The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-10

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dribbling her brains away on that two
penny paper and turn them to some
thing that will give her a start as a
writer. A novel would be the best
thing. That gives one settled position,
and an open sesame to the better class
of periodicals.
"Always providing it makes HIT"
again struck in Bruce.
80, that goes without telling. She
has talent, as said, and rather I'M
usual and interesting way of putting
things. She would write something
quite worth reading, | haven't doubt.
The greatest difficulty is what they
would live on while she is doing it, for
she would have to give up her school
| and settle regularly to work"
"What is their income now; have you
any idea?" queried Swift.
"About $500, should Judge from
what the mother said"
Three or four of the mustached
mouths gave soft, prolonged whistle.
"How long do you suppose it would
take her to write the novel?"
go, six months, probably; not more
than that. You see it needn't be any
thing very deep, but only bright and
readable; like one-half the novels one
picks up nowadays"
Give hundred dollars, unused Swift.
''That is two hundred and fifty for the
six months-fifty dollars for each of us;
and we can all well afford it. Suppos-
ingwe adopt her for the time; be fathers
to her, as it were?"
The five men, all young and unmar-
ried, laughed amusedly at the PROPOSE
ton.
"'The question is, what would Miss
Stratton say to five fathers all under
thirty-iive?" said Mclean.
"She's as proud as Lucifer, and would
never consent to place herself under
what she would consider an obliga-
tion," objected DR.. Dunscombe.
''She might pay it back, if she felt
overburdened, from the proceeds of the
novel" suggested Bruce, satirically.
That might prove an uncertainty,
and she would be the first to see it, "
Dunscombe answered in perfect good
faith. ''She will never consent to re-
ceiving a cent unless she thinks she is
earning it,"
81 don't see the necessity of letting
her know anything about the father
ing" put in De Whit. 'If she's the
kind of girl take her to be, she will
be more indignant than gratefulfor our
help in that way. Why can't we trump
up some story about a publisher seeing
some of her stories in this two-penny
paper Dunscombe tells about, being
struck with the style of the writer and
all that sort of thing, and anxious to
have her try her hand at book, prin-
cipally for his own benefit. Of course
the question of money will come up,
and he can offer to advance the neces-
sary amount while the novel is in pro-
gress."
''Do you suppose she could be brought
to believe all that trash?" asked Nc
Lean, doubtfully.
1.-The vanity of an author is capable
otanything;' camel from the dark corner
''Who's to play the part of publisher,
then" asked DR.. Dunscombe.
81 should think Mclean would be
the one;'' said Harry Swift. HE must
be used to that sort of thing
THAT'S out of the question:" hur-
riedly interrupted the gentleman men
toned, ''for | think she knows me. |
have a hazy idea that she came to my
office once; but | don't print stories, as
you know, and she didn't seem to think
she could write anything in our line. |
remember feeling quite interested in
her at the time, but it had slipped my
mind"
Then Bruce will have to do it, said
De Whit. ''He is the only one among us
who has the properly hardened and
calculating cast of countenance."
"And the requisite dramatic ability"
slipped in Swift; referring with keen
relish to an old joke against Bruce.
! ''Humph!" disgustedly, from Bruce.
''But you will do it, will you not?"
inquired DR.. Dunscombe.
''And make an internal ass of my
self! | should think that, before we
push into the thing, it might be as well
to read something she has written
81 thought of that and came pre-
pared" said Dunscombe, drawing a
folded paper from his pocket.
"Here, Swift; you ought to be able to
do it best, come and read it to u.s."
AS Donald Bruce rose lazily, and
struck a match to light the student lamp
on his Office table, he seemed to tower
above his fellows like a modern Timon;
not so much from any superiority in
height as from q certain erect carriage
of his massive head and shoulders, an
erectness that suited well with his large
strongly-marked features and loose
massiveness of dark hair. All of the
five were intelligent, earnest, we'll
looking men, with much of the vigol
and enthusiasm OF extreme youth yet
about them. This dropping into Oar
Bruce's law Office, to have a chat over
their pipes in the twilight, had come tC
be an almost daily occurrence with the
friends, and all felt more err less ag-
grieved when, by chance, any one o.
the five happened to be absent.
Many had been the earnest talks
quiet, unobtrusive charities, boyish es
capades and wars of merry badinage
those twilight meetings had resulted
in, but this babe fair to be al
evening of eyenings-a something tc
be remembered in the dim future "a:
the time when they had outdone al
former ellorts.by adopting an authoress
In the meantime Harry Swift had be
gun his reading. The story was 6
pretty little conceit enough, and tolc
in pleasant style, but showing Sigh
faint of morhi1naSS Az tho raodnr',