The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-14
HER NOM DE PLUME.

Yet l am in pretty room-a luxurious
room-with a glorious fire glowing in
the silver barred CRATE and the curtains
of frosty lace half obscuring the outside
world A room with warm crimson
carpet, jardiniere Of blooming plants,
redbird swinging idly to and fro in it's
gllded cage, piano i'll the corner and
pictures on the walls, and books-books
everywhere.
This is my especial sanctum, my own
den, whittier 1 retreat from the storms
of the world, the cold. pitiless blasts of
adversity-and find peace. Yet am
woman-a sensitive, imaginative wom-
an-and if sometimes q tiny touch of
discomfort starts into my heart-a feel
ing OF loneliness-it surely need not con-
Germ any one but myself. "NIan was not
made to live alone" and, for the matter
of that, neither was woman. Yet
better Il lonely, single life than an I'M
happy double existence. SO say as 70
over to my desk and seat myself for the
daily grind"
First l will introduce myself. NV
name Is We're st. Adams Hale, and am
a newspaper correspondent, writer of
magazine articles and everything else in
the imagination line for which l can find
sale. The reader must not object to the
implied inference that tho newspaper
correspondent is to bo classed with writ
ers of fiction. Yet whence do they CLEAN
all their scraps of wonderful informa-
ton?
For long time have been writing
articles for leading magazine under a
IL
bans-which is an abbreviation of nv
own given name attached to my second.
To my surprise, the articles have been
received with far moro appreciation than
1 had dared to hope for, and that fact,
accompanied by liberal checks, has
proved a very pleasant episode in my
Woodworking existence. This morning
as 1 seat myself at 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
servant-a girl with a. fair, open counte-
nance and general vacuity.
"Well, Abby" l observe, little fes-
tily, for she is transgressing well
known rule regarding the intcrrupting
Of my work, ''what is it?"
please, miss" lin solemn voice,
which somehow provokes me to smile),
there's Il lady-that is to say, IL girl-in
the deception room"
a small antechambcr where nv straw
visitors are first received before being
welcomed into the sanctum. l smile a
little more.
reception room, Abby" correct Sc
verely, but feeling an irresistible desire
30 4 l,,
"What is her business?"
ooh, she wants to sec Mr.. We're st. AL
bans s. that's tho very name, miss"
proudly 1--WE said it over and over
till know it's right
"Nlr. We're st. Albans!''
repeat the name-the unlucky name
in bewildered way.
"What does she wish of him!"
Abby courtesies.
please, miss, don't know. But she's
a-carryin Il little book i'll her hand. No.
miss, she's not Il book agent, cause |
asked her. She's college girl, she says,
and-and-I believe it's some writing
she wants done"
arise i'll mock resignation. did have
an idea-a bright and brilliant idea-in
my brain when l seated myself at my
desk this morning. 1t has flown now.
Will it ever return?
| take myself into the reception room
and find my visitor, 81 pretty little school
girl, Overdressed and laden with school
books. Conspicuous on the very top lies
velvet bound volume. Yes, / have
seen such volumes before, "many time
and off," and it does not require the
word Autographs" in huge, gilt letters
to explain It's mission. She arises at once.
Pardon me for intruding," she be-
gins, ''bnt lave ycnturcd to call to re-
quest tl.c autograph OF the great writer,
We're g.. ..l..a5 VIII yea kindly inter-
ccdc in my Dchalf. madam, and beg
him TO WIZ il my albom:'
There i; inc situation in a nutshell.
She l~l s,s We're ST. Adams to be
man, and She wants his illustrious auto
graph. We. tAe very easiest way in
the world 10 set it over with and to be
at liberty to return to my days work at
the desk is to grant her request
81 will ask him." return, feeling like
small conspirator.
"Oh, will yon, please?' her face light
ing up wonderfully. "How good of you!
You see, there's wager on it, Brother
Tom has bet me dozen pairs of kid
gloves--siX buttons and assorted shades
that III ACT be able to get st. Adams
autograph. He says there is mystery
about him. think you are very kind