Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-05-15

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his calling. II needed only everyday
sunlight for an outsider to discover
this truth, but to him it came as an
illumination. 1t was IN literature,
and not in law, that he was destined
to make name for himself. Not in
the broad fields of Literature (wilh a
capital ~ did lie intend to roam; no,
he would become famous as a writer
of short stories. True, he had never
written any, long or short, but he had
read them without number, and he
saw how easily the trick was done.
Acting, as always, on a strong i'm
pulse, lie threw himself on lounge,
and proceeded to map out in his mind
his initial effort. lie had proceeded
far enough TO make it a toss up
whether lie was destined to add
another TO literature, when-Fate
knocked.
1t was not a client bringing him The
case that would make him famous,
but only friend who came to take
him TO the tennis-court for a game.
lie went, and during the game was
struck in the eye by smashed ball.
This is a more serious thing than it
may seem to our readers, many of
whom have, perhaps, never been
struck in the eye by "smashed' ten
mis- ball, and especially so if one wears
glasses, as he happened to do. lie
luckily saved the eye itself from shat
tered glass, but the lids suffered no
little. His physician commanded a
bandage over both eyes for at least a
week, and their complete disuse for
perhaps longer.
As soon as the pain had subsidized
sufficiently to permit him to think at
all, his mind reverted to his unfinished
story, and he bewailcd the hard fate
which, even for a time, so rudely
checked his new-born literary aspira-
tiOns. Some such lament he made to
his friend-the fatal racket handler of
the afternoon-who, half in scorn,
suggested that he employ stcnogra-
pher. They laughed together at the
absurd suggestion, but the idea stuck,
and he determined, il possible, to
follow it with notifications.
Here enters our heroine. Her name
was Margaret Western, a neXt-door
neighbor and lifelong friend. In
deed, on Willoughby's part the feeling
was stronger than friendship. lie
had long loved her, and was only
waiting to find his career-that career
which always seemed to be just ahead
of him-to ask her to share ii with
him. Meanwhile his pride kept him
silent, for Margaret was the only child
of a rich and proud old lawyer. If
she 10, ed him, she had never shown
it; if she knew the state of his feel
ings she had never betrayed her know
ledge, but had always treated him
with the easy familiarity and frank
comradeship that are born of long ac-
quaintance, and that her simple and
unaffected nature made easy.
She was straightforward, intelli-
gent and Independent. fond of social
pleasures in moderation, but caring
more for books and art. And, final
ly, she was beautiful girl, in proof
of which no effort is made to describe
her appearance. She should be his
amanuensis. This was how the idea
had taken shape in his mind.
The next day, at the earliest season.
abe hour for calling, he groped his
familiar way across the contiguous
lawn to Margaret's home, and laid be-
fore her his plans and aspirations.
She was too used to his vagaries TO feel
more than a mild surprise, and even
managed to manifest a lite enlhu,i-
asm. In the pleasure of her society
he was not overrealy to begin his die
lating; but Margaret resolu;cly pro-
cured writing materials and urged him
to his work.
lie hesitated, and pleaded his
wounded eye as an eXcu for delay.
To this she would not listen; and TO
end her banter he rcsolutely collected
his scattered wits and attempted a
pure piece of improvisation. He told
the story slowly, for he was feeling
his way, and Margaret had TO take
Lawn his words, and hesilatingly. be-
cause as he progressed he began to
realize that he was trcading on dan
gerous ground. II was short and tritc
enough, and this is the outline:
A boy and girl grew up together as
sweet-hcarls-the boy poor, the grI
very rich. Not until he has returned
from college does he realize the barrier
that her wealth puts between them.
lie dares not reaew their intimacy un-
Ill by his efforts he has more nearly
eqnalized their Positions. The girl
recognizes the change, and with femi-
nine intuition divines the cause, but
will not shock conventionality by be
traying that her feelings also are un-
changed. His pride will not let him
speak; her maidenly modesty keeps
her silent. This goes on for years,
until the young man, in despair, and
with never a word to her, leaves his
native place forever. She, in utter