Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-07-09
OUR PARTNERSHIP.
a Literary Venture with a Happy
But Unexpected Ending.

ambition" laughed Philip IIough, wav
ing toward me bulky envelope.
whats the matter mow?"
Declined with thanks, as usual l
does seem that these editors take Al
especial delight in destroying the hope.
and plans of budding authors"
Phil rapidly sorted the remainder o
his mornings mail
Not a thing to break the force o
the dread blow" he went on in moe!
6eroics. "IIad there only been a><ev
stamps for a sonnet, would have beer
satisfied"
''Oh. well, bear up, 1 get the same
treatment when l write. As you seem
to be in the same boat with me, per
haps we are blacklisted-boycotted"
! Philips actions had been character
istic during the badinage, for no more
goodhumOred and whole-sOuled fellow
ever existed than Philip IIough. During
our apprenticeship together IN the law
Office of Marston & Moore, and after
our starting for ourselves in the pro
fession, in our native town of Elmo,
andd he in Ramona, forty miles away,
our close friendship, unaffected by any
professional jealousy, renamed warm.
| Il feel encouraged over one thing"
remarked; lone publisher has taken
interest enough in my work to write
me a personal letter. The editor
of the Astcroid, when he sent
back my Ist story said that it lacked
dramatic and lifelil1e convers alton. II
had too much description of landscapes,
he said. I'll make my next one read
like comic dialogue"
Rather strange coincidence" was
Phil's reply. Il received d personal let
ter from the same editor. He must be
friend of struggling authors-perhaps
has been one himself some time, and
knows how to pity us.
did he give you advice?"
Eyes, but it was the opposite OF yours.
He said I ran too much to dialogue, and
must work in more description. Now,
hang it, can't describe My charac-
ters must do the talking for me all the
time
''Nish we could join forces; we would
Just make team"
why not?''
4
1t has been done time and again. Look
at Nicolay & Hay, Erchman 81 Cbatri-
an, Twain & Warner, and dozens of in
stances. l believe there is a fortune in
it Surely two brains ought to make a
better article than one"
Phil was greatly taken with the
scheme, and we arranged to bring out
q serial story at once, never doubling
but that It would be eagerly snatched
by the best magazines. Then we fell
TO talking of other matters.
by the way, Frank, what ever be-
came of Ollie Berne? I thought you
were considerably impressed with her
charms last winter" asked Phil, BAN
teringly.
Moved to Cincinnati, was my sullen
reply. Eyes, 1 was impressed with
her, but what was the use?"
Took her everywhere, didn't you?"
yes"
''Never seemed unhappy in your COM
pany?"
mo, never"
well, then, what if her father is
worth million; marry her"
That's easy to say. Maybe she
won't marry me-"
lyon had better wade in and find
out. It is not always possible to tell
what these girls will do"
81 almost dislike to, though 1 some
times think might have success"
You two used to be mighty spooney
when | was in Elmo. You have every
thing to gain and nothing to lose, so
my advice is 10 start up u correspond
ence and bring it to a crisis at the
earliest possible moment"
Then the talk drifted back to liter
ature and when, the next day, re-
turned home we had completed our
plans for the forthcoming novelette,,
"a Soldier of Gath" 1t was to be
stirring piece of American fiction, and
neither doubted but that it would
create great sensation. 1t was de-
cided that l should carry out the de-
scription and Phil the dialogue, the
plot having been agreed on; and then
both having written on note paper in
order to minimize the necessary copy
ing of broken pages, the two parts were
to be dOvetailed together into a per-
feet whole.
Nearly month passed and both of
us had been able to snatch consider
able time from our not very pressing
law practice and devote it to the story.
Then Phil, who was to make the first
attempt to join the two portions, wrote
me that it was time to send him my
portion of the romance.
did so and was surprised a day or
two later to receive the following let
ter:
RAMONA, Aug. 90, 1ssa
NY DEAR FRANK received the package OF /
MS. and have been busy combining it with
mine. They match pretty fairly, and, think
will make strong team.
l lind one place, however where you have so
10 speak, slipped a cog. In the thirtieth, page
Is missing. GIstave LeAIoyne has thrown him
self on his knees before Beatrice, and you start
him OF all right with: Darling, you know YOU
have" and the next sheet says: What Is to |
be my answcrg'-but Beatrice had fed like a
frightened fawa, etc.
Nous seem to have missed the speech entirely. |
This is about the only bit of dialogue you have |
attempted, and want It to stand Please send |
the omitted leaf tomorrow,
Our book viii be q success. never fear. have |
little doubt but that it is 70 prove the great |
American novel 1t certainly viii have all the |
elements OF that 10 be famous work
Yours lraternaIy, PHILIP HoUGH
l remembered the omitted passage |
we'll / had intended to make it cx-
eeedingly impressive, and believed |
that it would prove the climax of the |
book. With view of pcrfecting it, l |
had carried the leaf on which it was |