The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-07-04
OUR PARTNERSHIP.
A Literary Venture with q Happy
But Unexpected Ending.

Here's another example of blasted
ambition" F" laughed Philip Hough, wav-
ing toward me bulky envelope.
Whats the matter mow?"
Declined with thanks, as usual. 1t
does seem that these editors take an
especial delight in destroying the hopes
and plans of budding authors"
Phil rapidly sorted the remainder of
his mornings mail.
mot thing to break the force of
the dread blow" he went on in mock
heroics "Iiad there only been few
stamps for sonnet, would have been
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 blacl1listed-boy
Philips actions had been character
istic during the badinage for no more
goodhumored and whole-souled fellow
ever existed than Philip Hough. 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
Both had similar tastes in books,
studies and recreations, and both were
inclined to dabble in the fascinating
pleasu ure of contributing to current
publications in prose and verse, so that
it was natural that upon my first visit
to him in his new location, our talk
should be of our ups and downs, sue
cesses and failures in meeting the de-
mands of publishers.
II feel encouraged over one thing l
remarked; "one publisher has taken
interest enough in my work to write
me a personal letter. The editor
OF the Asteroid, when he sent
back my last story said that it lacked
dramatic and lifelike convers alton. 1t
had too much description of landscapes,
he said III make my next one read
like a comic dialogue"
''Rathcr strange coincidence" was
Phil's re ply. II received 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 u.s."
Dlu uS give you duVlCeP
Eyes, but it was the opposite of yours.
He said 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"
''Wish we could join forces; we would
just make team"
why not?"
"That's So" exclaimed, "why not?
1t has been done time and again Look
at Nicolay S Hay, Erchman g. Chatri-'
an, Twain g. Warner, and dozens of in
stances. l believe there is 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
a 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? l thought you
were considerably impressed with her
charms last winter" asked Phil, ban
teringly.
Moved to Cincinnati >" was my sullen
reply. Yes, 1 was impressed with
her, but what was the usc?"
'"Took her everywhere, didn't you?"
eyes"
'Neyer seemed unhappy in your COM
pany?"
mo, never"
"Well, then, what if her father is
worth a million; marry her."
That's easy to say. Maybe she
won't marry me-"
'You had better wade in and find
out. 1t is not always possible to tell
what these girls will do"
81 almost dislike to, though some
times think might have success"
"You two used to be mighty spooney
when l was in Elmo. You have every
thing to gain and nothing to lose, so
my advice is to start up a 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. l re-
turned home we had completed our
plans for the Forthcoming novelette,,
"a Soldier of Gath" 1t was to be a
stirring piece of American fiction, and
neither doubted but that it would
create a great sensation. 1t was de-
cided that / 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 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 ana was surprised day or
two later 10 receive the following let
ter:
RAMONA, Aug. 90, 1889.
MY DEAR FRANK-I received the package OF
MS. and have been busy combining it with
mine. They match pretty fairly, and, think
will make u strong team.
find one place, however, where you have so
to speak, slipped cog. In the thirtieth, page
is missing Gustave LeMoyne has thrown him
self on his knees before Beatrice, and you start
him off all right with: Darling, you know you
have" and the next sheet says: What is to
be my answers'-but Beatrice had fed like
frightened fawn, etc
You to have missed the speech entirely.
This is about the only bit of dialogue you have
attempted, and l want it TO stand Please send
the omitted leaf tomorrow.
Our book will be success never fear. have
little doubt but that it is to prove the great