Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-12-06
4 STRANGE CONTRIBUTION.


= STRANGE CONTRIBUTION.
How = '~rs~s wnsn : Mads ! keputa.
esoa Tor Her Husbsnd.
4 very strange story Wac told me by
the eiitor Of weekly paper publ he'd
10 New York. not long ago. concerning
contributor. The editor said: .sUns
Of my most valuable contributors tor
he last three Or four years has been !
gentleman whom the public know pretty
we'll by this time. He writes over his
own name striking name. So regn>
larry has this person written for my
saper that came to regard him -
member Of the stan. It was only sitter
$50 ,ears Of acquaintance through tho
'lails that he actually put in An appear
ance at our Office. Tho Hrst time he
came in ! thought he WAS book agent
or bill collector until he mentioned his
name. Then. Of course, gave him :
chair and all the other courtesies Ct
my disposal. He only staid = minuts
o. two, and seemed very nervous All
the while he was sitting opposite me.
He lacked that splendid assurance most
writer's possess. His appearance be-
lied his work, which was vigorous and
sparkling in style, for q meeker, meaner
sort Of man l never saw.
The next time be paid me ! visit
he was writing . novel for Vi and came
with an instaliment Of til happened
to be reading the proof Of the chap
tiers to be published in the issue Of the
next day. At once it occurred 10 me
to ask the author to explain passage
which had puzzled the proof readers
and me- So handed the proof-sheet
to the author, and pointing to the pas
sage in question asked him il that was
exactly what he had intended to say.
TO my surprise continued the
editor. ''the novelist grew very red in
the face, his hand in which was the
proof-sheet trembled, and for a moment
he said nothing. l had no idea what
embarrassed him, but thought had q
very rare bird, a modest author. in my
sage. To encourage him said: I've
no doubt it's my stupidity and no fault
Of yours that can not catch the mean
ing OF that passage
HE seemed to be going to speak
once or twice. but his lips only moved.
Meanwhile his face remained flushed
and other eloquent signs of disturbance
we're not wanting. His silence was
making the situation very painful. and
suddenly bethinking myself that I
might have wounded sensitive spirit
began in a clumsy way to apologize
TO him for calling his attention to the
unfortunate paragraph, but he stopped
me with a motion of his hand. and in .
low voice began: The fact is. sir, I
have deceived youths story is mono
of my writing. l never wrote a line in
my life-haven't got the ability,
ought
Do you mean to say said l. holly.
that I've been dealing with an i'm
poster all these years-a literary thief,
a precious
mot quite so bad as that, SIR he
replied more calmly. although Eve
put my name to great many manu-
scripts which you have been good
enough to buy. and which / now own
were not written by me. yet believe
you will not be so indignant when you
learn who did write Them
May | have the pleasure of know
ing who the author tsp said ], with all
the irony could summon.
Certainly. My wife, he replied,
quietly. Il never was in favor of the
use of my name, but she insisted that
the reviewers and newspaper para
graphers had sharpened their knives
to keep down the rising crop of fem
mime writers. and that she could write
more boldly over my name than over
her own. and with less criticism of q
so-called moral Sort
well. to cut a long story short in
the last volume, the facts were exactly
as my 'imposter' stated them, and
very soon after made the acquaintance
of the fair author. She still used her
husbands name, but he is no longer
so meek and nervous when he visits
my den. A great burden is OF his
mind. Pittsburgh Dispatch.