Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-11-03


script on the chair caught her eye.
Gran'pop's papers were forbidden arti-
cles to her, but when she saw this
package and slowly spelled out the
writing on its cover, "the Chronicle,
there came to her mind that Gran'po
had told her when he was writing this
address the night before and was too
busy to play with her, that the manu-
script had to be sent in tomorrow
This was tomorrow, she reasoned, and
the manuscript had not gone. Gran
pop must have forgotten it ! He would
be sorry, she knew.
Presently there came to her bright
idea and she stood very still for n
moment, thinking hard. Why could
not she take the manuscript to the
Chronicle? She knew where the office
was she had been there with Gran'pop.
Tt would be such surprise to him to
find it already gone when he came
home. She decided to do it. She
took the bundle from the chair and
pulled on her jacket and tied her hood
fast. She was used to dressing herself
and soon was on the steps, the manu-
script clutched firmly in her hand.
Then she started off for the Chronicle
office, proud of her self-appointed
mission.
The elevator boy was much sur.
prised and not little amused when
she asked for the editor. He tried to
chaff her on the way up, but she re-
fused to take any notice of his re-
marks, if she understood them. All
her thoughts were on the top story
and the editor. Despite his fun
making the elevator boy was trihe
impressed, and, thinking she might be
one of the ''old mans" relations, when
they arrived ut the upper floor he
showed her to the door of the sanctum
and told her to knock. Then he left
her and went back to his post.
The editor was greatly surprised
when timid knock sounded on his
door. and in answer to his "come in"
he saw over his gold-bowed spectacles
the diminutive maiden who entered.
He looked at her hard, but she did not
appear discounted. She came toward
him without hesitation and stood with
one little hand resting on the edge of
the 1esk, the other extending the
folded manuscript.
"Gran'po forgot to bring it down,
so | fetched it," she explained, her
blue eyes looking up into his puzzled
gray ones.
Now, the editor WAS not man easily
confused, but this was novel expert
ence even for him. In all his life he
neven remembered having received in
his office SO small and at the same
time so confident visitor as this He
looked at her sharply, almost sternly,
suspecting he was the victim of some
joke but her gaze never hinched, and
the baby eyes were not frightened,
He took the manuscript from her
grasp and or hed it. There was no
solution of lie mystery to be obtained
here, however. The story was some
local history of early days. There
was no name, no mark of any kind to
tell who wrote it or where it came
from. Non plussed, he turned his eyes
upon the little figure beside him.
Somehow, in spite of the old-fashioned
and much worn clothes, it suggested
to him that of little one who had
once called him father, and kindly
smile lit his face.
81 don't know anything about this
paper" he said. ''Who did it come
from?"
From Gran'pop, she answered, as
if that conveyed full information.
''Yes, but who's Gran'pop? | don't
remember him"
''Why don't You know him? He's
once or twice, that's how / knew
where it was :"
The editor racked his brain in vain
to think who dran'pop could be.
"Well. he said Mt last, ''you sit
down in that big chair there and I'll
look over this paper and tell you what
to say to him." Then he wheeled his
chair about and began reading.
II did not take long, however, for
him TO decide what to do. He struck
hand bell on the desk and boy came
into the room. ''Send Mr.. Campbell
I to me ~ the editor said.
A moment and the city editor of the
/ Chronicle entered.
! Campbell, said the editor. edo
/ you know whose writing that p and
he handed him the manuscript.
"Yes, answered the other ''it's old
John Harmon's. He brought II in
here this morning and | told him We
couldn't use IT. Its all ancient his
/ tory
"W ell, " said Che editor a bit shortly,
''it's the kind Of ancient history III,
/ Chronicle wants. Can't You see that
/ that Is local matter that II good many
would gather read than news Give II
\ n gooa place on the fourth page Of 20
morrow's issue, and I'll try TO see that
We have column 81 just such stnn
twice q week That's all =
'fho city editor lid not see the it'll,
figure ia the big chair, and "a hit dis
concerted at being turned Down >,
sharply, he took up tho nauuscripi
again aud left lhe room wondering
what Wis ihe matter with the ''ol'
man, and hes IL historical ftuif had
come into his hands
Whsn he had cone, the editor drew
a sheet of papef toward ilim. l.ookinl
at tha alitile figure IA tho chair, ho said
II viii write & letter foT SON - tai,
with fau aui gave E o. Gfnu Hul.