Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-15
OUR PARTN ERSHIP.

>
bition," laughed Phil Hough, waving
toward me bulky envelope.
Declined with thanks, as usual. 1t
does seem that these editors take an e8-
pecial delight in destroying the hope and
plans of budding authors.
Phil rapidly sorted the remainder Of his
mornings uail.
"Not a thing to breyk the force of the
dread blow" ne went on In mock heroics.
"Had there only b5en a few stamps for a
new sonnet, | would have been satisfied. >
Goa, well, bear up. | get the same
treatment when write. AS you seem to
be in the same boat With me, perhaps we
are lacklisted-boycotted "
Pnllip's actions had been characteristic
during the bddlnage, for no more good
natured and whole souled fellow ev-r px.
listed than Philip Hough. During our APP
premiership together In the law office of
Mars on & Moore, and after our starting
ourselves in the profession, | In our native
town Of Elmo, and he In Ramano, forty
miles away, our close friendship, unaffect-
ed 10y any professional jealousy, remained
warm.
u feel encouraged over one thing"
remarked; one publisher has taken inter
est enough In my work to write me per
sonal letter. The editor of the Asterold,
when he sent back my last story, said that
it lacked dramatic and lifelike conversa-
ton IL had too much description of
landscapes, he said I'll make my next
one read like comic dialogue"
Rather a strange coincidence" was
Phii's reply. II received a personal let
ter from the same editor. He must he a
friend of struggling yuthors-perhaps has
been one himself some time, and knows
how to pity us"
Did he give you advice?'
Yes, 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 characters
must do the talking for me all the
time
Wish we could join forces; we would
just make team
why not?'
That's it,, l exclaimed, why not !?
1t has been done time and again. Look
at NicolaY & Hay, Erchman L Catrian,
Twain Il Warner, and dozens of instances
| believe there is a fortune in it. Surely
two brains ought to make better article
than one.
Pnil was greatly taken with the scheme,
story at once, never doubling but that it
would be eagerly snatched 10y the best
magazines Then we fell to talking Of
other matters.
''By the way, Frank, whatever become
Of Ollie Barne? | thought you were con
sideraby impressed with her charms last
winter, said Phil, banteringly.
Moved to Cincinnati, was my suIlen
reply, Yes, was impressed with her,
but what was the use?"
Took her everywhere, didn' your"
Yes"
Never seemed unhappy in your COM
pany?'
mo, never"
Wei, what if her father is worth
million; mary her
That's easy to say. Maybe she won't
marry me.
you lad better wade in and find out.
1t is not always possible toteIl what these
girls will do.
81 almost dislike to, though | some
times thiuk might have success. "
y Oh too used to b. mighty sp0oney
when | was in Elmo. You have every
thing to gain and nothing to lose, so my
advice Is to start up correspondence and
bring it to crisis at the earliest possible
moment"
Then the talk drifted back to literature
and when, the next day returned home
we had completed our plans for the forth
coming novelette,, "A Soldier of Gath. ="
1t was to be a stirring piece of American
fiction, and neither doubted but that it
would Great great sensation. 1t was de-
cided that should carry out the descrip-
ion and Phil the dialogue, the plot having
been agreed on, and then both having
written on note paper to minimize the
necessary copying of broken pages, the
two prrtes were to be doyetailed together
into a perfect whole.
nearly month passed and both of us
had been able to snatch considerable time
from our not very pressing law practice
and devote it to story
Then Pail who was TO make the fsst
attempt to join the Two portions, wrote
me that 1t was time to send him my pOr-
ton of the rom lnce.
did so, and was surprised a day or
later to receive the following letter:
RAMANo, August 80, 1899.
Ny Dear Frank received the pack
age OF Ms. and have been busy ccmbin-
ing /. with mine. They match pretty
fairly, and, l think, will make a strong
team.
find one place. however, where YOU
have so to speak, slipped d cog. Gustave
Lemoyne has thrown himself on his
knees before Beatrice, and you start him
ali right with Darling, You Know YOU
have" and the rext sheet SAYS: WHAT
Is 10 be my answer but Beatrice had
fed like a frightened ftwn, etc.
You seemed to have missed the speech
entirely. This is about the only bit of
dialogue you have attempted and want
1t to stand. Please send the omitted leaf
tomorrow.
Our book viii be a success never fear.
| have little doubt but thai it is to prove
the great American novel 1t certainly
Will have all the elements OF that to be
famous work.
Your fraternally. PHuIP HoUGH.
| remembered the omitted passage we'll
/ had intended TO make 1t exceedingly
impressive, and believed that it would
prove the climax of the book, with view
of perfecting it. | had carried the leaf
on which it was written In my pocket for
week, and had neglected to place it with
the others, Now | would make a clean
copy and send it en-
But before doing so, opened the re.
mainder Of my mornings mal. Among
the letters was one from my brother
Thomas.
Dear Frank, it sai@, 80 you renom
Der that Christmas number OF h CIR ,c.-,,l
magazine that contained the late D.
Reds poem? loaned it to YOU
now am anxious to lave il. Tie pub
fishers sag the magazine is out u