Middletown transcript., 1894-02-03


vicious jerk backward. She did not
notice as she raised her hand that there
were daubs of ink on it, but Ned did.
aYou are very ungenerous, Ned, "
declared Patty, hotly. ''You want me
to give up my work. my career"-
"Your careerl' interIected Ned,
scornfully.
''Oh, you may mock If you want to!
But shall have career. know l
can write. Why, Ned. you yourself
have often said that you liked my
verses. And you know / always got
composition prizes away back in the
high school. / know l can write.
And Pm going tol And you want me
to give it all up and ceme and keep
house with you. won't. y
swell, Patty said Ned. qaite
calmly, after this outburst, ''do as ypu
please about it. l didn't know tut
what you were so tired of having things
rejected that you'd accept me this time
out of sort of fellow-feefing.
81 suppose you asked me to marry
you as sort Of balm to my wounded
feelings. anyway flashed Patty.
"Yes,n said Ned. quite soberly; II
did, confess thought you might be
getting little weary Of this struggle
for fame. didn't know but that your
heart was sore and that your poor wings
were tired of beating the air in vain,
and thought you might like to know
that there was one thing sure and
steady and one place ready for you
whenever you'd take it. I"
Ned's unwonted eloquence moved
Patty to tears. When he first came in
she had been crying over one of the
blue slips, stating that her last poem
was not "available.n Ned WATCHED
her now pitifully.
'.Don't cry, Patty" he said. sits
all right. I'm not going to bother you
any more. l shan't ask you to marry
me again. Five proposals from one
man are too many. But, Patty, since
you won't have anything to do with me
while those blamed things are rejected,
will you, will you have pity on me
when one is accepted?"
Patty dried her tears. She looked at
him very earnestly.
s.Ned,'' she said, with becoming
solemnity, II promise you that once
find my foot planted securely on the
ladder l will marry you. You see,
dear, it would never do for me to marry
you justH because was making fail
ure, would it? OF course, if nothing
is accepted within reasonable space OF
time-why, then, you needn't wait.
shall never marry unless Pm a success.
And if I've begun to be one in six
months-why, you may come back.
OF course it Was ridiculous bar
gain, but Patty was very much in ear
nest about her work in those days, and
Ned was very much in love with Patty.
n
The weeks passed on. Every day
Patty worked at the foolish, feminine
looking little desk. Almost every day
the postman brought in bulky en-
yelope which contained one of Patty's
efforts and polite printed regret that
the great magazine to which she had
sent it could not use 1t. One day there
came thin envelope. It inciosed
glowing prospectus of magazine
about to be issued. It told how it
would contain stories, essays and poems
by great authors and would Introduce
many hitherto unknown lights to the
public. Patty's eyes kindled. She
promptly sent one Of her poems to that
publication. And in about g week
there came printed slip which made
her jubilant. The Ladies and Chill
dren's Household Campanion had ac-
cepted Miss Weston's ssStars and Fire
flies.n a check would be sent her on
publication. And moreover, there was
a written Hne or two commencing her
work and asking for more.
Patty's family rejeiced with her.
Then special messenger took Ned
those bits of paper done up with Patty's
card ia an envelope. And the Joy Of
the Weston family vas complete.
Patty's poem was published in the
first and only issne Of the Ladies ana
Children's Household Companion. The
magazine never made second appear
ance. And 1T vas not until Patty had
been Mrs. Ned for some time and was
perfectly familikr With Ned's account
books that she discovered this itenn
Prospestuses eontrlbutors and