The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-08
Herman SeyiIIe's Blunders,
BY BERTHA pRRTON.

the top Of prim looking sheet of
manuscript and II was refolded an d
passed to the the left hand of the table
wiih an air that bespoke Its finel dis
posal; then the young editor gave his
atlontion to more interesting subject
That literary men, especially editors.
should have time to devote to senti-
and loro making would hardly be
supposed when one takes into consid.
Grafton their audious duties. and as
Herman Seville sat Ia his cosy sane
tum with formidable pile of bulky
packages before him. while at his side,
and gaping like hungry young robin,
stood the capricious and suggestive
waste basket, no one would have sus-
pected that he was penning tender
little note, most carefully worded, and
literally trimming with sentiment and
feryor.
Incredible as it would have seemed,
yet, SO it was; and he has sandwiched
it in as a sort of relish among less de.
lcctable business
Twice hc read it over to see that he
had said exactly what he meant to say,
10 SEQ that he had used rhetoric, i'm
passioneI and eloquent language. Yes.
as no carefully folded the note and laid
1t BY itself upon the table, he felt that
lie had left nothing unsaid; and we'll
satisfied with the effort. calmly conf
dent of its effect he proceeded to the
business of the morning, VIII CHI was
tho consideration Of the vast accumu-
lation of manuscripts before mentioned
that awaited his verdict of approval or
disapproval.
There they lay in various shapes and
sizes according to the fancy and con-
venience of their respectable writers,
and through that long summer morn
ing Herman Seville read and criticised
and crossed redundant words and
phrases. and into the hungry basket
dropped rejected articles.
A few marked accepted were pushed
TO his right hand. but those were for
tunate ones, for the editor was ex-
tremely fastidious, and inferior articles
never appeared in his columns. conse-
quently the aspirants to the heights of
excellence contained in that Weekly
Journal were kept in continued and
decidedly uncomfortable state of sus-
penso regarding their articles.
One there was among the number
that particularly pleased the young
editor. A sketch, short and lively and
interesting interspersed with plenty
Of dialogue, the language beautiful
and flowery, the sentiment tender and
pure, aud that was unhesitatingly &C.
cepted.
A new writer. 1t seemed. and the
rather euphonious nom de plume of
"Pansy Blossom was given, the real
name Millie Mckay. and the editor re-
peated it to himself muslngly.
She was evidently writer of ability,
and he would just write her little
note of acceptance. with q request,
also, that she would become n regular
contributor to the journal.
Then lie thrust it into an envelope
and laid it beside another undirected
wrapper which contained the little
poem with the fateful words, mot
available" branded upon its first page.
1t was almost dinner time. and edi-
tors, as well as more commonplace
mortaIs, feel the cravings of appetite.
Herman Seville began to think of the
wants of the inner man; then his
thoughts went back to the sentimental
note he had written to the girl he
loved, and glancing at the first lines,
That there should be no mistake, he
placed that also in the envelope.
Just then the telephone set up such
jabbering that he sprang up and
answered n message; then he directed
those letters and mailed them on his
way to dinner.
And, as he seated himself at the
hotel table, a trifie impatientlH per-
haps. awaited the filling of the bill Of
fare, he had the calm self.consciousness
of having done big stroke of bust.
ness.
Yes he had really done much more
than he gave himself cred for.
That same evening he called at the
home of Ethel Vinton. the young lady
TO whom he had that forenoon, penned
such tender little note.
He was to be her escort to an opera,
and the anticipation of spending the
evening by her side was very pleasing.
His surprise, therefore, may be i'm
agined when, instead of his charmer.
he found note awaiting him. She
had decided not to attend the opera
and the maid handed him letter.
All! that would doubtless explain.
Perhaps the dear girl was i'll; and with
that regretful thought the editor con-
signed the note to a breast pocket in
the immediate region of his heart
Then he went back to his sanctum.
A lady, tall and angular. with -hel
head and face enveloped in a bright,
green veil, that quite enshrouded bel
features, arose from his Office chair, Al
lie entered, with bow which did credit
to her early training. Then, In precise
and measured words she proceeded tt
express her qualification at being al
last appreciated. That her little poem
must be success she had been conf
dent and she was delighted at his re
quest Certainly. she would furnish {
poem weekly. on any subject in any
style of verse. and of any desired
length.
alt was so easy for her to rhyme
she said. and she threw back the fold
of vivid green that had concealed hel
face, and revealed the thin. lank visag,
Of a maiden of forty-ive summers.
She had sallow complexion, hel