The Opelousas courier., 1897-03-13

copying. think 1t was q shame to spoil m,
nice looking manuscript, and I think Vol
ought to do something about it. Please lie
me hear from you.
Every truly yours.
"ELIzABETH HASTINGS PRATT
The associate editor laughed. "Poo1
little thing, it was a shame to spoil hel
poor little story!"
"Poor little. poor little! !" said the
editor mockingly. "she may be eight
feet tall, and old enough to be your
mother"
"No, she isn't. She is young and
plump and pretty, and she has dim.
pies and beseeching blue eyes. I in.
s1st that it was a shame to spoil he1
story"
The associate editor had the story
on his mind, evidently, for a few mo.
ments later he asked: "What was the
story? Do you know, Halsey?"
"Perhaps it was g spome-Lines to
a Pet Kitten for instance"
Nonsense. She called it a story.
Where is the manuscript book? 'PrsAt,
Elizabeth H. The Crime of Geof.
frey Halsmere.' Hump! Rather tragic.
Montgomery"--to the elerk-'sdid
you roll that manuscript when you re.
turned it?"
"Yes, it vas SO big that no envelope
would hold it,"
"You might have wrapped it. Hal
sey, don't you think we ought to make
Montgomery copy the story on the
typewriter"
Certainly, Bert, make him COPY it,
and You take the story to Elizabeth
Partt Hastings and make her acquaint.
and the editor made a raid on
Q fresh pile OF unsolicited manuscripts.
Bert, or more properly, Hubert
Marsh, dictated a letter to Miss Pratt,
promptly brought "The Crime
Of Godfrey Halsmere" to be copied.
MIR. Marsh stood over Montgomery
while he did it, and when it was
wrapped up, fiat, it was put in the
associate editors desk till that gentle.
man saw fit to return it.
"Have you returned Elizabeth Pratt
Hastings story?" Hslsey asked one
lay.
"Her name is Elizabeth Hastings
Pratt" said Bert, p%uttinga beautiful
point on his lead pencil. 81 think I
hall deliver the manuscript on Sat
have to pass through her
own on my way to Sister Annals. I
want to prove to you that E. IT. P. is
7oung. beautiful and dimpled."
"Tll wager anything you like that
he is tall, thin, and forty-two."
"Make it a hat, if youdon't mind; /
hall want one soon."
"Done. Monday morning you will
ete1rn quite chapfellen. J. shouldn't
ind having a hat myself"
On Saturday afternoon Mr.. Hubert
darsh arrayed himself with even more
han his usual care, and set out for
lister Annals, intending to stop at
Hiss Pratt's and deliver the story.
he neat maid who answered his ring
old him that he would find Miss Pratt
n the garden. He did. He found
'er not only in the garden, bat in the
'ammock. end he wished the editor
ould be there SO see how pretty she
ias. After q moment, however,
felt quite resigned to his chiefs
bsence.
Pardon me, but the maid directed
here" Bert began, with his most
ngaging smile. I'm the associate
ditor of the Epoch, and as I was pass.
lg through you.- town, ! thought I
'ould leave your manuscript-to
lake sure that it did not get rolled
gain he added playlully.
20, then you have returned it,"
llss Pratt clasped her hands in tragic
lshion. II did SO hope that some.
ling might happen to make you keep
! should think you might have
ept it. This may seem like a triaing
after to You, but it means a great
cal to me. I need money SO much"
he slipped out Of the hammock and
God before Bnrt in a supplicating
;titude. why can't you print it?
il so bad 2"
Bert felt that he was in o tight
ace, and he heartily wished that he
let Montgomery mail the story.
ut she was SO pretty!
well, you see that sort Of thing is
exactly in our llne," he began
mely.
What sort Of thing? You print
ories all the time. Is ittoo long, or
9 short. or too what?o
Decidedly, it was too what, Bert
ought, as he remembered some OF
description.
sit down please. and tell me all
out my little story. Take the big
air. Now we "a be comfortable
lille We talk
Comfortable Sc. Lawrence On !
ldiron was in bliss compared with /,
- IL the easy garden chair, as he
'srwaFds oonadsd 10 ths senior cal. ,
Il !
ars tho iaalts ii M ssosyf