Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-10-09

she had been in a nelghborlng town,
trying to get work to support herself.
But she was too young, and too pretty,
and too alone in the world, and she had
broken down in the struggle and had
just been able to crawl home--to die.
''It most killed the Miss Pettingills,
and they always felt as if her death was
owing to their hard ways. I guess it
was, too, for they were the hard New
England kind, and she warn't. and they
didn't understand. They meant we'll,
but they didn't understand. "
There was silence after she had end
ed, until Margaret looked up archly.
"RealIy, Aunt Mahala, you ought to
write a series Of 'Recollections and
'The Story of Lois would make such a
charming beginning. What pity you
did not think of doing it before!'
Nonsense, child !" said Miss Mahala,
with the characteristic Dillingham; toss
of her head.
"But mean it-you really should, !"
persisted Margaret, who liked to tease
her stately aunt. "It is debt you owe
the public. You have no right to hide
your light under bushel. And it would
be great thing for me to become
known as the grandniece Of the talented
writer, Miss Mahala Dillingham;"
The summer drifted by. The usual
round of visitors from city friends and
relatives came to an end at last, and
Miss Mahala and Margaret were once
more alone together.
One autumn morning, breakfast just
ended, Miss Mahala nervously cleared
her throat. Margaret, she said, "have
you half an hour to give me? I have
something to read aloud"--
Margaret looked on in :mazement as
Miss Mahala drew closely written roll
Of manuscript from her ilk apron S Ca
pacious pocket and smoothed it with
trembling hands.
"I-I thought a great deal about
what you said, Margaret, she began,
"and I came TO the conclusion that you
might be right, and had nc call to hide
my light if the talent for writing had
really been given me. So I began, as
you suggested, with THE Story of Lois, ,
huN WlICu tuub LIDS UCCiI L ClSlt
go on and write more Of my 'Recollec-
tions
Margaret was astonished at this un-
expected result Of her iesting words.
But controlling her first l:ysterical de-
sire to laugh, she composed herself to
listen to Miss Mahala's S first literary ef-
fort, with therespect which was due to
her years, andNhich was soon mingled
with genuine surprise
Miss Mahala had told the simple story
in quaint, old fashioned way, which,
though rambling, was full Of unexpect-
ed pathos. With careful revision and
certain necessary corrections the little
story would be quite suitable for publ
cation, for which it was Enthusiastically
designed.
hiss Mahala g faded cheeks glowed
with excitement when she lad finished,
and she listened with evident delight to
Margaret's expressions of congratulation
and surprise.
"Then it's all right" she sighed in
relief. "I was kinder afraid when I
came to think, fer, you see, don't
know much about the modern, newfan-
gled ways of spelling, and all that, be-
cause in my young days we just began
every noun with capital. But, after
all. I thought, it's the printers busi-
ness to see to the spelling, SO 1 amt 60
ing to worry about it any more, an0you
can send it right on for me this morn
ing"
"But, Aunt Mahala, can't won't
you-that is-may copy it for you?"
cts copied all right. only wrote
on one side of the paper, though that
did seem like wicked waste And,
Margaret, I am going to send it to The
Eastern Star-that editor has always
treated you so we'll. And here's the let
ter I've written him. l just told him
how came to write the story, and that
I was your greataunt, SO. of course, he
won't expect to treat me like an Ordi
nary young beginner. And told him
this was just the first one of my 'Recol-
lections, and asked him if he wouldn't
like me to send him the rest as soon as
they were DONE
"But, Aunt Mahala," and Margaret
looked aghast at the little old lady, who
was so elated and SO confident of success
How could tho necessary corrections
be made and the too confidential letter
be suppressed without cruelty wot,nding
Miss Mahala's s pride?
Margaret's resolution was soon form
ed.
"Aunt Mahala," she said, "there is
something I must do this morning, and
if your story goes by the afternoon ex-
press it will reach the editor just as
soon as if if was posted at once. Let me
take it. TN stamp it and see to every
thing. It's lovely, and I'm as proud of
you as can be. Don't worry any more
about it, and please let me be undis-
turbed until dinner time"
Once up in her OWL room behind lock-
ed doors Margaret began the work of re-
vision. 1t was impossible to let the
manuscript go cut as it was, and al
though she hesitated before drawing her
pen through the first superfuous word,
she soon grew bolder, and under her
skillful pruning "The Story of Lois"
became charmingly tender little tale,
told in quantity elegant language.
It took some hours, even working I'M
der pressure, to get it into satisfactory
shape, and Margaret had just begun to
copy it when there was q rap upon the
door. She started guiltily.
Margaret, came Miss Mahala's
voice, 81 want to speak to you, and l
want to look over THE Story Of Lois
once again.
"Oh, Aunt Nfahala, don'tH' cried
Margaret piteously. "It's perfectly sweet
as it is-and you would only get upset
if you should see it nowl I'm SO busy.
Please go awayw
Miss Mahala withdrew in astonished
silence, and the copy was finished at
last. Then the accompanying letter was
written, brief and businesslike, but
Margaret did not breathe freely until
she was out of the house and half way
down to the village-beyond any chance
of recall. The original manuscript. with
every one of her telltale changes upon
it, lay carefully locked within her desk.
The days passed slowly by. Miss
Mahala at first was buoyant and talked
much of her first literary achievement