Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-21
: JUNITA.'
"Well. what is it,"
"Lady To see you. sir"
"Ry appointmcnt:'

write.
Frank Hayler bounced away from
the telephone and flung himself into
his chair. muttering maledictiOns on
the heads 81 all ladies or 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 prcteXt. and he
was angry. But his anger was intcnsi-
fed as the telephone bell began to ring
again lie threw down his pen in
despair and rushed to the instrument,
shouting II lie top of his voice:
What is it,
every sorry. sir; lady won't 20 away.
Says she must see you. Shes waiting"
Let her wait" was Franks angry
rejoinder No" he added almost i'm
mcdiatcly. show her up"
He sighed 10 himself with 4 resigned
air. and. a he walked toward his
writing table. lie could not help think
Ing what Il fool he WAS to allow an i'm
mornings work
And his work that morning was par
ticularly heavy. He was tine editor
of the Chatterer. n paper that had not
yet taken hold of the public fancy. lie
was convinced that it would do SO
eventually is. if his funds lasted
long enough Meanwhile he was doing
he CITY p
ticles. and here was this woman
A timid knock at the door notified
him that this woman" was close at
hand.
'Come in he said in what he priicd
himself "a be his best editorial voice
although he really felt very angry.
The door opened and when he looked
at the intruder he muttercd 10 himself:
''Poetry-or a subscription list
The lady who had thus braved the
lion in his den. rs it were. was neither
young nor pretty. She was rather tall,
though STOPPING somewhat, and very
dowdy looking. Little cOrk-scrcw
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 am cX-
tremely Obliged to you for seeing me.
/ hope / do not interrupt you in your
work."
Not at ALL" said Frank arily. II
ho to 1,n
done, but they are of no consequence.
Won't you take chair"
Thank YOU so much" she replied,
as she ST. down very carefully on Il
chair with her back to the window, at
some distance from Frank.
"What can | do for you:" was
Franks question.
II just called to ask if you would he
so good" and she paused as she
opened her handbag and drew out a
fiat brown paper parcel
IL knew it," muttered Frank to him
self. Poetry
Then. addressing his visitor in the
firmest tone he could command, he
said:
y
that we have no room for poetry"
Poetry. sir" she squeaked. md
there WAS a touch of Indignation almost
I'm her voice. Il would not think of
Offering goa poetry"
Frank thought there was just the
slighteS; amount of emphasis on the
''you." and he wondered whether she
was laughing at him. He wished he
could Soc her face, but ewing 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. Il have
here three short stories, which yOu will
find eninently suitable for your pa
per. and / am sure that they Will be
appreciated by your readers"
Frank WAS 50 used to hear people
speak in similar praise of their own
work thai the egotisical speech die not
at all surprise him. as he rcplieo:
81 hope that when the stOrieg are
published other people will thiak as
highly OF your work as you do your
self"
"My work. she said. with startled
air Il dad not say that they were my
work. | am here on behalf of very
dear friend of mine to offer these sto-
rics for your consideration
But why take all that trouble. You
should have posted them to us They
would have been carefully considered
mo. would not trust them To the
post. | wanted TO see you personally
and give them to you in your Owl
hands, and. suiting the action to tn,
word, she advanced toward Frank aut
offered him the parcel. He reluctantly
took it from her. eXclaiming:
81 am afraid cannot promise tia
they will be accepted. We are over
crowded with short stories"
IL do not want you to promise that
All | ask IS that you will read them"
II Will read them, certainly.
''Thank you so much. This is yer,
r-fnd of --,rf Good r,orrjrv