The Van Buren press., 1896-01-18
f" JUNITA." "

LADY to see you, SIR"
"By appointment"
mo, sir; but very important, she
says"
"very sorry. Too busy-ask her to
write"
Frank Hayler bounced away from
the telephone and flung himself in his
chair, muttering maledictions on the
heads of 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 friyilous pretext, and he
was angry. But his anger was intensi-
fled as the telephone bell began to ring
again. lie threw down his pen in de-
spair, 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 re-
joinder NO. he added, almost imme-
diately. "Show her up"
lie sighed to himself with resigned
air, and as he walked toward his writ
ing table he could not help thinking
what fool he was to allow an impor-
tunate woman to interfere with his
mornings work.
And his work that morning was par
ticularly heavy. He was the editor of
the Chatterter, a paper that had not yet
taken hold of the public fancy. He was
convinced that it would do so eventual
ly-that is, If his funds lasted long
enough. Meanwhile, he was doing his
best to turn out some attractive arti-
cles, 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 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 him
self:
''Poetry-or 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 Little cork-screwe
were hanging on each side of her face,
which was almost completely hidden
by thick veil,
"Pardon me for intruding in this
manner" she said, in a peculiarly fall
setto voice, ''but felt that l must call
upon you in person, and am extremely
obliged TO you for seeing me. hope
do not interrupt you in your workT
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 chair?"
Thank you so much" she replied as
she sat down very carefully on chair,
with her back to the window, at some
distance from Frank.
"What can do fer you?" was Franks
question.
Il just called to ask if you would be
SO good" and she paused as she opened
her hand bag and drew out a fiat brown
paper parcel.
Il knew it," muttered Frank to him
self. 'Poetryl"
Then, addressing his visitor in the
firmest tone he could command, he
said:
MY dear madam, l can assure you
that we have no room for poetry"
Poetry. sirln she squeaked, and
there was touch of Indignation almost
in her voice. Il would not think of Of
fering you poetry"
frank thought there was just the
slightest amount of emphasis on the
'you," and he wondered whether she
was laughing at him. lie wished he
could see her face, but owing to her po-
sition, with her back to the light, added
TO her thick veil, he could not dis
guish her features at all clearly.
mo. sir" She continued. Il have here
three short stories, which YOU will find
eminently suitable for your paper. 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 egotistical speech did not
at all surprise him, as he replied:
II hope that when your 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. / am here on behalf of a very
! dear friend Of mine TO offer these stories
for your consideration.
but why take all that trouble? You
should have posted them TO us; they
would have been carefully considered. -
"No, 1 would not trust them to the
post. / 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