Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-10-23


"Oh, what a bore!" sighed Mildred.
81 was just getting into the swing of
it," And she left the manuscript upon
her desk to be resumed later.
The matter of the chops disposed of,
there were other things requiring at
tention-
At last. however, she was at her desk
again. She read over the letter with
which her story opened to see how it
sounded. Really" said she, 81 think
that starts off very WELL" and then she
took up the broken thread. "Only your
self to blame that this marriage has"
A violent ringing at the telephone again
broke the current. HALO said our
young novelist
Mildred, is that your
Eyes. is it you, Alice?"
eyes. Mamma does not feel very well
and wishes you to take luncheon with
Us. She has sent the carriage. Be
ready to come as soon as it arrives" OBJ
viously no more authorship to-day. So
slipping her paper into the desk she
departed
The new purpose of authorship
brought a great light and hope into
Mildred's life. She pictured to herself
his reading her story, possibly review
ing it. after he has written all kinds
of nice things about it I will tell him
that 1 am the author;" Grand her
heart turned cold and sick-what if he
should say it was trash? For, of course,
| like other good critics, John was sell
dom pleased. If things were all excel
| lent, what would be the need of critics?
| So he had cultivated the art of discover
| ing flaws in what seemed to ordinary
readers pure gems. He had developed
rather a talent for pillorying people in
| a,
valued for his skill in beating down
with the editorial club tender young
! aspirants who were trying to make
| themselves heard. This sounds brutal.
But he was only professionally brutal.
III his personal characteristics none
could be more tender or sympathetic.
| Mildred knew of this caustic vein and
| believed it too-as she did also all of
Johns attributes and gifts-"but," she
thought, 'if he should say any of those
| dreadful things about me, what should
1 do? 1 should never-never-tellh him. -
And so during the entire day she
| thought and planned, new intricacies
of plot suggesting themselves-vivid
and interesting scenes coming before
her stimulated Imagination.
Her mother urged her remaining and
| sending for her husband to dine with
them. Her secret desire was to return,
! but she looked at her mothers wistful
face and had not the heart to refuse.
She would stay and send for John.
That gentleman arrived at home at
the usual hour. AS he put his latch
key into the door he smiled, thinking
of the quick which was listening for
it, and OF the pretty apparition which
would meet him in the hall. by Jove,
he thought, what lucky fellow 1 ami"
ha cd No
tn meet him. He was conscious of a
little chill of disappointment, and still
more as he wandered through the rooms
and found all silent and deserted.
He rang for the maid.
| where is your mistressP
''She is out, sir. There's note, sir,
somewhere" and she looked anXiously
about. "Oh, it is on her desk" said she
with returning memory, starting to go
for it.
NO matter, 1 will get it," and John
turned his impatient steps toward his
wife's room. There was no note on the
desk, and quite naturally he opened the
lid. His eyes were riveted upon the
words before him:
Dear Frank-I return herewith the
letters which have no longer any right
to keep. 1 need not tell you what it
| costs me-
He felt as if his blood were turned
into ice.
Il have reflected much upon what
you said yesterday"
yesterday! John felt as if he were
going mad. "Yesterday!"-and he had
SO trusted her! The room had grown
black, and a great sledge hammer was
beating at his brain, but he read on
upon what you said yesterday, but
am at last resolved. 1 will not see you
: | again. Any attempt to make me break
/ this resolve will be fruitless. GOO
knows you have only yourself to blame
, that this marriage has"
John stood for a few moments as il
T turned into stone, his face blanched
, his muscles tense. Then ray of hope
. ! seemed to come to him. There is NJ
signature; it is not hers" He locke
: again. How could he doubt it'll He
+ knew too well the turn of every letter
I He was alternately livid with rage ano
| =