Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-07-19

Ii q
they tell me she's only a district-scnool
teacher in New York, and [ don't sun.
pose she ever had silk dress. or wehi
to party in her life"
AS Eudocia Martin went down stairs
to tea, turning over these various medi-
tatlons II her mind, she met Mrs.
Elicit, the judges wife, the greatest
lady in all the hotel limits, bustlipg
down in her silver-gray silk, with the
old-fashioned pearls in her ears.
Why, Mrs. Elliott, what's the mat
ter ?" cried Eudocia, as by the giimmer
of the hall light she detected the traces
of tears on the lady's cheek. "You
have been crying !"
Mrs. Elliott laughed.
And | am not ashamed to confess
1t either, she said. ''I hare been cry
ing, Miss Martin, and I don't know who
could help it when they read 'Carice's'
beautiful sketch this week in the Guest
about little Willie's death. Have YOU
seen the Guest ?"
"No, ma'am," said Miss Martin.
arching her upper lip with rather q
contemptuous curl.
Mop Well, I'll send it into your
room tonight" And kindly MIS-,
Elliott passed ON.
Eiudocia did not divulge to Mrs.
Elliott that she had learned the secret
OF "Clarice's' identity with simple little
Clara Leslie, who boarded at the farm
house and wore plan calico dresses ::
but she was more than ever confirmed
IN her determination to enter the lists
OF authorship, and eclipse Miss Leslie's
light at once.
She sat up late that night drafting
out rough sketch of the Moorish story.
and all the next day she shut herself up
IN her own room writing. She culled
out the most resonant words in the die
tlonary-she carefully sought all man
ner OF synoQyms-she sprinkled the
tale with Spanish phrases picked out of
the "Book of Quotations" to give a
general idea that she was familiar with
the Spanish language; and made it
musical with the play of fountains in
paved courts, odorous with the heavy
scent OF orange groves, and luminous
with stars shining out of purple mid
night heavens.
"There," said Miss Eudocia to her.
self, when she had read it over for the
third time, equally well pleased with
each perusal, ''if that don't cut out
Clarlce, there's no taste left in the
literary world. Of course they will
wish to- engage me to write regularly for
them, and they must pay me well. How
nice 1t will be to have lots of money of
my own, without being compelled to
coax papa, as if every dollar were drop
of blood out of a stone. [ wonder what
Clara Leslie does with all the money
she must earn. [ know wouldn't wear
common calicoes and board at farm
house, if had piecein the NeaV York |
Guest every week"
am so sorry you were gone away
yesterday, Mr.. Wyford," said Miss
Eudocia, as she met him at the break
fast table one morning.
Indeed / am much obliged toyou
for being so kind as to miss me, but 7
can hardly comprehend Why" said the
gentleman.
" I wanted to read you my story. I
sent it to The Guest by last evenings
mail"
" [ have no doubt it would have been
a literary treat" said Mr.. Wyford,
courteously.
" Oh, I'm not at all sure of that"
SAID Miss Martin, tossing her head in
all the conscious pride of authorship
"but should really like to have had
your critical opinion of it. I suppose
you read great deal ?"
"a little"
Though, of course, my OWE reading
has been extensive, and if [ couldn't
write better than that chit of Clara
Leslie, [ aUould give up. Ill send Won
q copy Of the Guest containing nv
story, If you would like to see it in
print.
"Thank you," said Mr.. Wyford, with
rather queer look on his face, which
was half smile and half frown, "vou
are very kind"
Miss Martin whispered her secret.
:" confdentially, of course" to every
gentleman at the Heathdale House. and
'wo-thirds of the ladies, and already be-
gan to feel the laurels of success encir-
,ling her brow. But on the eighth
lay thereafter huge envelope was
handed her by Sam, who always went
or the mails. Eudocia flushed up to
ler forehead. Could it be possible that
he mlssive was distended with bank
pills !? Did The Guest pay as literally
Is all that?
The matter was speedily decided
however She tore off the envelope
'mld circle of admiring and expectant
riends, and out dropped ".Black AL
onso with a strip of paper belted
'ound him, containing the simple words: +
=" Respecgully Declined"
Ii Eudocia Martin did not 20 into
lysterlcs, it was only because she was S
lot constitutionally inclined to that es-
'ape-valve for her feelings. "Black s
Alfonso declinedl "Black Alfonso"
drug in the literary market! "Black {
Alfonso unappreciated by public {
aste! Eudocia swept out of the room. s
biting her lip till you would have !
bought the teeth would have met |
trough the quivering flesh. g
She was unwontedly silent when she 1
anne down to tea that night. Mortified t
ride is by no means q quickener to the $
ongue, and Miss Martin would have /
lven the prettiest dress in her ward c
ODE If only she had had the sense to
eeeep her own counsel respecting 'Black C
Alfonso" j
"Eudocia," whispered Mrs. Elliott to e
er, Tive bit of news for you-three .
its of news, in fact" i
"AhP' said Eudocia, trying to look "
Interested, "what are they ?" b
SIN the first place, have discovered h
nat the 'Clarice' who has taken all our g.