Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-06-20


to be published in that town. and the
editor made the most OF popr ,Toe's Joke
and all the county stepped their sub
scrlptlons IN consequence. But Joe
didn't care.
Didn't the city head editor care?n |
asked.
"Dear me, Cont know. Joe didn't
tell me what he said. But. MiIlicept, do
try. | know you could write sweet
love story, Or Yachting adventure.
why, | never was on a Yacht in nv
life. | demonstrated
but assure you, dear. it isn't Of any
consequence if you never were. Now. If
you Il never divulge my secret, Ill tell YOU
II { am writing story myself, and am
Going just what I've advised YOU to do.
tor my story is named a Night with
Gamblers, and I've located it on the
mississippi River steamer. It's thrill
ING tale, and We cot to place " here
one man IS just gong to stab another" !"
''Do read it to me- l begged; but
Madge would not unless would agree
to write one with her and SO this was
the way my first attempt to write for the
! press came about.
| took her advice. not only wrote a
ovc story, but placed the lovers on
yacht and set them atloat in Georgian
| Bay-probably because | knew less of
| that sheet Of water than of most others.
That's all right, said Madge cheer
fully. .Send 1t to some inland news
! paper. The editor himself won't know
any more about it than YOU do. If he
sends you fifty dollars which | think
would be fair pricc-for your story,
YOU won't care whether the yacht sils
bow on or stern first, and ii you do hap
pen to get it wrong, folks will think the
| boat has cot some new kind of rig on
her,
So I get a fresh block Of paper, wrote
my title, Glove in Georgian Bay and
began my story. Bv night had two
pages written, and couldn't seem to thinb
of anything to say next. Mad9e, too,
still had her gambler standing with up
lifted hand ready to plunge his dagger, y
but sorlc way she couldn't seem to end
the situation as she wished.
Day after day We wrestled with these
imaginary men. The Girl of my tale
was all ready and willing--I had ne
trouble with her; but I wanted my hero
to suffer some severe heart experiences,
and l found it no easy task to pull hin:
into and out Of his various difficulties. j
wrote and w1ote and then would tear
up my writing and try again.
l.,
days she shot her gambler and then she
would revive him and stab him, and once
she poisoned him, but his style of deaf
never seemed to satisfy her. cit must
not seem melodramatie, she said; 'it
must be tale indicating great reserved
power.
Each day we asked each other with our
first waking breath:
"Will he propose today?" and "Will
he be dead by night"
Finally day came when we each re-
solved to end the suspense before night,
and in the recreation hour we took oul
writing blocks and wandered off to j
quiet place under the Wellesley trees,
agreeing to make some sort OF an ending
before we went back; but the gambler
was still alive, and the willing maid was
still irving to lure on the reluctant lover
when the sound of distant thunder came
to our ears and dark cloud rlsing in the
west warned Us to return to a shelter.
1t gave US both Il new idea, however.
and we each resolved to work Thunder
storm into our tales
TIo haftor thorl homes
The gambler was made to rush on deck
lust as Il flash of lightning struck tho
smoke stack of his steamer, and he wa
Knocked seuselcss and then robbed b.
his tendish companions and cast over
board, where che sunk to rise no more
Madce laid her tale aside with sigh
1T will save sending for an under
taker, anyhow" she said, ''if 4 drowr
. him instead of stabbing him; 50, on thC
whole, l think it the better way.
As for my couple. they are idly drift
ing on an ebbing tide q didn't know
then that there was no tide in Georgian
, Bavl. when dark clouds began to rol
up, and the muttcring thunder began t
reverberate among the darllly wooded
bills. They hastily rowed to the shore
ted their yacht to tree, and pega
t climbing rugged prccipice, while tn
maid clung in terror to the soul-tosse'
. lover 1t was too suggestive. He bcgge'
:, to defend her through all llfes pathway
4 and in well feigned surprise she mur
t INJURED her assent just rs the first drop
: of the bursting storm fell and the
; reached a shelter 1t was a happy ONE
r of future days, were my closing words
), My maiden is ready TO don her soil
i taire diamond ring l declared tri
c umphantly to Madge, and we kissed eac
:. other ecstatically.
It Il knew you could do it, Milly,' sh
said Now, shall YOU sign Your nanl
to it,
NO, indccl,' I replied; I've IL
: cided to use a man name. for thin
: it would be more IN accordance with n
= style Of composition. shall be kno"