The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-10-04

goOu hcr small mouth prettily formed.
her eyes large and lustrous. her hair "A
pretty brown color. RAYMOND found
himself noting all these points about his
new typewriter.
Suddenly he awoke to the fact that she
was waiting for him TO speak,
YES he said, ~ require volume of
short stories typcwrittcn. Unfortunately"
he added, recalling his thoughts of few
minutes ago, "they are not quite ready
More than one will want doctoring if not
rewriting"
81 might take them one by one" sug-
gcstcd Miss Ramsay. THAT would save
time If you have one rcady"-
"Ies, that will he our best plan" in
terrupted Raymond.
"And shall | do the work here or at
homer" she asked.
(Which would be the most convenient
for your inquired Raymond trying to
stillc his personal lnclinations as regards
the matter
"lfyou will show me your writing
that is, your MS said she, frankly, ~
can tell you. II it is difficult had best
come here; if casy'4--
at is rather difficult" returned the
other. "Perhaps you had best come and
do the work here" he added, with quite
unconscious cngcrncss. "The mornings
would suit me best"
Every we'll" she said. Good morn
ing. | will be here tomorrow"
The door closed behind her. Raymond
Rose tried to settle down to work again.
But he failcd--miscrably Thoughts
would not come, The pen scratched and
Spluttered like Il thing in bad temper.
Each story rs he tackled it grew worse
under his alterations. However, he made
desperate effort, and completed one
ready for the morrow's typewriting.
Then he got up and went for walk,
wondering what had come to him. The
visit of the morning would rcCur TO his
mind. Nevertheless, rs became II bachelor
of thirty. he refused to acknowledge that
his cOmfortablcness had been in any way
disturbed by ii.
"Abaurd," muttercd he. "The fact is,
! want II little change change of air
change of scenery. change of people
change of life" The last was quite an
afterhOught.
The next morning Miss G.. Ramsay
arrived-typewritc and all. Raymond
gave her the story. She read it through
and prepared to set to work.
What do you think of it?' asked Ray
mond.
She laughed-very pleasantly.
AT any rate, it is not 'seX-maniacal, "
she said
mo" replied he. II am glad it is
not"--and began his own work.
lie thought that she did her typewriting
very well. When the story was finished
he took the liberty of telling her that the
work was more than satisfactory.
She only replied that she was pleased to
hear him say so. After her departure he
found himself wondering whether the G
before her surname stood for Grace or
Georgina.
In the days which followed he learned
a good deal of her history. She had come
TO London with her brother. who was II
clerk in brokers' Office and received an
annual stipend of eighty pounds. On this,
and on what she could earn, they were
dependent for their living, for the parents
had died, leaving them pennilcss. 1t was
common enough tale, yet Raymond Rose
considered it remarkably interesting.
He always asked her what she thought
about story. Miss Ramsay often gave
him valuable suggestions" so he told his
friends.
Il think that your stories improve"
observed Miss Ramsay one morning.
You seem to probe human nature more
/ than you did and your sentiment Is not
/ so artificial"
THAT is due to your influence" he re-
piled, gallautly and sincerely.
The, dark, lustrous eyes looked up at
[ him, and her face assumed II half fright
ened expression. Perhaps she caught the
true inwardness of his words. At any
rate, that glance threw Raymond Rose
into ecstacy. No longer did he doubt his
own feeling.
The same evening he pondered deeply.
Here was man, with everything to rec
ommend him; Il large income, an unim-
pelchablc character; "A kindly disposition,
a heart filled to the brim with love. And
she. A tvpist in stratened circumstances
of quite unknown origin, so far as the
world was concerned True, her brother
presented rather an obstacle. But then
The picture of the brother faded from
his mind. lie saw himself welded to Il
pretty wife; his old rooms cheered ano
frightened by her presence; the stale
order of things abolished; the opening Of
new pastures warmed by the dual warmth
of kindred souls. Then, moved by {
sudden impulse, he sat down and wrote
story,
He wrote of II man, noble and good, tC
whom honor, fame, riches came like the
sweet rain from heaven. The man lived,
prospered and was comfortable lie felt,
however, that void existed in his life;
he knew not its nature, nor how to fill it.
Then came woman, pure and beautiful
as the dawn and he knew that it was she
who was to fill that void So he married
her and lived happily ever after
BY . in the morning he had finished tho
story. He went to rest, feeling that i
was the best and the noblest work he haC
ever done; although it was the unyarn
ished tale of an ordinary mans life.
When Mis- Ramsay next appeared he
pretty eyes were red and swollen will
weepinr, RAYMOND was hOrrOr-struck