Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-04-12
"ACCEPTED."

Twas desperate. My stories. my sketch
es, my verses had been rejected every
where. And yet, in spite of Fate's nu-
merous rebuffs, l could not give up the
dream of my lifetime-the dream that
began in my early girlhood-that OF De-
coming AN authorizes. And no disa ppoint-
ment, no adverse criticism had as yet
shaken my belief that many would read
and like my little fancies, II could only
get them published.
But how to get them published; that
was the question.
Editor after editor had returned them,
sometimes with q kind note regrettlng
that want of space owing 10 the very
many contributions on hand, prevented
the acceptance o. so charming a story Or
SO graceful a verse;" sometimes with a
petite, printed declination, which of
course proved '.joy forever, knowing
as | did that the same honeyed words
must be dispatched to hundreds, perhaps
thousands, of other literary aspiranis,
independent of their degrees of merit;
and sometimes without u word. either
written or printed, save the horrid one,
reflected" scrubbed on the outside Of
the last page, thereby running that page
forever.
Cne solitary, glittering, silver half dol
lar WAS all that remained in my shabby
purse-the only thing that stood between
me and utter want
had friends, but was to proud to let
them know of my restitution, for had
they not one and al laughed me 10 sc0rn,
when the old aunt with whom had re-
sided since my babyhood, having died and
left all her money TO an orphan asylum,
totally forgetting her orphan niece.
boldly avowed my Intention of earning
my living with my pen. They hadl And
the memory of their mockery-the echo
OF their der.sive langhter-madc me
doubly determined to succeed ,or-well.
Iwasn't at all sure what the alternative
would be; but, as said before, had ar
rived at q state of desperation
The last drop had been to much; my
cup Of misery overflowed and SO did my
eyes. had taken such pains with that
story, Loves Dream" / had preserved
the incognito of my hero with las !
thought) such delicate skill, and after
preparing my imaginary readers TO weep
with my heorine, i had suddenly and
deity dispersed the clouds that hung over
her life. and left her ss's's'ss -~sd Ho~er5
and sunshine. Snd yet II bad been re-
turned from the Office of the Weekly Ne
mantle young men in trade and their SEN
tiiEental sweethearts in service, and 10
which l had sent ii sorely against my
will, because, bitter as the truth Is, Ill
confess IL, il had been refused by half
dozen better publications with but one
line OF comment, and that line was, Not
up 20 our Standard" ! sat locking at this
short but not ut all sweet criticism, me-
cLanically reading II over. when suddenly
the righteousness of the thing burst upon
me. I, who aimed to adorn the pages of
sur leading magazines. to he told wasn't
up to the standard of the Weekly Ne
plusultrsl Good gracious, how funny.
With the tears still clinging to my lashes
l laughed aloud. That laugh brought
back my courage; La patience es It
be when get il" said / tn myself. Ill
try again. and having stopped so low the
last time, I'll stand On tiptoe this. To the
editor of the best journal ! know shall.
Loves Young Dream be submitted, and
II again fail and no fruit drop into my
pleading outstre chcd hands I'll 20 To
binding shoes, provided there are any
shoes TO bind, like Poor Lone Hannah
or Ill take in plain sewing II can find
some very plain. indeed
''Ohl that had a friend at court"
back garrett window, aud as uttered the
wish . thought flashed into my mind that
hushed my cheek and made my heart
beat fast.
The house directly opposite, the back
OF which faced-to rs an Emerald Isle
like expression-the back of the one in
which lived. had the honor Of sheltering
Q well-known and much-liked author.
! had often watched him during the
Summer months. bending over his desk,
which stood by one of the windows of his
study-a back room like mine, only q
story nearer the drs~ing-room But with
the coming Autumn days fair-haired
girl had made her appearance In the
room, taken possession Of the chair and
pen, and while he paced mp and down
His face pleassd me, the high, full
brow, the pleasant eyes, the kindly
mouth and bright smile. And his manner
10 his young amanuensis pleased me no
less, (She looked wonderfully like him
bis sister ! supposed her TO bel. He would
often pause and lay his hand gently on
her pretty head, while she looked up at
him with - fond q look as he bent on
her, and one d.v saw him reach from
the window 70 tho hanging ielf OF flow |
ers aud pluck . scarlet geranium, which |
he fastened In her sunny hair.
III 60 to him. resolved impetuously. |
I'll ask him to read my story He shall |
be my final judge. II he thinks it un-
worthy. I'll tear II into fragments and
write 70 more. He vii. at least, be kind
TO me-Im sure he will. Should be
from the sunshine Of his
success and prosperity he can spare no
little glance for q poor, forlorn, wee thing
like me- III never believe in faces again v
Hastily, lest my sudden resolve should
take fight, 1 arranged my hair in the
most becoming manner-being a woman,
should have found strength enough to
DO that il l had been wholly instead Of
alf-starved-pipned q crimson rose in
my hat-brunette, not that it's of any
and in . few moments
found myself ringing the door-bell Of the
house around the corner, and asking the
rim maid -servant who answered my sum-
mons. IF could see Mr. Actonn." As
The hesitated. stsmmered, ION literary
1usrn ess-I1l only detain him Q very
Iholt time"
She ushered me into a pleasant parlor
md ran up stairs, and soon returned with
/ request that should follow her.
! followed her to the weil-known third
story back roon,
With a cordial smile my author rose
rom his seat--a formidable rise it was,
90. at least six feet-as entered and
handed me a chair.
But kind and gentle as his look was-a
COX that in some mysterious way told me
that he had dearly loved bis
courage forsook me entirely,
nv head whirled I cannot recall word