The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-03-19
HER NOM DE PLUME.

/ stand here alone-as much alone this
clear, cold winter morning as though the
wastes of Sahara stretch out around me.
| Yet I am In o pretty room--a luxurious
room-with q glorious fire glowing in
the silver barred CRATE and the curtains
Of frosty lace half obscuring the outside
| world. A room with a warm crimson
carpet, q jardiniere of blooming plants,
a redbird swinging idly to and fro in its
gilded cage, a piano in the corner and
pictures on the walls, and books-books
everywhere.
This is my especial sanctum, my own
den, whittier / retreat from the storms
of the world, the cold. pitiless blasts of
| adversity-and find peace. Yet I am q
woman sensitive. imaginative wom-
an-and if sometimes a tiny touch of
discomfort starts into my heart-a feel
ing of loneliness--it surely need not con-
| Germ any one but myself. MAN was not
made to live alone and, for the matter
of that, neither was woman. Yet
better q lonely, single life than an I'M
happy double existence. So / say as I go
over to my desk and seat myself for the
daily grind"
First I viii introduce myself. My
| name is We're st. Albans Hale, and / am
q newspaper correspondent, writer of
magazine articles and everything else in
the imagination line for which I can find
sale. The reader must not object to the
implied inference that the newspaper
correspondent is to be classed with writ
ers of fiction. Yet whence do they CLEAN
all their scraps Of wonderful informa-
ton?
For o long tune I have been writing
articles for q leading magazine under a
masculine nom de plume-Vere st. Al
~bans-which is an abbreviatiOt1 of my
own given name attached to my second.
To my surprise, the articles have been
received with far more appreciation than
i had dared to hope for, and that fact,
accompanied by liberal checks, has
proved o very pleasant episode in my
hardworking existence. This morning
as / seat myself at my desk preparatory
to coming down on the days work Hike
the traditional wolf on the fold I ann IN
terrupted by the appearance of my own
servants girl with a fair, open counte-
nance and general vacuity.
well, Abby" / observe, q little tes-
tily, for she is transgressing a well
known rule regarding the interrupting
OF my work, what is itga'
PLEASE, miss lin q solemn voice,
which somehow provokes me TO smilel,
there's a lady-that is to say, q griffin
the deception ROOM"
A small antechamber where my stray
visitors are FIRST received before being
welcomed into the sanctum. / smile q
little more.
Reception ROOM, Abby" / correct BE-
verely. but feeling an irresistible desire
TO expand the smile into a laugh.
What is her businesss'
ooh, she wants to see Mr.. We're st. Al
bans-that's the very name, miss'
proudly. I've said it over and over
till / know it's right.
"Mr. We're st. Albansg"
Irepeat the name--the unlucky naYae
lin q bewildered way,
"What does she wish of himg'
Abby courtesies.
Please, miss, 4 don't know. But she's
a~-carryin q little book in her hand. No,
miss, she's not a book agent, cause /
asked her. She's q college girl, she says.
and-and-I believe its some wrising
she wants done"
Iarise in mock resignation. / did have
an idea-a bright and brilliant idea-in
my brain when ! seated myself at my
desk this morning. 1t has flown now.
VIII it ever return?
take myself into the reception
and find my visitor, q pretty little school
girl, overdressed and laden with school
books. Conspicuous ON the very ton lies
a velvet bound volume. Yes, / have
seen such volumes before, many q time
and off, and 1t does not require the
word Autographs in huge, gilt letters
toexplain it's mission. She arises at once.
Pardon me for intruding,' she be-
gins, ssbut / have ventured to call to re-
quest the autograph OF the great writer.
We're St. Adams. Will you kindly inter-
cede in my behalf, madam, and beg
him to write in my album
There is the situation in a nutshell.
| She believes We're SIT. Albans to biz d
man, and she wants his illustrious auto
graph. Well, the very easiest way Id
the world 10 get it over with and to be
ut liberty to return to my days work at
the desk Is to grant her request.
.I will ask him, " i return, feeling like
q small conspirator.
"0h. will yon, pleaseg' her face light
ing up wonderfully. How good OF ron.
You sse, there's q wager ON it. Brother
Tom has bet me Q dozen pairs OF KID
| gloyes-six buttons and assorted slades
that I'LL not be able 10 get st. Albans'
autograph. He says there is q mystery
] about him. think You are very kind