The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-10-22

might" And kindly Mrs. Elliott
passed on.
LsnOra did not diyulge to Mrs Eli.
OFT that sue had learned the secret u
''ClarIee's" identity with simple little
/ Carrie Leslie. who boarded at the
fsrTn-hOuse and were calico dresses
but she was more than ever coufirm-
ed in her determination to enter the
lists Of authorship, and eclipse Mis-:
LIS! les light at once.
Sue sat up late tnat night, drafting
out a rough sketch of the Moorish
story, aEc shut herself up all the next
day in iIer own room writing. She
called out the most resouAnt words
1 in the dictionary-shes spFinkled the
tale with Spanish phrases picked Oui
of the ''Book Of Quotations,n to give 3
general idea that she was familiar
with the Spanish language and made
it musical with the play OF fountains
in paved courts, OdOfous with the
heavy scent Of orange groves, and
luminous with stars shining out ol
purple midnight heavens.
t.fEerew said Miss Lenora to her.
self, when she Lad read It over for
the third time, equally Reil pleased
with each peTusal. "If that don't cui
'Ciarice,' there's no taste left in the
literary world. or course they will
wish to engage me to write regularly
for them, and they must pay me we'll.
How nice it will be 70 have lots oi
money Of my own, without being
compelled TO coax papa, IS IL every
dollar was = drop Of blood out of a
stone"
II am sorry you were away yester-
day, Mr.. Wyford," said Miss Lenora,
as she met him at the breakfast table
one morning.
,@Indeed I am very much Obliged
to you for being so kind as to miss
me, but I can hardly comprehend
why" said he.
II wanted to read you a story.
sent II to tue Guest by last evenings
mail"
"I nave no doubt it would have been
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 1T. 1 suppose
you read a great deal ?"
"a littIe,n said he.
Though, of course, my own read
ing has been extensive, and II /
couldn't write better than that chit Of
Carrie Leslie, would give it up.
I'll send you a copy of the 'GbesE
Containing my story II you would like
to see il in prInt.u
"rhank you," said Mr.. Wyford,
with rather a queer look on his face,
which was half q mile and frOwn !;
''you are very kind"
Miss Martin whispered her secret,
cOnfidentizlly, of course, to every gem
tleman at the Heathdale Heuse, and
two-thirds of the ladies.
On the eighth day thereafter, huge
yellow-colored envelope was handed
her by Sam, who always went for the
mails. LenorA flushed up to her fore
head. Could it be possible that the
missive was distended with bank-bills?
Did the "Guest' pay as literally as
thAt? The matter was speedily defin-
ed, however. She tore off the enve-
lOpe, amid circle OF admiring and
expectant friends, and out dropped
"Black Alfonso," with a strip of pa
per belted around him, containing
the simple words: Respectfully de.
clined." --..-
IfLenora Martin did not go into
Mysteries, it was only because she was
not constitutiOnally inclined to that
escape valve for the feelings. She
swept out of the room, biting her lips
till you would have thought the teet b
would have met through the quiver-
ing flesh.
She was unusually silent when she
came down to tea that night. Morti-
fled pride is by no means quickener
TO the tongue, and Miss Martin would
have given the prettiest dress in her
wardrobe If she only had the sense to
keep her own counsel respecting
"Black Alfonso.p
"Lenora," whispered Mrs. Elliott to
her, i've u bit of news for yOu-three
bits of news in fact"
'tAh :" said Lenora, trying to look
interested. "What are they 2"
sIn the first place 1 have discovered
that the 'Clarice,' who has taken all
our hearts by storm through the
witchery Of her pen Is no other than
SdIItC 6CoiiCf anu tuoN y AOA0 -
oue of the editors of the New York
Guest"
Lenora eolored scarlet as she thought
of all the foolish things she had said,
and Mrs. Elliott went exu;tingly on,
quite unaware of the sting lingering
with her words-
"And what do you think Mr. LiY-
jngstOn tells me +? They are TO be
married next month My dear, are
you i'll ?p .Fsos re5 -.ra.Er.E
"No," said Lenora, huskily. III
have only forgotten my pocket hand
kerchief."
And Miss Martin fled up stairs az
ter the bit of linen cambrie that was
safe in her own pocket, coming down
no more that evening. She burned
"Blaek Alfonso" orange blossoms,
moonlit, musical fountains and all !.
and she never wrote any. more pro-
ductions for the New York Guest.n