TO find such ignorance, especial,
in an editor" he thought, Indignantly.
81 really don't think we can use you
article" the editor said, returning it, Th'
great banker went out, mentally resolving
tn start an opposition magazine, and crusl
out Harpers' past all redemption,
AFTER all, one can't expect To get int
the magazines at first" no said, after h
had consolcd himself with lobster salaC
and a sherry cobler. "rll try some of The
weekly papers"
"oh a manuscript You can call II
the course Of week or two, and we will
give you an answer"
Wouldn't You examine il nOwl" askCC l
the banker, who began 10 think he had
fallen among the PhiliStines.
Impossible, sir Must take your chanc,
with hundred others"
"But Phil--Philip Graham, he"
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