The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-10-23

but L IL Try litter longer LOT tnat ior-
tune, and the ghost of 4 smile fingered |
on his face for an instant.
''I suppose / could not help You in /
any way, Brandon? May / leave my |
check book ~
The question was put very hesitating-
ly, and while the inner man cried |
"Yes," in piteous accents, the outer |
gentleman declined the kind offer with !
Il courteous liEmness.
Al have read several OF your short |
stories" Minnie said as she pulled on
her gloves, "and | think they are real
~ clever. Bat you ought 10 try some
thing big-a three volume novel"
"They are going out Of fashion, and,
besides, they take such time. One
can scribble off short stories like nur-
sery rhymes and the turn Is quick"
He referred 20 the return of the
manuscripts; she thought he meant
payment
"But here, he went on rapidly, going
to the table and taking up MS uniinish-
ed book, "here Is a novel have almost
completed. None Of your ordinary
driveI, but realism, aad that IS the de
manG ofthe hour. 1t will not be more
than &, 800 words, and am confident
of il success
"When you finish your book, Bran
don, She advised, ''send it TO Irvine
* Irvine. They will publish it in their
Monde plume series. 'You will
have an eccentric, idiotic postcr all 90
yourself in the new art style and the
puzzle Of the hour will he: "What Is
the writer's name:n Is it a he or a
she? Then, when the papers have
criticised your book, praised it, slashed
IL and discussed it for ali il is worth,
your real name will be discovered; in
tcrviewers will regard you as a special
prize your photo viii be attempted in
the evening news sheets and you VIII
he famous
Her throat burned while she spoke
her voice was very dry, and her bon
hommie artificial.
"Good-by, good-by"'
kiss me, Brandon; last kiss"
lie bent and pressed his lips to hers,
then turned quickly away rs she hur-
ried down stairs and home, and sat in
MS chair far into the evening, the most
miserable mnn on earth.
Ii was about week later, and Bran
don was still in his lodgings. His
landlady had informed him immediate
~ after Aiinuie's visit thai some one
settled a long standing debt, so he need
not worry over his l.ttlc account. He
blessed her: she passed the blessing on
I TO Minnie Horton. lie sat az the table
I endeayor;ug to think cat his novel, but
+ hc could not compose single sertenee,
+ for on the news sheet spread out before
/ him there danced in the blackcst Of
( typa a paragraph Nhica-had Paraiyzed
all tie energy ia him. Minnie was TO
Toe married. She had taken him at
his word, and would we'd Percy Oicott
in three months time.
! Well, that ended it. The oac ray Of
hope that had mabe mis- existence bear
able had been flashed from 'his leand
death was the only panaeea. Poison
ins. hanging, drowning or a bullet
anything 10 get out of tine world quick
IL. And he had loved her 50 much !,
OF course. it was his own choice il he
could only have conveniionaily mur-
dered his pride and laughed in the
worlds face he might have been hap
by with the woman he loved, hut he
could not, and Row he could not live.
Thus ran his reflections, when the
landiady brought him letter, written
on perfumed yellow paper. He rec
cgnized the handwriting at once. 1t
was from Minnie, and confirmed ms
newspaper Item. She retained his ring
a. a keepsake.
"Do not give way 90 ridiculous pas-
sion" she advised him, anS his face
hardened rs he read the words again.
Not he. Why should he: Must his
lif, BE- suddenly extiGgu;shei, his
hopes dispelled, because he had los;
the love of one woman? There were
scores OF other Ones-all beautiful, al
loving, all go5i-Ho, some good and
when he was famous. lie had struck
the right chord, and his whole being
sprang into furious blaze OF ambition
a desire TO cheat the woman who h.
thought had ji!ted him, and laugh a
her in mocilery aud triumph.
, He walked his room feverish!y, hi
hands clinched and his lips set tight
: while the fire Of ambition forged hi
. determination and withered his love
! Bv heavens, he would be famous
Day after day he would toll at tha
book until it was finished, and then
4 then his triumph.
Yes, that was il work, work, ant
: forget her; and ne pitched the daint.
e note into the tire and commenced. II
| unfroze all his energies returned, q
his thoughts rushed back upon hin
| and fell over each other - his pen race
: across the paper. In ftw days hi
: book was ready fer The publishes.
+ Brandon received reply from Ir
: vine & Irvine in two days This was
a revelation that astounded him. Bu
a what surprised him still more was tn
fact that the publishers wanted 10 se
4 him.
! 1t was a pity Minnie had heen :
u hasty, Brandon thought, Is he perlse
e Irvine's note, time after time. FoI
u tune and fame were written all oy,
5 him, and il he only had her
e AT least he ought TO write and col
e graduate her on her engagement. II
e wondered with mean exuitatiOn wiz;
e she would feel like; if she woald tuF
is white when she read of his success
E. 50 ne sat down 10 write, bit, remen
is bering that all eggs did not turn 0,
1t chicks, he deferred it until he had see
the publisher.
h After the interview ne was mad vii
K himself because he had not write
e for Irvine * Irvine paid him Si3
o. down for all the rights OF his booi
is How he walked to his home from Il
re Office he never knew, and he wonder'
&c why he had not cIbbcd il. He 7