The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-10-12
My Special Contributor.

o1 - - : v
s.Is the editor. in? Can 1 see him ?'
heard the words before l saw the
speaker. The voice was sweet, rich,
and youthful, with certain quality
of strength and hope in it. l think
one often hears in voice great deal
besides the words it utters. / was a
man of notions, of whims, if you
william old bachelor. Not SO very
old though-don't busy your imaein-
alton. with dyed whiskers and a
scratch. L was thirty-f five, and that is
what Mr. Dickens and the rest of the
middle-aged noVelists call a young
man. At any rate, my heart was
neither withered nor frozen, old bach
elor's heart as it was. l did not be-
,lieve all men knaVes, and all women
sehemers: That / was not married
was not owing to any distrust of the
sex, any cold cynicism, or mocking
incredulity. Twas simply that while
/ had admired some women, and es-
teemed many, never happened to lo0e
any. So much by way of explaining
the interest felt in youth and beauty
everywhere; the spontaneous kind
ness and championship which certain
acquaintances of mine-already 6lase
at tWenty-four-Were wont to laugh
at as Quixotic knight-errantry
= looked mp after the words I had
heard, and the speaker was just COM
ing round the tall desk which hid the
door from my view.
s., YOung-her voice had told me So
not more than seventeen, and with a
sunny, winsome countenance, not
beautiful exactly, but better than that.
Looking into her face it needed no
subtle physiognomical lore to know
what manner of woman she was.
Those large brown eyes, shy yet hon
est full of pride as well as of tender
ness; that brow, broad and fair and
open, with the hair brushed back like
a child's above the delicate little ear
the straight nose, with the thin, ex-
pressive nostril; the mouth which
could close in calm scorn, or dimple
into. sweetest gentleness-looking at
them, l knew her as well as if 1 had
known her. all her Misunderstood
the quick impulses of that warm, rich
nature. She was very plainly dressed.
1t was little that 1 knew about FEM
mime fashions, but recognized in the
simple muslin frock, the plain straw
bonnet, and the untrimmed mantle in
dications of delicate taste and slen-
der purse.
! Do not fancy that I looked at my
visitor for the spare of time which it
has taken you to read this description.
/ made my observations along with
my bow, and gave her my approba-
ton and a chair together. There was
suggestive looking white roll in her
hand. Her errand was evident enough,
even if she had not made it known at
once, with a straightforward simplic-
ity quite in accordance with her face.
3 "Doyou buy manuscripts, Mr.. Fra
zer?n
when they please me, yes"
The smile with which 1 answered
her provoked responding one, and
she said, with a blush:
n "Of course was not inexperienced
to think that you bought
them without reading. wanted to
ask you if You would read mine, and
purchase it if you should like it."
8 Certainly / said, reaching my
hand for the neat little roll. will
look over it, and let you know my de-
cision.v sss9 5as
s,G" I know, of course, that you have
Ocl1 aCcA- W AO Oul IL you COItN lO6lO
it soon should be glad. 1t is my first
venture, and its success is very i'm
portant to me. Indeed have taken
great pains. with it, es
~ Of, course my sympathies were
aroused. Speaking in business point
of view, tender-heartednes was my
besetting sin. / seemed to read a
whole life-story in her crimson cheek,
f. L.. 4 IL
tremor which quiYered through her
voice. My fancy began picturing sick
parents, hungry brothers and sisters,
and l know not what other fantastic
shapes of gloom and wretchedness.
resolved to find out for myself if she
were in need and | answered her as
if it were the most customary thing
in the world for the editor of mag
azine that receives more than hun
dred manuscripts in a month to call
ing contributor with his sentence of
hope or despair. She would know
no better, she had seen so little of life 4
"Where shall 1 find you, when 1
have read your story, and am ready
to communicate my decision ?"
She handed me q card on which her
address was delicately penciled. 1t
was in quiet, respectable part of the
town, through which / passed daily
on my way to and from my Office.
81 hope it will please you.". she
said, rising to go, and there was
wistful pathos in her voice, an express
sion on her face of mingled hope and
apprehension, which haunted me all
day.
1 did not undo the manuscript until
had reached home at night. 1t
should have the benefit of my after
dinner-mood-of the hour when /
could look most complacently on men
and things. a
What neat little affair it was! No
question that she had. as she said, ta-
ken great pains with it. 1t was q
pleasure to me, bored with such reams
of paper, covered with worse than
Egyptian hieroglyphs, only to glance
at that free, clear, yet delicate chiro-
graphy. But there, alas its excel
lence ended. She had evidently read
a great many novels, and seen very
little of life.
She had one heroine who was con-
stantly drawing herself up to her full
height-~a stately creature, with raven
hair aud flashing, midnight eyes.
Then there was the inevitable contrast
"a gentle girl, with blue eyes and
wealth OF sunny tresses, who always
bounded into the room; who wore
white dresses even in January, and
had no end of roses and myrtle flow
ers, with whose petals ii seemed to be
her chief business to litter the carpet.