River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-09-03
HER VOCATION.

the leader he was inditing, frowning a
little at the interruption The editor
in-chief had a gruff way at the best Of
times, though it covered the kindest
heart in the world Just now he was
deeply engaged, and the fact that the
salutation came in the softest, most
musical of tones. only slightly lessened
the frown with which he glanced up
from his flying pen.
"Well?n was what he said, rather
shortly.
What he saw was girl who couldn't
have been more than eighteen, dressed
in a slightly shabby, though daintily
fitting gray dress, with a little gray
hat and blue veil Under the hat and
veil he saw a sweet, pathetic face, sur
rounded by ilulf of yellow hair, with
blue eyes which held in their depths a
look of earuestness AMI of pain, even,
which somehow made him sorry that
he had spoken quite so gruif,
"Oh, please, are you the editor OF
the Leading Starr" asked the musical,
appealing voice.
Yes, miss, win you take achair?"
in tones a trihe more pleasant.
Thanks, III only detain You mo-
ment. 4"
IAN advertisement or Wanted
suppose, thought Mr.. Hathaway.
But the little lady drew from her
cloak a roll of paper, blushing as she
did so.
Oh, good heavens! l hope she
hasn't brought manuscript thought
the editor.
IL thought would call, and ask
you to-to read these sketches, and
ask if YOU thought them worth pub
fishing, said the girl, timidly.
Lord! knew it, mentally ejacu-
ulated the editor. Aloud he said
Are they stories?"
Yes, sir, answered the musical
voice.
well, We he was going to say
'are already overcrowded. : But
somehow, the soft voice, and the pref
ty ewes with the pain in them, touched
the tough editorial heart. He read her
/ little story so clearly, he couldn't bear
to crush all hopes at once. He tenn
/ porized He said, ''well, we some
/ times purchase stories, when they are
very good. You might leave them,
! Miss
Poster Lucy Foster is my name.
said the girl quickly, and he saw the
hope brighten in her face. sob. sir,
/ | thank YOU SO muchl And | do hope
YOU viii like them. 1t is so important
to met
Oh, yes, the editor knew that!
Live in the city?" he enquired la
/ conically.
..Yes-for a while said the young
/ GIRL. Then. with a sudden impulse,
| She answered frankly, I've always
! been afraid of editors. | called on two
this morning, and they would hardly
! look at me. so hadn't the courage to
offer my poor little sketches. But you
seem SO kind, sir, feel quite ut home,
and am almost tempted to tell you
my little story =
Even an editorial heart, is not always
| insensibIe to delicate hattery! Thi.
one forgot he was in a hurry with that
leader, and said quite graciously:
Il should be pleased to hear it.
"Shall ! not treSpass upon your valu-
able timer" asked the Girl, anXiously,
with another glance of the blue eyes,
Not at all. am not in the least
hurry"
.Oh, thought you We're, when
came in, ;" was the innocent response.
We'll, | came from Johnsberg. Know
where it isP''
"Perfectly. Been there on business.
Yes? Papa used to be in business
there. Then l went to school, and was
happy. But papa died, and | had nc
home. except to live with Jack, my
married brother. Jack was good
enough to me, but his wife-isn'
pleasant | helped her do all hel
work. vet she was always grumbline
because Jack had to keep me.
couldn't bear my life, indeed, | tried
to be patient-but the work was 50
hard, and Mary never stayed at home
to help, and then complained because
/ didn't do more ! thought / would
come to the city. and try to support
myself 1t couldn't be worse. / had
no money, nothing but my piano, papa
cave me, and Mary scolded every time.
/ opened it. | sold it for three hundred
| dollars, gave them half the money fol
my board
what! paid your board to YOU
own brother, and worked all the time?
growled the editor, so fiercely, it made
the girl start.
Indeed | did, sir. But it wasn't
Jack 5 fault-he d be good away from
her. Well, | came to the city, rented a
room and have tried for work every
where | advertised, and l answered
advertisements. and | thought there
must be some place for me in all thi.
great city But, sir. and the red
sweet mouth quivered, Il cannot FIND
il if there is | had no references nc
experience and some one was always
ahead Of me. My money is almost
| gone and must do something. | can
90 back to Jack they were glad to gel
rid Of me and | won't 60 back! The
bright ewes flashed, showing how mucf
spirit Law behind II thought | woulC
try and write stories as a last resort
and if that fails. / don't know whar
next. And that all, sir. Thank YOU
for listening.
She rose as if to go, and, if you'll be
lieve it. that editor eltqueer, and there
was such an odd lump in his throat, he
couldn { say word!
.,Oh, one thing more, said Miss Eos
ter. pausing and letting very slim lit
tie hand rest upon the editorial desk. ~
the stories do fail, don you sometime!
pay people for copying manuscripts?
"We 40. sometimes.
| well, | can at least say / can write
a fair hand Papa taught me, and ht
was splendid. He used to say I wrote
rapidly too. If YOU have anything Of
the kind to give out, won't you let ms
TYP"
Yes, Miss Foster, wei viii. Pleas,
leave your address in case 1 need you.
"Oh, YES, sir. She wrote the stree
and number on a card and gave it tt
Mr.. Hathaway. Il would be 50 glaC
to be of use TO somebody" She said
with smile bright enough to melt ever
an old bachelor editors heart