Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-08-19


tapped his own .ee,h with the gold head
of his cane, and said oracularly, after the
manner Of fact, ,middle.aged doctors, "He
must keep his mind perfectly quiet; he
mustn't be annoyed in the slightest de-
gree, OF LII not answer for the conse-
quencosw
AS if grim Circumstance cared for the
medical mans proclamation
II wouldn't mind it so much, )" said Mr..
Ward, tossing from side to side of his
fevered pillows, "if it were not fer that
story | had promised 10 write for the
Burlington Magazine 1t would have
brought me in ten guineas."
"Ten guineas would be very nice sum
to have just now," sighed Mrs. Ward,
very much in tore one might use in say
ing, "The philosophers stone would be
quite handy to have in the house."
at isn't althogethcr that, said the inya-
lid, with little inspiration of breath, .but
they ara very particular people, and apt
to take offence if one don't keep ones en-
gagements to the letter. I'm afraid L
never shall have any more work on the
Burlington Magazine - And this was
the manner In which Mr.. Ward "kept his
mind perfectly quiet"
Ida had been Standing by her fathers
bedside the while, with her red berry of
a lower lip qulver;ng, and troubled dew
in her eyes. And then she crept away up
stairs, as noiselessly as her own pussycat,
and held secret counsel with Bessie, who
was painting photographs in a cold ante
room, lest the smell of the colors should
annoy papa. AS for two fires, that was
altogether out Of the question, in the
present state of the family finances.
Nonsense y said Bessie, painting Wig
orousIy away; nonsense
"But | think | could, Bessie" pleaded
Ida, earnestly. 'I'm almost sure | could.
You don't know how much I've scrlbbled
when | have been Alone"
/ "Yes but regular story! And for
magazine Why, they'd laugh at you,
child"
Il am used to that said Ida, meekly,
"and ] would SO like to try, dear Bessie"
"Wcll, try, then" said Bessie, with
little scornful laugh. ut can't do any
harm, suppose but, | tell you before
hand, you're only preparing disappoint-
ment for yourself, lda!'
" And you won't tell any onc-not even
Nellie or mama?" ss
"Of course not, if you don't wish it,"
Ida took her little battered portfolio
under her arm aud went upstairs into the
attic.
Il can only try" she thought, with her
heart beating violently. 1T don't seem
so very hard to write story. end if-1
l should succeed"
For three days she excluded herself up
in the attic, at the times and seasons she
could snatch from attendance upon her
father--writing eagerly for while, then
tearing up what she had written, in an ag-
ony Of despair--sometimes full of hope,
and then again marvcliug at her own wild
presumption. But at last the task was
completed.
Bessie met her, one evening, prowling
through the twilight, moro than ever like
her own cat, as she returned from one of
the numberless errands to their neighbor-
ing chemist.
"Where have you been. Ida?" she
asked, little sharply, as wise elder sis
ters will speak. g8am
II have just taken my story to the post
office" said Ida, in a whisper.
"Oh, Ida! why didn't you read 1t to
me FIRST 2"
II dared not, Bessie" faltered Ida /;
IL was SO nervous, so frightened"
"What goosie it isl" laughed Bessie.
Sand how did you manage it?"
ri wrote little note, saying it was
Mr.. Wards story, aud that | had copied
it for him. Was that very wrong Bes-
sic 1t vas rapa's story, for had CIV
en- it to him with all my heart, and |. did
copy it; SO you see it was the truth, after
all. And asked them to please send the
money or the manuscript back by post
next week."
"You'll probably never hear Of it
again" said Bessie. 81 don't say SO to
be ill-natursd, mind, but because really
think SOL"
The editors of the Huntington Maga.
zine . read over the story which had cost
poor little Ida SO many tears and tribula-
tiops, with approval.
''The best thing Ward ever wrote,
said Mr.. Penn, nodding shis Jove-likc
head.
"a very graceful. feeling little story
said Mr. Symers. 9TH be noticed in