The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-07

not speedily put herself in communities.
ton with him. after silence on his
part which would seem inexplicable to
her.
Several weeks passed away without
word or sign from the author of John
Dolline's Quest" and Mr.. Parker was
beginning to be anxious; he wanted
more work from the same hand, and he
began to fear that his prize had been
beguiled into the Office of some COM
petitor. He was puzzled, too. by the
apparent Indifference of the writer of a
story which had sold an extra edition OF
the magazine, and was in everybody s
mouth; did she care nothing for such a
success? One evening. as he was sit
ting at his desk in his room asking him.
self these questions for the hundredth
time, he pulled out package of papers
from pigeon-hole, and, 10, there
dropped out the original manuscript of
John Dolline's Quest" There was no
doubt about it; he instantly recognized
the peculiar hand in which it had been
written. and on the back were the date
of receipt. number and memorandum of
acceptance. Moreover, the sight OF
the article recalled distinctly the fact
that he had brought the story home for
more careful reading, and had placed it
in his desk; the circumstances had en-
tirely escaped him, but now they all
came back in flash. John Parker was
thunderstruck; if he had been per-
picked before, he was hopelessly con-
fused now. The original manuscript
had never been out OF his possession,
and yet Miss Ferguson had supplied a
copy over night. He looked up the
issue of the magazine, and compared
the printed story with the manuscript
in his hand; they were identical save in
a few phrases and turns of expression.
As he recalled Miss Ferguson's copy,
he remembered that the handwriting
was very different from that before him,
and as he recalled the note of inquiry
he was sure that its penmanship was
the same as that of the original manu-
script.
He lighted fresh cigar. and began to
walk up and down his room, seeking
vainly for some solution of the prob
lem. He tried one theory after an
other, but none of them fitted the facts.
and finally he gave up in despair; there
WIS no rational explanation unless Miss
Ferguson had stolen the story from the
writer, which was incredible: or unless
she had written it herself. which, in
view of all the circumstances. seemed
equally incredible. Mr.. Parker walked
and walked, and the longer he walked
and thought the more uncomfortable
he felt. His feeling. if he had analyzed
it as closely as the novelists who had
stories to the magazine
We're in the habit of aralyzing such
was warmer and more intense
than the simple editorial problem would
have justified: the fact that Miss Fergu-
son was involved seemed to invest the
with personal interest
of kind which he had never felt be-
fore.
The next morning Mr.. Parker had
reached no conclusion. but he had de-
cided what to do. He sent for Miss
Ferguson. and. when she presented her.
self, handed her the manuscript without
q word of comment. If he had felt any
as to TIE result it was dissi-
pated by the flush which sutfused the
girl face when she understood that he
had discovered her connection with the
story
Il owe you an explanation. which |
ought to have made earlier she said;
s. wrote this story six months ago. but
had too little confidence in it to send it
% any magazine. laid it on book
rack in my room, and thought no more
Of it until the afternoon when you
asked me about the lost story. l was
SO struck by the title that l asked for
is character. and from your descrip-
ton knew the story must have been
my own. l hurried TO nv boarding.
house and found the manuscript miss
inc. 1t had probably been taken by
who had left the house sudden
ly not very long before. and whom |
had instinctively distruSted. Your
strong commentator stimulated me to
it. | sat up the whole night,
Ind in the morning laid the story on
rOur desk without explanation. These
IRE the facts, which l should have put
nto your possession before if | had been
bile to overcome my timidity. 1t is the
irst piece OF literary work | ever at
Whatever John Parker'S feelings were
while Miss Ferguson was making this
he carefully concealed
hem. When she had finished, he ex-
ended his hanI cordially, and said:
Il congratulate You on having made
/ very great success Your future is
likely to be an enviable one. Have YOU
written anything since John Dolline's
lueStf'
Her reply was TO leave the room and
'eturn with another sketch. The same
afternoon, as he handed her generous
heck for both contributions, he told
Ter that he did not expect her to remain
ouger in her present position, adding, /
With considerable emphasis:
Il have another place in view fol-
-ou. if L can persuade YOU to take it."
Nothing was heard from the person .
Who had brought John DOlline's
quest TO the magazine, although sew
raj devices were employed for that .
purpose: the sudden and wide popular |
ty of the sketch probably deferred Der +.
rom making any attempt to profit by
Ter theft. Three months later, as they /
we're coming out of hotel in Washing /
on, Mrs. Parker suddenly turned t. .
Ter husband and asked:
What was the place you had in view
or me. John?'
The one you now occupy, my dear"
Christian Union.
Cloves.
Cloves are the unopened flowers of a
wall traa =