Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-04-10

was TO allow an impOrtunate w0-
man to interfere with his mornings s
work.
, And his work that morning was
particularly heavy. He was the
editor of the Chatterer, paper
that bad not yet taken hold OF The
public fancy. He WAS convinced
/ that it would do 50 eventually
that is, If his funds lasted long
enough. Mranwhile he was doing
his best to turn out some attrac-
tive articles, and here was TINS
oman
\ timid knock at the door noti-
fed him that this woman was
close at hand.
Come IN ne said, In what he
prided himself to be his best edi
torial voice although he really
felt very aDgry.
The door opened and when he
| lDoked at the intruder he muttered
TO himself.
'P0etry-Or IL subscription list
Tie lady whO had thus braved
the lion in his den, as it were, was
neither Young nor pretty. She was
rather tall, though stopping some.
what and very dOwdy looking.
! Little cork.ccrew curls were hang
4 ing on each side of her face, which
was almost completely hidden Oy q
lbick veil.
pardon me for intrudlng in this
manner! she said in "A peculiarly
weak. falsetto VOICE, 'but | felt
that 1 must call upon you in per.
son, and l am extremely Obliged
to you for seeing me. l hope | do
not interrupt yOu in your work.
Not at ALL said Frank, alrily
q have one or two things waiting
to be doue, hut they are Of no con-
sequence. Won't you take a
chair?
Thauk you so much she repll.
ed. as she sat down very carefully
On a char with her back to the
window, at some distance from
Frank.
What can do for yOuN was
Franks question.
L Just called to ask lfyon vonld
be So good land she paused a~
she opened her hand bag aud drew
out fat brown paper parcel.
Il knew IT. mnttcred Frank ia
himself. Poetry!
Then, addressing his visitor III
the frmest tone he could command
he said:
Nly dear madam, | can assure
J Won that we have No roo % fol
poetry
ppoetry, SIM she sQneaked' AM
there was a tonch oil Indignation
almost in her voice. i woal
NOT think of offering yOn poetry
Frank thought there was jus
the slightest amount OF emphasis
on the 'lOa,i and he wondered
whether she was laughing at him
He wished he could see her face
bat owing to her position, with he
back to the light, added to be
thick veil, he could not distinguish
her features at all clearly.
NO, SIR she continued, 1 hav
here three short stories, which yo
will nnd emIuenliy SultaD'e TO
your paper, and an sure tn
lie, viii be appreciated by you
readers
Frank waS so u>,d to hear pee
pie speak iu similar praise OF tn !
Own work that the egotlNlca
, speech dld not at all surprise hll
as he replied;
i hope mat when the stories Al
p,blish0d other people will thln
as highly of your WORK as YOU d
YOURSELF
My wprkn she sald' Win
startled ar. Il did not say IN
they were my work AIN here q
/
b-halfofa a very dear friend OF mlI
to offer theSe stories for ynhr COZ
81 lrrariOn.'
Bat why take all that ironb.
Yoi should have posted them
ns. They would have teen cal
sull, considered
No. l wOnli not trust them
che post. 1 waited 10 seeyou pc
: sonally and glye Them 10 yon }
. your own haUds,' aud sul'ins th
. action to the word she advance
toward Frank and offered him Il
- parcel. He reluctantly took it froI
= her, exclAimlng:
Il am afraid | cannot prOmi
that they will be accepted. "
are over Gro yded with shO