Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-20

In that brief space OF time the thing
which he wss 70 write rose out OF dim no.
thinoness and gathered into definite form
before his mental vision. Inere was nrst
Mace The people rapidly donned char
acteristics and grouped themselves into
SITUATIONS. A pebulous train Of incidents
stretcbed along TO climax that lowered
into cloudy heights. 1t was like nothing
that no had ever written or thought be-
fore--it seemed. indeed, like nothing that
any human mind had ever OWNED:
AZ first he felt an almost frantic haste TO
get to his desk and begin writing me
whole thing seemed to be Of such STUFF as
dreams are made on, an unsutstantial pa
pcant which might fade and leave not
rack behind. Yet, though the vision had
come suddenly. il showed no disposition
TO depart. but fingered and solidIhed to
on almost tangible reality before his eyes;
That il might not escape he reviewed ana
analyzed each feature separately until they
were all bis own mental property 10 be
used a. he wished.
40 no ,urned away from the window to-
ward the desk two thoughts struck him
almost simultaneously.
One was: This will never do for the
public"
during the month that followed Owen
Capelle wrote several hours day RAPIDLY,
with perfect ease, and with the keenesi OF
pleasure. IL was rest and vacation III
tensi6ed by a complete diversion.
Thus. by an accident. Capelle had STUN
bled upon the mislaid happiness OF life
time. =.
As for the book which he created IT
would not be easy TO name any class IN
literature 10 which il could be said t. be
long. IL was very like what naturalists
are accustomed 10 call sport An or
ganism that comes not from regular de-
yelopment, but that arises unexpectedly
out OF a mixture of chance conditions. III
was not a novel, nor fairy story. nor
plnv. nor poem, yet 1T partooA OF Ine
nature of each and all. It's style was "a
peculiar as its plan. teeming with quaint
figures and mystic illusions. the force ana
meaning of which could DO felt perhaps nv
mono save the writer himself. YET tne
work was strangely natural, Tor IKE nature
il was suggestive and incomprehenslole.,
II bore the name of The Earth Bub-
blen from the utteranee of Banquo on the
vanishing witches
"The earth hath bubbles as the water hss'
And these are OF them"
This title had come to him with the nrst
thought of the plan, and 1t seemed to nave
wreathed its weird influence through every
part of the work.
At the end of the month the book was
fnished-a bulky pile OF ilnely-wrltten
sheets of paper. Departing from ms usuai
custom. Capelle had not reviewed as ne
wrote. and by the time he reached the END
much of the book had become half strange
TO him. He now arranged the leaves IN
their proper order and bound them TO-
rether in single large volume. -,
1.-The Earth Bubble IS published"
said he, land it will straightway be eager
ly devoured by a limited circle OF readers
consisting of one person., ,..,s
Ihereupon Owen Capelle settled hlmseii
costly in bis large char and began to read
over the manuscript.
lie had scarcely scanned the first page
when the house-servant raped at the
door. He took the card which she brought
him, and as he read the name deprecatlnE
frown settled upon his forehead.
The card said " Mr.. j. Cecil Hicks" :,
81 feel little guilty at disturbing you"
Mr.. Hicks was saying moment later, LOT
| vour brother law Mr.. Tucker, with
whom am quite well acquainted. told me
| that Won were very much wrapped up IN
| some new book that you had recently I'M
| dertaken; but as this is matter OF bus
ness, which may prove OF some proht 10
Won, ventured TO call" :,
| =" was not at all busy" said Mr.. Capelle
| in that peculiar tone of voice which clearly
proclaims the falsehOod. =,
Perhaps you do not remember me"
said Mir. Hicks: "your brother-in-iaw has
! introduced me TO you quite nulnDer Vi
| times"
"Ouite O number OF times is good.
thought the writer. He SAID aloud: u
remember you very well"
Now, to come to business" said the
visitor. "In the first place must ask you
TO regard this conversation as strictly con
| fideptial. for if it should get out 1t woulo
| make laughing-stOck of me.
at shall he as YOU wish" returned ca
| pelle. He was beginning TO feel mucL
| wonder as to what this dandifed younl
man was about to propose. Curiosity wal
| in fair way TO overthrow q disposition t'
| be bored. He waited in silence, with " lh'
Earth Bubble" still open upon his knee
while Mr.. Hicks stretched his gloves ant
neryously thrust his enormous cane about
evidently preparing himself to unfold
tale.
At last the visitor spoke:
~ want YOU to write a book for me
that ia. 10 be published in my name.
will pay YOU more for IL than any publish
er will give. You can name your own inquire
/ should like 1t TO be a novel, and if posi-
bic. in rather different style from that II
which YOU usually write. so that Their
would be less change Of its being recog
nized."
Here he stopped and looked at Capelle'
face, which wore an astonlshed smile.
a.. it SURPRISES YOU, 1 see. Have yor
never undertaken job of than kind"
Never answered the writer. an
not sure either that ever heard
"Oh. | know it must often be done,
cried the other. why not pravY ! on cal
sell a manuscript to me just as we'll as to
| \ good
clearinghouse bring it out over my name
know that you are a man OF honor, AM
if YOU gave me a solemn promise that yo'
would never let any one know about I'd
transaction | should be perfectly safe:
have been talking with your brother-in-lay
about your BOOKS. lie says they Will brln
Won in about 81 coo or ii 500 apiece. SUP
pose as an outside figure We put the valu
of the manuscript AT $1,000. Put the IAN
and renutation at a similar sum-tha
makes S4 900. Very well, | will give yo'
, that for story under the conditions tina
| name. Is it go?" 49,,
He paused for reply, which did no
, come. Capelle was attracted 10y the nc
veltv OF the idea of market quotations. o
fame, and was busy wondering whethe
: the reputation from moderately success
full story could be rated at s2,QoO -,
Come" said the visitor, Will max
I
; saw" ,-
, Capelle burst out into laugh. No
4 so fast" he said " | am rather curious
know for what reason you make this extra
4 ordinary proposition.
at is simple enough, / should think.
answered Mr. Hicks; :" want, the homo
a and credit of having written the book.
have the money to pay.for Il and propos
= TO get it,"
> but why do you not write the boo
yourself? | should think man OF your
, er-oricinality would find it easy; an
/ since YOU have money to pay for its puoi
! cation that difficulty would be su
: mounted"
, Hicks shook his bead.
~ cannot do it," be said. let me te
. YOU how | am fixed. My father is a ric
q man-of the firm of Hicks d Calkin
wholesale grocers. He cot it into his hea
I that would be a literary man, and SCI
i nue. TO college and gave me money to tray
i and take life easy. Now | am past thr'
I and have accomplished nothing. VIII
r is more. | never shall. have goo
q enough stock of brains, but they are
|. | tba Ind that don't declare dividends. A