The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-08-10

OF Iiterapure all The poems iegends, stor-
les that were begotten BY men In FEVER,
under the influence OF drugs or In the ex-
element OF bodily pain and you VIII
erase much that the world can not anord
% lose" l
-IGrantlnr that all you say Is true" said
Alt.e. Il am. nevertheless, a woman and
don't understand geueraitIes. What /
want is the personal equation. OF course.
oar sex can not argue, but tell me this: IL.
NJ. you say, the production Of a poem is due
to an unhealthy condition Of the mind. ts
il right TO encourage anyone TO beget
poems"
All. my dear Mrs Otis. IL win make no
Inference whether the poet Is encouraged
e not. so far as bis output is concerned,
h~t as regards his personal happiness the
difference faay be very great
Por many days Alice poadered these
words. Perhaps they would have borne
good fruit IL she had seen her husband
oftener aud he had shown an inclination to
be 10 her more ~ he had been In those
happy DAYS Of their betrothal But the
fact was that Harlan hadgraduaIiy become
thoroughly seIf-absorbed. The influences
that Alice had once welded over him bad
lost its force Sometimes be would look at
her longingty As though craving some
thing she had failed 70 give him Some
times he seemed Jealous Of the warm
friendship that had grown up between her
ard his father. Later on he became mood
ily suspicious OF John Arnold. His only
relief from the worries that his over.
wrought nerves produced lay the ecstasy
OF composition. He felt within him grow
ing power an the realm Of poesy. a strength
and freedom Of utteranee that sometimes
gave TO his verse a lit and melody that
strangely moved those who read his work.
THAT man Rupert Is true poet" Alex
ander Otis had remarked one day as he
cut the leaves Of current magazine. His
son smiled ruefdily.
Yes" he said, " but he might better be
lawyer"
Alice was the only one present who heard
the remark and she glanced at her hus-
band suspiciouslya
A few DAYS iatsg Harlan was seated mt his
desk in his fathers Office copying some
wearisome legal document. The Office boy
brought hin letter. 1t was postmlrGed
New York"
Ny DEAR Mr.. OTIS
VIII you forgive me II take the liberty
of sending YOU few lines ~ tell yoa how
lnucu | admire your recent poems. in
that dreamy past when we SO often talked
OF your future did not realize that your
genius was Ms great as YOU have proved II
To be. Y0u may wonder for a moment how
know that you and Rupert are one and
the same. IL Your memory Is not at fault
you viii recall that you once discussed
with me the motif Of your last poem-a
poem that has made the name Of Rupert
famous. As the years have gone by have
found that the chief longing of my life was
10 have you fulfill the destiny that Fate
marked out for you. How much 1 rejoice
In your success you cannot know. 1t may
| be that you haze even forgotten my ex.
| istence. But, be assured, not an hour oil
my life passes that do not think of yoa
| and OF the past. 1t is my only joy to read
| what you write and to see that the talents
nature gave you are being worthily EN-
ployed. | send this note TO you in the
friendliest spirit, hoping that in your lit
erary career you are receiving thai
announcement and sympathy that know
your temperament demands. wish we
could have-but that is absurd. find that
| ] am more selfish than ! thought was
| Again / ask your pardon for intrudin-,
upon your time. and trust that you vii
accept my little effort at applause In II
spirit In which it is sent.
Sincerely yours,
| RHoDA BARR.
| Harlan turned pale as he read thes'
words. From that moment he longed to
see again the woman who had once sym
pathized SO warmly with his literary am.
billions. 1t was delightful to him to know
! that at least one being on earth admired
his talents, and could give him the encour.
Rgement his soul crayed.