River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-09-03
to me. Mr.. Hathaway, and | shan

leader, Hathaway unfolled a sheet OF
two of the manuscript Lucy Foster had
/ left on his desk, and glanced at it.
a nice hand, indeed, he muttered.
But I'll bet a cent the things are not
worth a niekle. And / wish-she
hadn't brought EN-, poor, pretty little
thing -
The next day he read the stories.
Just as | expected Y he said.
''Some very pretty thoughts, and a
woman tender heart, but crude and
uniformed as any schoolgirls work.
She has no vocation for a story writer.
Yet | declare I'm sorry for her. | can I
bear to send them back, declined, as |
have thousands of others. Poor little
1 thing | would like to help her, but
/ these are the merest trash. Wonder if
( | couldn' give her some copying, and
| let the stories rest bit before | tell
her? I'd like to see where she lives,
anyhow
The next afternoon, climbing stairs
until he was tired, Mr.. Hathaway
called at the number Lucy had given
/ him, and left her some papers to copy.
/ His stay in the small room did not ex-
/ ceed ten minutes, but he had time to
notice how spotlessly neat it was, and
4 how fresh and tidy Lucy looked, and
even to see the little pot of pinks in
I the window. She was so bright and
clad to have the work, that he knew it
must be needed lie laid three dollars
down upon the papers, saying rather
/ awkwardly:
1--WE generally sometimes for
this work in advance, if that will sat
! isfy you.
ION, certainly! Thank you very
much 1t is the first | have earned-oI
mean to earn. she added, laughing.
''Whcn would you like then?"
"Oh, whenever you can. Don't
hurry about it, =
Il will copy them to-morr W, and
bring them in Saturday. You know
YOU were to decide upon the stories,
then, said Lucy.
Eyes. II remember" said the
editor. And he backed out and got
am ay rather hastily.
"Confound it, he muttered, as he
walked to his own house. HAS the
Girl bewitched me? Why can'tI tell
! her. out and out, she'll never be able
/ Il
! thing! So Young and pretty, with no
body to care for her! That bit of a
room looked more coy and homelike
1 than many brownstone mansion.
But she must be lonely 1t is lone
some, living alone, confound it!'
He let himself into his home with his
4 latch key. All dark and cold-nobody
/ there no signs of supper
"Con-found it!'' he said, again, as he
stumbled around. and lighted .he gas
/ in the hall and sitting room. Hisrack-
ct brought Mrs Badger, his house
/ keeper, from the lower regions, her
hat in her hand, and shawl on.
"Oh, it's youn' she said Il thought
/ it was a tramp or a burglar. I've just
been out a bit. I'll soon have supper,
then. What would We like?'
Hang it! Badger is getting I'm
bearablel' he soliloquized. Always
on the cad, house always cold and
dark. meals never ready, no company.
That the good of hired housekeeper!
/ If a fellow had a nice little wife, now.
A warm fire, and somebody with pretty
/ blue eyes. over there in the chair, that
would be meet | wonder if it couldn
( be?''
He sat aud unused, and dreamed by
4 the fire, until Mrs, Badger called him
togsupper, and when he rose to 90, his
/ face looked brighter, and he murmured,
/ TO himself That's her yocationl
And the best one, too! Ill write the
stories!i
He did not say what particular cher
| he alluded to. but | dare say my sharp
reader can guess!
Next morning Mr.. Hathaway first
business at the office was to take up
Lucy Fosters little roll OF manuscript,
walk to the glowing stove, and dellber-
ately pitch it into the fire
/ "'Thoughts that breathe, and words
/ that burn, so they arer' he said as he
stood and watched And then he got
to his work. And the post of editor-in-
chief of the Leading Star was no sine
cure, mark thatl
Saturday morning. in walked Miss
Lucy, with the nicely copied MSS.
which Mr.. Hathaway approved, imme-
diately.
Now about the stories" said Lucy,
with a slight hesitation.
"Oh, YES, the stories!' said the editor.
well, Miss Foster, | am happy to tel.
you that the Leading Star will purchase
/ them.
..Oh, thank you!" cries the soft voice
while the blue eyes sparkle with pleas
ure.
Let me see-three of 'em. VIII
five dollars apiece satisfy you?"
"Oh, certainly! | didn t expect SC
much,'
"WelI, step into the private office
with me, please, and I'll make out
check.
When Lucy followed him, Mr.. Hatha-
way shut the frosted glass door between
them and the outer office. He rapidly
made out the check for fifteen dollars,
and gave it to the delighted girl.
Thank you, q thousand times.
she said, beaming on him. 'It
/ helps me so much! dc
believe l have found my vocation at
last! Can you use more sketches soon,
Mr.. Hathaway?
..Well-ah1you see. Miss Foster,
we re very much crowded just now
| had to burn up lot of stories only
Yesterday. But, indeed, he FASTENED
to add, seeing her bright face grow
shaded. II am sure | can tell you of q
place YOU can fill at once. which will
pay You much better than writing
stories If YOU viii accept it. that is.
ooh! viii do any honest work.
at is certainly an honest place, but
You will have very little work to do,
Miss Foster.
..What is it? And where, please,
Mr.. Hathaway"
The editor threw down his pen, and
took Lucy's hands, instead. 1T
is to come to my home and my heart,
and be my precious little wife, Lucy
FOSTER he cried. II will shield you
from every care, and work for you, and
make you happy as a queen, if you
win only bless me by coming"
But you don't know me. Nor
you" faltered Lucy.
II know you enough. and l love you
as no man else cant he pleaded.
And | have no people to be consulted,
nor have YOU. so if you consent, We
will be married this afternoon, and YOU
shall have a happy home, and loving
husband, promise you! On, come
Lucy, darling.
"WeIl, take me, then" said Lucy
simply
/ And if he did take her at once tc
his broad breast. why, the office door
was frosted. and no one could see
through.
M do,, Said Mrs Hathaway