Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-08-11
MY FIRST STORY.
BY EVA LovEIT CARSON.

made up my mind to write a story.
could write verses yes, and sell them,
which is still more gratifying.
The columns Of the Weekly Bugle, The
Challenge, and the 7r,tmpeter, were fire.
quently adorned by my name. They
We're all good papers, and paid me. the
best price for the verses which they ac.
cepted, Not fancy prices, but as good
as any other fourth class poet can com.
mand.
But this fame did not satisfy my heart.
@Any work looks wonderful to us except
that which we can do. :" The writing of
varses, even successful ones, became an
occupation to be despised, and the ability
TO write stories wonderful and desirable
gift
My friend Mrs. Adams wrote stories.
When / heard her speak carelessly of so
or 80 dollars as her ordinary price, / was
filed with awe and admiration. 1t was
really so much more profitable, as she
frankly said. Why should write two
verses for three dollars, and three verses
for five, when by spreading the same
idea over few more quires of paper,
making 5000 words out of what l had
always condensed into 90, could obtain
$50 instead of five? Why, indeed
Words are cheap. With good diction-
ary at my service, and fair idea to start
with, what should prevent me coming
money as well as another woman !?
What, indeed2
So studied Mrs. Adams's latest story /,
70 did not seem very hard. There was
great deal of conversation. am not so
bad at conversation. The heroine was very
beautiful and talented, and deeply in love
with the untalented and ugly hero. This
was plain sailing. So was the flush creep
ing over her face, and her start when the
hero bounded up stairs Dear, dear,
what did ] want but determination?
made up my mind to try.
found good idea in my note book,
one that l had been keeping for news
paper article, and boldly started
1t was not such very bad story. Now
that the agony is over, and the story is
no more, may say that much without
vanity. The subject was original, it was
strictly moral, the love making was deli
cately suggested, and the story ended
with witty speech. / wrote the speech
the first thing.
The heroine was a slight, dark haired
girl, and her name was Laura. was
rather sorry for her sufferings, but she
bore them with composure, and came of
with flying colors. She flushed and be
came confused at the proper places, ane
fell in love with the young man who
wanted her, which is the most comfort
able arrangement, although rather un
usual.
The fates seemed propitious. sat up
late one night to finish the copying.
Coarse, commonplace affairs, such as
grocers and butchers orders, the sewing
on of innumerable buttons, and the care
of several small children, occupied my
time during the day. sat in my own
room to write, and dashed away.
Hannibal came to see how was get
ting along. He sat looking at me Iazily
with half shut eyes, through the thick
clouds of smoke he pulled from his pipe.
He sat ON the edge of the bed, thing
hate to have any one do.
Where will you send it?" said he.
@Don't know-perhaps the American
Jaylldsrk, or the Weekly SIdmbdng." l
kept on writing. "There I've got the
instead of he Don't talk Where's
the penknife Z"
Hannibal produced one from his pocket
which l used.
More puffs. -How much do you think
you'll getfr
It's got nearly 5000 words; worth so,
but of course I'd take less.
Humph Guess you'd be glad to take
20, If you could get it,"
Hannibal, 60 to bedl"
More puffs. @It wouldn't be unpleas.
ant to have that much extra, for cans
give you great deal this week. Want
all can scrape the day after tomorrow
for that bill
"Hanniball I'll go raving distracted il
you talk TO me about bills and things
nowi How can / write? There's the
naby rolling of the edgei Catch him :"
Hannibal obeyed sulkily; but finally
went of with his pipe, and left me ia
peace.
was vcry tired when got through
copying that story. II did not seem nearly
50 entertaininr asat first. Rather family,
wondered If would have to send it TO
mauy places before It was sold. i saw
several faults, but bundled all thepapers
into my desk, thinking had better leave
II until the next day. Some wretched
housekeeping business kept me the greater
part Of the morning and it was evening
again before began to read my manu-
errfpf II rounded very fat There was