Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-17


want it to be wasted. Anything with his
name on it would sell, and SO he wrote all
he could and used up good deal Of old
stuff that nobody would buy before he got
to be famous
"All recognized geniuses do that" said l.
We'll, he died." continued Mrs. Graves,
land there we were. 1t came upon us very
suddenly
I'VE had hoped he might pull through"
said Grandfather Graves.
Did he have any literary assistance be-
fore-before he died?" asked.
NO" responded Mrs. Graves. HE was
always saying that he would find some one
but he never did. When the poor, dear boy
was gone We buried him in the Peters GEN.
etery. But we couldn't let his name perish
with him. I appeal to you. sir: could WEI"
Remember that he had very large
family" said Grandfather Graves.
1T was a trying situation" 1 admitted
What did you do?"
I'VE sent for my nephew Clarence" re-
piled Mrs. Graves.
'He Is the young man who personated
the Greenville doctor. 1 suppose?' said I.
Yes: that was Clarence" Mrs Graves
responded. He was working in a machine
shop in Boston before he came up here.
didn't know how he would do, but there
was nobody else in the family whom we
could trust. Clarence had had a good edu-
cation, and l remembered that he had tried
to get work on newspaper at one time
Then, too, Bertram had cnce had letter
from him, and he said it was a master.
piece"
He wanted to borrow hundred dollars
said Grandfather Graves.
I'VE got him up here soon as we
could,' the lady continued, without notfcins
the interruption. land I've been paying hin
SO week ever since. He's written pow.
or of stories in the last nine months. He
took naturally to Bertram's handwriting
and besides we got him a typewriter, which
has helped him 4 good deal"
At this moment l heard peculiarly hoi-
low and mournful groan. Turning quickly
| perceived Clarence Graves, who had soft.
ly stepped out upon the veranda. His hair
vas in that disorder which seemed natura
to it, and / observed that spot upon the
right side of his head was nearly bald. As
my eve rested upon the spot, he rubbed il
with a despairing gesture that seemed tc
be habitual with him.
Il wish you'd left me in Boston, he cried
out to Mrs. Graves. q wish 1 was work
ing in a machine shop at dollar a day
What had l done that the Lord should
make a writer out of me?''
Tell ME, my young friend" said l, was
it you whom / heard Sroaning in the north
ICON last night?'
of course it was" he answered. do
ever do anything else but groan? I was
just finishing story. But what's the use:
Ones no sooner done ahan another's be-
gun
1t is the curse of literature" said I. "By
The way, that was clever letter you wrote
to me-
"oh. that was nothing" he rejoined
Forgery is easy enough. and it don't liz
on my conscience. But stories"
He ended the sentence with a groan.
And now you know ALL said Mrs
Graves.
"Oh, please don't tell on u.s. cried Mrs
Dyer.
'If you do we shall all go to the poor
house." added Grandfather Graves.
DO not be alarmed" l FASTENED to say
II int
commercial arrangements AS 1 am in the
business myself. it would be distinctly un-
professional. Otherwise, the case has nc
moral aspect 1 have never held it wrong to
deceive the public, and to cheat a publisher
is e virtue. I shall simply recommend some
additional precautions and then / shall say
20 more on that matter. But there is a
point upon which must insist. Miss Emily
Dyer is a most deserving young woman
and"
You would recommend an allowance ]
suppose?' said Mrs. Graves.
Shall we say $50 a week?' suggested
Grandfather Graves groaned and Mrs
Graves protested, but what was the use!
had them in my power. The contract was
drawn up and signed. 1 call it the treaty
of Dyer's farm. There is a stipulation that
an affeetionate letter shall accompany each
remittance; and l may say here that the
terms of the agreement are being faithfully
fulfilled. Emily, of course, is not in the
secret. Indeed, she knows nothing of my
connection with her good fortune. She will
marry the lanky young artist soon, and
may Providence make him worthy of her.
/ have not visited the farm again, but
keep an eye on current fiction. and Ber-
tram Dyer'S name continues to hold Its
place. Some of his stories strike me as a
bit mechanical, but perhaps if 1 did moi
know that Clarence had worked in a ma
chine shop l should not remark it. Afte,
all, criticism is so much affected by
knowledge Of a writer's personality! 1t n
very unfortunate that writers are moi
known simply by numbers. Their portraits
ard biographies might be kept at head
quarters, but they oughtn't to get into pub,
lie prints. That Is an offense to Art, which
l always write with a capital letter.