Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-08-15
MY FIRST EDITOR,

MY FIRST EDITOR.
''It's the natural result Of a severe
course of ~Swinburne!"
l snatched up the manuscript, and
was leaving the room, flushed with
shame, trembling with rage and indig-
nation, when the editors voice arrested
my attention. l turned around and
looked at him scornfully, for l felt l
could have withered him with a glance;
but he did not seem to feel it much.
you're a most impetuous young
lady," he said in a slow, low musical
voice. 81 have not half finished my
criticism of this very remarkable pro-
duction," and he took the manuscript
quietly but resolutely from my trem-
bling fingers.
''Now, Miss -"
'Jones,n l said shortly
"No, not Jones; but the name will
serve."And l felt his keen gray eyes on
my face and observed an amused smile
lowering round the corners of his
mouth, which was half hidden by a long,
fair, dropping moustache. "Now, Miss
Jones, pray sit down'-he indicated Il
high, leather-covered chair just oppo-
site to him-"and let us talk this mat
ter over. If you had been content, like
other aspiring young authors, to send
your contribution in the ordinary way,
through the medium of the postman
and a newspaper wrapper, it would
have been declined, doubtless, and re-
turned with or without the customary
though not very consoling thanks; but
since you have bearded the lion in his
den, you must listen to me for q few
minutes"
l bowed and sat down. He had got
out his scalpel and was going to scarify
me mercilessly, but as | had brought it
on myself | felt must heroically endure
it, though l glanced surreptitiously
round the "den5o in search of some
means of escape. He "fixed me with
his glittering eye" and 1 waited,
wondering why l had been so mad and
misguided as to enter an editorial Office
at all.
Slowly, deliberately, with a sort of
fendish satisfaction, he smoothed out the
,crumpled manuscript, glancing at me
with amused interest.
why do you write poetry, Miss
Jones?"
II don't know; because 1 like to-, 1
suppose"
Butdo you honestly and really think it is
necessary for people, even in poetry,
and %supposing they are very much in
love with each other-which no one is
nowadays-is it necessary for them to
be bitten and 'smitten,' and that sort
of thing? Is it really desirable in the
interests of common humanity for hearts
to be melted and 'smelted ?"-and
placed his finger under a certain stanza.
'This sentiment, for instance, Is simply
1erocious."
"Don't!' l cried angrily. otis very
cruel and unkind of YOU! If you don t
wantmy poetry you can say so, and
have done with itr'
".My passion flowed forth with a
torrent (which of course rhymes With
.abhorent.'
Stop, pleasen'-and l thrust my
fingers into my ears in the most undig-
nilied misery; but | could not shut out
the sound OF the clear, quick, hooking
voice. shut my eyes; but still there
was the horrid, gloating, g~ood-looking
editor, watching me closely, his hand
resting on my beautifully written poem
i thought then and think to this day
that it was and is beautiful. When
looked at him again he was laughing Al
my distress, smiling to himself, like 6
ghoul or a happy, or something equally
horrid, but that he was eAasperatingly
good-looking.
"Now, Miss Jones, what else have
you written besides this very remarka
bic production?" with another sup
pressed smile.
"'Somo blank verse md banker prose,
And more OF both than anybody KNOWS
I reply, a little bitterly. ''Will YOU
please give me my manuscript? l an
very sorry to nave troubled you; l shall
never dos again!"
ooh, yes. you will; and l shall b.
very glad to consider some of the blanl
prose you speak SO despairingly OF. |
you will let me see a nice matter-of-fac
commonplace little story. or a shor
article on some useful domestic subject
such as The Average Servant or 'Oc
,cupation for Girls'-anything of tina
.sort-can you suggest anything?'-an'
he looks at me gravely and questioning
ly-.'something novel and attractive
that might be treated briefly and bright
ly-made "a feature of, in short
shall be pleased to consider anything q
that sort you may favor me with, Mis-
Jones'"
He always paused most provokingl
after the ''Miss,' and l hardly kne,