Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-10-12

weekly. Jesse Arnold was closing his
ONCE and abe met him Just outside the
door. She inquired for him and he stepped
back into his paper bestrewn den and mo.
toned her to follow.
II am Jesse Arnold" he said, in that
still way which he habitually adopted
when addressing strangers. "What IL 1t
yOu wish to see me about?"
AT lis best the editor was not Q good
looking man, and that day. when he stood
between her and the window, where the
full beams Of the evening sun poured In
and seemed to cxaggcrate every defect Of
his person from the most upright end Of
his short, straight black hair to his dispro.
portionatcly large feet, he was painfully
conscious that his loosely knit body and
swarthy complexion never appeared to
worse advantage.
She took In the details Of the room and
the general makeup Of It's occupant with
one comprehensive sweep Of her clear,
blue eyes, and then said, simply:
II am Esther Lindsay. II Il does not
Inconvenience you should like to talk to
you little while about this last letter you
wrote me-"
There was but trace Of bis former re-
serve left and hc took her hand impul.
sively.
II en- glad to sec you," he said, with
smile-the best part Of Jesse Arnold was
his smile-'nrc you willing to let me be
your doctor and to take my prescriptions
faitl,fullyw
"No," she said, flushing slightly under
his close scrutiny, IL don't think I am. I
don't think can. You don't understand"
she went ON earnestly, encouraged by bis
look Of friendly interest. III don't suppose
there ere any men that are absolutely per.
feet, but I have my ideal OF what man
should be and put him body and soul
into my ''Story of the Steamer Kcndrick."
don't think TINT I am over optimistic
when ray that believe with oil my heart
that such men live and that you and have
met them and can point them out"
He shook his head In quiet controver.
sion Of her theory. She waited moment
for him to speak, then exclaimed iinpa-
tiently:-
"Well, why don't yon say something ?"
"Because," he answered, leaning far
back In his cresking chair and clasping
his hands behind his head, II sec quite
plainly that whatever argument may pre-.
sent Il will only antagonixe you. You may
know such men Us you depict; l do not,
and my experience has been infinitely
more varied than yours. know you will
not heed me, but repeat that II will not
pay to live In . world peopled only by
ideals. You must associate with the real.
Take some man Of your acquaintance;
study him; take human nature for your
model, and you will be on the right track"
"You have only one view, and, though
Il may he right, feel as though I should
be giving mp the best part Of myself to
sacrlhce my opinion to yours" she said.
with that touch OF wisdom she had lately
assumed. "Cut suppose" she continued,
"that II my stories are up to the standard
YOU will not decline them on account OF
chat one technicality."
He smiled again. "No," he said, mot
on that account"
To have on, article printed, even
though Il Ike In the Ironton Inland Weekly,
does not give unques.ioncd entree Into tho
columns Of every other periodical In the
country, and for many months after the
appearance Of her first story Esther Lind.
say plodded YEARLY over her literary way,
which was an uphill, sinuous path. A
score Of unfortunate tales were added to
the unpublished library . the bureau
drawer before she found an outlet for her
ideas o second time. Then followed five
wears OF ups and downs. No literary as
p,rant ever had Q more jealous guardian
thuu she had In Jesse Arnold. He exulted
In every victory she achieved and dcplored
! every defeat she met rs kecnly o. though
Il had been his own, and then one day
when some unexpected ill.luck made her
despair Of trying to push ON further In the
course she had mapped out for herself he
capped the climax Of Ills sympathy and
interest BY asking her to marry him.
1t was q surprise to her and she promptly
refused him.
II never expected thls from YOU" shs
said. trying TO temper his dismissal with Q
kind an apology, ''y0u know me 10 we'll.
You may call me q dreamer, an idiot, II
YOU like, but have my ideal still, and un.
less I lind him In real life ! shall never
marry"
.,l;m afraid you win always stay single
then" he reioined, sharply. ~ thought,
Judging by your latter writing, that you
had commenced to hold common sense
views on some things, but l suppose am
mistaken. You may change your mind
yet"
..You shall never know It II I do" she
Jared out, angrily, and that ended tue
first chapter Of their own romance.
The outcome Of his pre-. matrimonial
venture had been bitter disappointment
to Jesse Arnold. lie went back TO tue
Office OF tho Ironton Inland Weekly and
tried to deaden his grief Ia the duties and
responsibilities devolving upon the editor
in chief Of q great publication. and sue.
realizing something OF how deeply sue had
wounded him, tried 10 forget her pity 10!
him and to work out her salvation, and
him a. well, by writing with rem ewed en-
erry. Gradually her stories took ON I
tone OF reality aud broad sympathy with
humanity, and gradually her merit begsr
70 receive general recognition. She nevel
Amt any OF her work to the Inland Week
, " for publication after that one unhappy
incident which, left the friendship that hac'
existed between her aud Its editor partial
" wrecked, and he only knew her pro
gress through the magazines, to which SUI
lad 1t last become frequent contributor
He watched with particular interest TIN
evolution Of the character OF her heroes
The June issue Of well known month!
contained Q story that made his pulse
! throb and culver with hope and Joy. III
. left the Inland Weekly In charge OF . sub
{ ordinate for few days, and went DOW
70 zee Esther Lindsay. -,