The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-10-27

''No," said Gregory, smiling once
more at the girls evident ignorance of
the habits and customs of publishers.
''We are charmed with the book. We
desire to publish ito buy it. If you
will kindly tell Mr.. Bud that wish to
talk to him about it." He desired to
make it very plain to this little country
| girl, for he now thought he understood
| that she had been sent down to inter
view him, to defend her father-it might
even be her grandfather-from intru-
sion. Such a genius was probably &C.
centric. But when the author knew
that an appreciative person with practi-
cal intentions awaited him he wou1"
surely appear.
81 have come from New York." he
said, slowly and carefully choosing his
words, "to see Mr.. Bud in regard to the
purchase of his admirable novel. Kind.
~ give him my card" He took one
from his pocket. Mr.. r. Bud he re
peated.
81 told You there wasn't any Mr..
Bud" said the young mother. looking in
at the window. ''You sit there staring
jest like stuck pig, Rosy. Why don't
ON SDCoh u u. no III III DlIlO OluS4SU
violently.
81 don't know how to begin to talk
said she. 81 have sold load of hay and
head of cattle. but 1 couldn't even
think about selling a book. I've been
told they give quite good prices. but
am ignorant of all that. You must talk
to me. don't know what to say first.
II leave it all to you. You know what
books sell for better than do" Gregory
looked at her in establishment.
''But the author" said he. ''can 1 not
see him?"
"R. Bud" said she; ''you mean R.
Bud?"
He bowed.
"Wen," said the girl, 81 am R. Bud
Rose Bud. 1t is such foolish little name
that only wrote r. on the manuscript"
your said Gregory. "Youg" he
waited awhile and looked at her. ''You
do not mean to tell me that you wrote
the book"
The sister p1lt her head in at the win
dow once more. eff she won't, 1 will"
said she. ''ENrote it? 1 should say so.
Dig, dig, dig, morning, noon and night,
up there in poor Humpty Dumpty's old
room. Dig, dig, dig-not a minute to
help me, only forever scratch, scratch,
scratch. For goodness sake used to
say to her, what do you think kin come
of itY Write! Why look here. Rosy,
if you let him have it for less than $40,
you're an idiot" At this instant the
baby began to scream, and the mother
disappeared, turning it over as though
it were pancake and grooming there,
there, there" that. mingled with the
baby's yells, finally vanished in the dis
tance.
"And you wrote that?' said Gregory.
''You are R. Bud?''
'I r. Bud" said she. It was though
a sparrow had spoken and said: Behold
mel am an eagle"
He looked at the little Madonna face,
the slender girls shape, the long faxen
braid tied with its bit of blue ribbon and
shook his head.
81 did dig away at it, as Lizzie says"
said the girl. "And went up to the
garnet because it's the quietest place. A
boarder we once had died there, and the
neighbors think it's haunted, so nobody
ever came to bother me, as they would in
the sitting room"
nC pO1OO4 Jul 64SOCI SotI1O 41u114D ply
Dumpty?" asked Gregory.
YES" said Rose. Il never do and
never will. She should not do it. It is
wrong. Yes, wrote there, and some
times I used to fancy heard him behind
me. He was laIne-you know that step
of his-but I was not frightened. 1
wrote at 10 o'clock sometimes with a
lamp, and ur here people go to bed at 9.
Oh, we are very countrified up here!"
she laughed.
AS for Gregory, he was STEPPED in
amazement. He looked at the girl. and
his fancy gave her face thousand new
expressions that he had not seen before.
"Do you know" asked he, 'that the
book you sent US is very wonderful
thing?''
'You think it interesting?" said she
"Would you have liked it better if it
had ended well?"
81 would not have it altered, said he.
''That is lucky, for could not alter it, -
she answered.
Your artistic feeling would prevent,
said he.
'I just couldn't" said she, "but
thought it would have been better. A
book ought to cheer you up, not make
you cry"
"Iam afraid yours will make people
cry" said Gregory.
YES" said she, st cried over it my
self. Oh, please, if there is anything to
say, say it before Lizzie comes back.
She doesn't understand even as well as I
about such things. Our boarder talked
to me. you know, and taughtme to speak
and to use better English, but even I
don't know thing. about selling books,
not thing"
Then Gregory, who began to believe
that the day of miracles was not over,
commanded himself to make the girl the
offer the firm had decided upon. Not
surprisingly good one from the point of
view a literary person of experience
would have taken. but one that seemed
to amaze Rose Bud by its immensely.
She stood with her eyes growing rounler
with every word. Her long fiaxen braid
fell over her shoulder. and she clasped her
hands together nervously.
well. Miss Bud, are you satisfied"
da aS1xnd af laSt