Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-08-22
THE COnmOnoSt Possible
Story.

~
PhiIander Atkinson, bachelor of law
and writer of light verse, sat one
murky August evening in his hall bed
room, with the gas turned low, Won
dering whether the night would be
too not for sleep. At quarter before
ten q lettering messenger hoy brought
him q line from his friend Darnel:
"Come around at once. just back.
The very greatest news" Thereupon
Atkinson discarded his smoking jack
ct, reluctantly exchanged his slippers
for shoes and took the car down TO
Twelfth street, remembering mean
while that Darnel's brief vacation
from the Broadway bank expired that
day and specializing as to the nature
of the great news which the clerk had
brought back from Vermont. The
lawyer was Fermonter too, and it
was this fact, as well as a common lit
eI-ary ambition, that had drawn the
young fellows together at first, long
before Philander, on the strength of
having two triolets paid for, had NOV
ed up to Thirty first street. Philand-
er Atkinson liked Darnel, admired his
feverish energy and his pluck, envied
his acquaintance with books. He had
always persisted in thinking that OAR
nePs stories would sell, if only some
magazine would print one for start
er; and he had patiently listened to
most of these stories and to some OF
them several times over. Yet Darnel
had never had any luck; had never
had even his dessert; and the sinceri-
ty of his congratulations whenever
Atkiuson's verses saw the light caus-
ed Philander to feel tri1e awkward.
He knew that the interchangeable clerk
had two or three manuscripts ''out''
out in the mails-When the vacation
began and as he turned III at Darnel's
boarding house he had almost per
Suaded himself that the Hon had ac
eep6ed s'Laki,'' his friends Egyptian
story 1t was a long climb up to OAR
nePs room and the writer Of light
verse mounted deliberately, being fat
with over much sitting in his Office
chair On the third floor the air was
heavy with orange flowers and Bonsi /
lene roses and caterer was carrying |
away boxes. A Whimsical rhyme
came into Philander's head and he
made q mental note Of it. Just then
Darnel appeared, leaning over the
balustrade of the fourth floor landing,
his coat of, his collar visibly the worse
for the railway journey and an eager
smile upon his thin, homely face.
E'Hullo, d. said Philander. "Here |
am Been having wedding here?''
he added in low voice, as he grasped |
Darners hand.
s'I believe SO. I'm just back. Come |
in, Phil. You got my message?"
F'Why else should be here, old fell
low? Tt is, ELaki,' sure?''
Without answering, Darnel led the
way into his tiny room. His trunk
lay upon the floor, half unpacked, the
folding-bed was down, for the better
contents and the desk in the corner,
under the single jet Of gas, was cover
ed with piles of finely-t torn paper
Darnel's manner, usually nervous and
somewhat conscious, betrayed a GER
tain exhilaration but he was under
a perfect self control.
S'Lakii" he said, seating himself in
his revolving chair and whirling
around to the desk, while Atkinson
threw himself upon the bed, ''Laki?"
Oh, / had forgotten. It's probably
here.''
He pulled over the mail accumulat-
ed during the absence. eyes" He
tore open the envelope. ''The editor
of the Eon regrets to say, ETC." and
he tossed the printed slip, with the
into his aste-basket,
with a laugh.
Atkinson's heart sank. Poor OAR
mel; it was not cheerful welcome
home. But Darnel was busted with
his letters.
"And here are the others,'' he went
on EtI thank the Lord none of them
were accepted"
''What!" exclaimed Philander, turn
Ing upon his elbow.