Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-07-05
HER NOM DE PLUME

-lau4 utft tluLe---fi5 lffflc1 alc1t tllis Z
clear. cold winter morning as though tlIe
wastes Of Eahara stretch ous around ma
Yet am inse pretty room--a luxurious
room-with Q glorious fe glowing in
the silver barred gratp and fle curtaius
Of frosty lace half obssuripg the outside
world A room Tfsh carrn crimson
carpet, iardiniers Of blooming plants, ,
redhird swinging idly 10 and fro in It's
gilded cage. piano u the corner and (
pictures on the walls and ba1Ea,-books
everywhere
This is my espe.fn ssOcsun. my own
den. WHITTIER retreat frou the storms
Of the world. the cold. pitiless hasts Of
adyersity-and find peace. Yet am
woman--e sensitive, imaginative WON
an-and il sometimes tiny touch Of
discomfort starts into my heart--a feel
ing OF lonelness-it surely need noteon-
Germ any one but myself ''Man vasnot
made to live alore. and. for the matter
Of that, neither was woman. Yet
better a lonely, single life than an IN
happy double existence. SoIsay as I go
over TO my desk and seat myself for the
daily grind
First ! viii Introduce myeeff Ny
name is We're st. Albans Hale, and am
a newspaper correspondent writer of
magazine articles and everything else in
the imagination. line for which I can find
Gale. The reader must not object to the
implied inference that the newspaper
correspondent is to be classed with writ
ers of fiction. Yet whencs do they CLEAN
all their scraps of wonderful inforGa-
tiona
For long time have been writing
articles for a leading magazine under a
masculine nom de plume-Vere st. AL
bans-whieh is an abbreviation of my
own given name attached to my second.
To my surprise, the articles have been
received with far more appreciation than
had dared to hope for. and that fact.
accompanied By liberal chacks, has
proved very pleasant episode In my
hardworking existence. This morning
as I seat myself Gt my desk preparatory
to coming down on the days work like
the traditional wolf on the fold am in
terrupted by the appearance OF my own
Servants girl with fair, open eounte-
nance and general vseuity.
"Well, Abby" / observe, little See
tily, for She IL transgressing we'll
known rule regarding the interrlpAng
Of my work, what Is it2"
please, misGs dn solemn voica
which somehow provokes me to sraiisA
''there's O lGdythat is 70 say, giEI-Sin
the deception room"
A small anteehaxnbeT where my stray
visitors are first received before being
welcomed into tho ssnetGzl IEmils a
little more.
Reception room, Abby" ] correct se-
verely, but feeling on irresistible dASizs
to expand the smile into o laugh
"Whas is her business"
"Oh, she wants TO see Mr. Ver8 81. Al
bans that's the very name, miss
(prondly) "I've said u oEeE and o~cz
till / know It's right"
sMr. Yere st. AlbansF"
repeat the name--the uHfac4y umns
in a bewildered way.
"What does she wish of hnaT"
Abby courtesies.
please, miss, / don't know, But sasers
a-carryin little book in her hand No,
miss, she's not book agent, cause |
asked her. She's collage girl, she says,
and--and--I believe it's some writing
she wants done.S
Iarise in mock resignation. did have
an idea--a bright and brilliant idear--in
my brain when seated myself st my
desk this morning. It has fovn now
Viii it ever roturnf
take myself into tho reception room
and find my visitor, d pretty little school
girl, oyerdressed and laden with school
books. Conspicuous on the very top lies
a velvet bound volume. Yea, have
seen such volumes before, many time
and oft, and il does not require the
word Autographs" in huge, gilt letters
toexplain its mission. She arises as-once.
Pardon me for intruding," she be-
gins, ''but have ventured to call to re-
enest the autograph of the greas writer,
We're ST. Albsns VIII you kindly inter-
cede in my behalf, madam, and beg
him to write in my album'"
There is the situation in nutshell.
She believes We're St. Albans to be o
man. and she wants his illustrious auto
graph. Well, the very easiest way in
the world to get it over with and to be
at liberty to return to my days work at
the desk is to grant her request.
u will ask him, I" | return. feeling ike
o asmall conspirator.
'sOh, viii you, pleaae!- her face light
ing up wonderfully, @How good Of youl
You see, there's a wager on it Brother
Tom has bet me q dozen pairs of kid
gloyes--six buttons and assorted shades
shat I'll no. be able to get st. Albsns'
autograph. BE says there is mystery
about him | think You are very kind
to promise to help mer she adds guas-
ingly.
lido my best to repress smile, and SO
taking the book from her hand retire
to the privacy Of my senctum, whore |
proceed to inscribe my name in.rny lar
gest. manifest ehirography. 1dry il oare-
fully and return to the reception room
tOh, how very kind in your my Wis.
itor gushss again. 4 shall prize a es
long as | live Are you his s-sisterss
snake my hoaQ.
etQh. not his swifes~
| fancy CONSERVATION IN tfse sweea,
shrill. girlish voice. Evidently the fast
of better half would forever clsGupG
the fame f the popular writer.
Again ! shake my head.
4tVere ST. A1bana Is NOT naarhei, :
return and the yiolet eyes dance witH
delight. She il pleased and doas noA -
tempt to sonseal it.
Il am his nearest friend, added en-
pfanatogily, eGearer to.him fhma arw SRae
aIsa