St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-10-18

and so | interiered. The night
watcher who is a very estimable
woman glad OF the work, sits in an
adjoining room, and If my wife, in
the darkness and silence, grasps an
idea or a phrase worthy Of being
crystallized, she taps bell, and the
woman, paper and pencil in hand
enters. am sorry to say she writes
an uncommonly poor hand, and
some few things have been lost
through being illegibe. But any
thing is better than that my wife
should sacrifice her health"
had kept my eyes on the floor
during this explanation, and covered
my moustache with my hand. Why
had fate dealt so kindly with me? |
asked myself. Petersen, in his youth,
was as sane as |, and far more clever
and attractive. But the present cri-
sis pressed heavily upon me. He, in
his simplicity, had no conception OF
the horror of my position nor of the
absurdity Of his. The law of COM
pensation was, after all, in force. At
last said
Petersen, sorry as am to refuse
you, | must decline the honor you
would do me. | cannot look over
this manuscript. | am not well. l
am going away for month. When
return YOU will have it published,
and | will read it, | assure you. But
now should not do it justice"
The resolution to fly seized me
when found it typewriter. Many
things may happen to written
manuscript. 1t is often impossible
to decipher it, Water ruins tor it
can, as in the case of CarlyIe's French
Revolution, be accidentally burned.
But type written one there is no
escape from. 1t is usually one copy
out of six, But Petersen was not to
be put off by this. saw in his eye a
determination, persistence, the
| glare of resolution before which
felt myself growing pale and begin
ming to tremb'e with a presentment
of defeat.
Take it with YOU" he exclaimed.
"She will have no one look it over
but yourself. Your opinion, your
praise, your criticism-these are the
crucial test. She is sure OF the world
when your verdict is pronounced.
She can survive all other censure
when YOU have set the seal of appro'
baton upon her work"
would have said that had never
done such a thing, and could not
now begin. But alas! in the old sus.
pecting DAYS, | had Dragged to hel
of several books submitted to my
criticism before they were published
Petersen" | said, making onelast
desperate, yet, felt feeble and iuet
fectual effort, would it not be indeli
cate for me to criticise, and above al
praise, a book for which 1 am, yor
say, in a measure, responsibility
Not bit OF it, " he cried. Thank
YOU, dear fellow, and God bless you
l knew you would doN this for us there
were tears in his eyes. No one
knows that you had anything to dc
with its inspiration but yourself
Take it with you, and take your
time about it. Amonth is not long
He seized his hat and made for the
door. After it had closed behind
him, he opened it again and stuck in
his head.
ooh! say, old chap, I hope you'll
have no end of a good time while
you're away. Good luck to you.
hope you'll soon feel better. Assoor
as YOU finish with the manuscript
send it to me by express, and then
I'll take to your publisher.
As | hear his receding footsteps
and glance at the opening page o:
his wife's manuscript (Which | in
spired!) l feel that two alternatives
are before me. One, of course, is sui
eide, which is not, am convinced, q
very dreadful fate. Death, when one
can choose the method. and make il
as painless as possible. is not the
worst thing that can happen to 6
man. The other is more doubtful
for the future, and yet is to be con
sidered. There is a young lady or
the next block, plain in looks, witt
no talents of any kind, cannot EN-
broider, but does know how to sew
on buttons and broil a beefsteak
who might, think, he persuaded to