Cherry County independent. (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 18??-1896, 1896-04-02
''JUNITA." . ="
"Well, what is it,"
Lady to see you, sir"
"By aDDointment?" 2"

Frank Hayler bounced away from
the telephone and flung himself into
his chair, muttering maledictions on
the heads of all ladies OF otherwise who
would insist upon calling or worrying
the life out Of busy editor, on what
they were pleased to term important
business.
That was the third time during the
morning that he had been rung up on
some utterly frivolous preteXt, and he
was angry. But his anger was intensi-
fed as the telephone bell began to ring
again. He threw down his pen in
despair and rushed to the instrument,
shouting at the top of his voice:
What is it?''
VERY sorry, sir; lady won't go away.
Says she must see you. She's waiting"
LET her wait" was Franks angry
rejoinder. NO" he added almost i'm
mediately. ''Show her up
He sighed to himself with resigned
air, and, as he walked toward his
writing table, he could not help think
ing what fool he was to allow an i'm
Fortunate woman to interfere with his
mornings work.
And his work that morning was par
ticularly heavy. He was the editor
of the Chatterer, a paper that had not
yet taken hold of the public fancy. He
was convinced that it would do so
eventually-that is, if his funds lasted
long enough. Meanwhile he was doing
his best to turn out some attractive ar
ticles, and here was this woman
A timid knock at the door notified
him that this woman" was close at
hand.
Come ill.," he said, in what he prided
himself to be his best editorial voice,
although he really felt very angry.
The door opened and when he looked
at the intruder he muttered to himself:
''Poetry-or a subscription list"
The lady who had thus braved the
lion in his den, as it were, was neither
young nor pretty. She was rather tall,
though STOPPING somewhat, and very
dowdy looking. Little cork-screw
curls were hanging on each side of her
face, which was almost completely hid
den by thick veil.
pardon me for intruding in this
manner" she said in peculiarly weak,
falsetto voice, but l felt that | must
call upon you in person, and l am eX-
tremely obliged to you for seeing me.
1 hope 1 do not interrupt you in your
WOrk?'
''Not at ALL" said Frank, airily. 81
have one or two things waiting to be
done, but they are of no consequence.
Won't you take a chair!'
Thank you so much" she replied,
as she sat down very carefully on a
chair with her back to the window, at
some distance from Frank.
What can l do for you?" was
Franks question.
Il just called to ask if you would be
so good" and she paused as she
opened her handbag and drew out
fiat brown paper parcel.
Il knew it." muttered Frank to him
self. ''Poetryw
Then, addressing his visitor in the
tirmest tone he could command, he
said:
"My dear madam, l can assure you
that we have no room for poetry
Poetry, sir!" she squeaked, and
there was touch of Indignation almost
in her voice Il would not think of
offering you poetry"
Frank thought there was just the
slightest amount of emphasis on the
''you," and he wondered whether she
was laughing at him. He wished he
could see her face, but owing to her
position, with her back to the light,
added to her thick veil, he could not
distinguish her features at all clearly.
NO, sir" she continued. 81 have
here three short stories, which you will
find eminently suitable for your pa
per, and l am sure that they will be
appreciated by your readers
Frank was so used to hear people
speak in similar praise of their own
work that the egotisical speech did not
at all surprise him. as he replied:
Il hope that when the stories are
published other people will think as
highly of your work as you do your
SELF
My work. she said. with startled
air. Il did not say that they were my
work. l am here on behalf Of very
dear friend of mine to offer these sto-
ries for your consideration
But why take all that trouble. You
should have posted them to us. They
would have been carefully considered"
mo. l would not trust them to the
post. l wanted to see you personally
and give them to you in your own
hands," and. suiting the action to the
word. she advanced toward Frank and
offered him the parcel. He reluctantly
took it from her. eXclaiming:
Il am afraid | cannot promise that
they will Ee accepted. We are over
crowded with short stories."
Il do not want you to promise that.
III | ask is that you will read them"
II will read them. certainly"