The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-07-15
A IouRNALIsTIu HACK.

twenty-three his friends said he was
taking an unwise step for so young a
man whose bank account was yet I'M
born and whose profession Gournalism)
was SO capricious. But when they met
his wife they understood and pardoned
his unwisdom.
When his first child appeard on the
scene he did most audacious thing.
THAT ends lodging house existence"
he said. ''Ill quit Bohemia, and get
home for me and mine"
And he bought neat little place not
far up town, and furnished it ION time
binding himself to make weekly payii
ments on the furniture and semi-annua
ones on the house.
"He's acquired astock of worriment to
last him the rest of his days" remarked
Boyce, reporter, who had struggled for
three months to pay for a floor full of
furniture on the installment plan, and
finally beheld most of his goods hauled
back to the store from which they had
come.
But Corson was as daring as he was
bright. ''What is life without congenial
environments" he said, and he and his
wife went joyously upon small sunht
way, which was marked in due time by
the birth of a second baby, boy.
Still Corson managed to increase the
attractiveness of his home and make his
payments with little overwork. His reg
ular employment as associate editor OF
newspaper, his viVacious articles on
theatrical subjects in two weekly period
icals, his rarely unaccepted magazine con
| tributions, his occasional sketches pub
lished here and there, his royalty for
two sensational melodramas and farce
on four. his odds and ends, kept his re-
ceipts about even with his expenses, and
he did not worry. He was young and
! his nature was buoyant.
| He confided to me an idea which he
intended to embody in a novel entitled
"a Brave Surrender" a conceit that
would surely win celebrity for any man
that would treat it artistically. "Why
don t you begin it now?' l asked.
"Oh, havn't time yet to do anything
that isn't sure to bear pecuniary fruit at
once. l can't wait for a late harvest.
The thing would probably give me a
standing with literary people and maya
zine edi ors and would lead to laurels,
perhaps. But for itself there isn't the
money in it that there is in the sort OF
rot I'm doing now"
Although he deferred the bringing
forth of his great conception he cher,
ished it fondly, and its anticipated
advent was his dream. Even at that time
| deemed Corson a hero-one of the
kind not only possible but numerous il
these davs of apparent littleness. To dc
thing worthy of his talents some day
was his life ambition; to make safe anc
sure the home of his wife and children
was his self-appointed preliminary task
The sudden killing of Harkell, the ar
tist in railroad accident, was like
flash of lightning to Corson. When hi
heard it horrible awakening showed il
his blue eyes.
"a man never knows what may hap
pened to him." he said in low voice
/ could easily read that he was thinking
Had been on that train! Debt still
hanging over the homel Blanche anC
the babies ~ he added aloud: ''pll write
to that life insurance man to call to-mor
row."
Three days later-it was on Sunday
| dined at his house. His little wife wa
charming hostess-contertm anC
gayety personified. The children re
Elected her brown eyes and her aimiabil
ity. Their home was that of an ar
lover made so with such economy a
womans ingenuity makes easy. We haC
a merry afternoon. When left at even
ing. Corson walked with me to tn,
corner. We stopped beneath an electric
light.
7How happy you ought to be, m,
boy" l said,
Eyes," he replied quietly.
'tBut you work too much. Surely yol
can afford to reduce the pressure a few
pounds.
mo, I found out yesterday that
must increase it."
His soft eyes met mine. There was
hidden sadness there, and his face wa
without its wonted animation. TIL
electric light gave it an almost ghastl.
look.
"What do you mean?" l asked
"Simply this. They won't insure m
life They found l have consumptio
and also liability to valvular LESSONS
the heart. Whether l exert myself o
. not the doctor won't give me more tha
four years to live in. By loafing | Nigh
= gain few months, but l couldn't clea
the house of the debt. l can pay it o.
in nine months if hustle. shan't knoN
a minutes rest until do. If there
nothing else you know when I'm gone
Blanche and the youngsters can let tn
upper stories and live on the rent"
"But your great idea-your BRAY
Surrender, your bait for fameP
"I'll have to drop that. tits a Twin
for Blanche and the children 1 must loo
for now. / mean to stay in the rim
until every cent is paid, if l drop dea
the minute after! Don't mention it
anyone, old man. She mustn't kno
anything about it. have to say goot
night now. want to do comic son
for Renshaw, the comedian, before
sleep. / hunted down a funny idea
bed last night. It'll be worth five do
lars stanza, if it's good.
An attempt to influence or to persuat
him from his course would have bee
futile. He had stiffened his lip and d
lated his nostrils, and he meant bushes
When met Dr. Habster in the lobby
the Broa 1way theatre, between the ac
on the next night, asked him if Co
sons case was as grave as CorsC
= thoughtit.
Exactly, if not more so. 1t came {
him insidiously, you know, witho
= Hemophtysis or promicent chest sym
toms"
"Please cut technical terms"
he "Well, he ascribed his fever al
n throat troubles and dispeptic indie
te tions to local and temporary cause
in Phthisis had its clutches on him befo
IN he suspected it. He may live two year
~ he NAV live four: the time depends