Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-17
THE END OF THE STORY.
BY Elizabeth A. Moore.

Journal sat gloomily in his Office,
frowning heavily and biting viciously
at his mustache.
Things stood in this way. The edi-
tor in chief had been called hastily
away, leaving Hugh Elliot in charge;
and, as that young man was ambitious.
this had been much to his delight.
Before leaving the editor had placed
before Hugh the matter to be used in
the next issue, including the conclu-
sion of story begun the previous
week. This story it was which had
proved the snare to Hugh.
On looking over it he discovered to
his dismay, that the final pages were
missing. He had looked for them an2-
iously, but in vain-hence the confu-
sion about the desk. The story could
not be left unfinished, neither could he
take it upon himself to substitute an
other. Suddenly his brow cleared, and
good natured smile lit upon his
face.
'Ha, the countrys saved!" he ex-
claimed. iii write an end to the
hanged thing myself"
Brushing aside the cluttering papers,
he placed what there was of the hang
ed thing" before him.
He laughed to himself as his ever too
ready sense of the ridiculous caught
the humor of the situation.
Evidently the personages in the story
were approaching a crisis. The charac-
tiers who seemed to be the most prom
inent were TALL dark man and short
light one beautiful young lady end
peculiar parsonage named Nosmo King,
who seemed to be treated by all with
exceedingly familiarity.
Hugh pondered over the situation
and vainly endeavored to find the nat
ural ending of it all. He had not read
the first part, and consoled himself by
hoping that very few others had. 1t
occurred to him to read it now, but as
luck would have it, copy of the last
issue was not at hand, and he did not
take the trouble to look one up, think
ing, gloomily, that quite likely 1t
wouldn't be any help if he had it; and
then, too, he thought longingly of the
club grounds.
Things went swimmingly now. Each
remarks and went off the stage. The
beautiful young lady had pathetic In
terview with the light man, in which
they resolved to part. The tall, dark
man. who was no doubt the villain, as
villains we're always darA in stories ESQ
Hugh reasoned), and, of course, no
story was complete without one, made
some malicious remarks about retribu-
ton and vengeance, and bowed himself
off with all the smiles and grace that
accomplished villains are supposed to
possess. Then Nosmo King sang a
touching song and ended the whole
thing with a general remark on the
vanity of life, and the story closed,
leaving the heroine in a swoon.
The manuscript, thus artificially COM
pleted, was handed in with the other
materials for the next issue of the
Journal and then Hugh put the desk
in order, and, much elated by his sue
cess as an author, started for the club
grounds.
The paper came out on time with
every department up to its usual stand
ard of excellence. Hugh read his part
congratulating himself on having so
successfully gotten out of hole" as
he expressed it, when the unexpected
happened in that peculiar way 1t has of
doing.
The unexpected in this case came in
the shape of a young lady, who walked
into the office the day after the paper
came out and demanded of Mr. Elliot
to see the editor.
Hugh was not unaccustomed to the
sight of young ladies'; neither was he
accustomed to such peculiar mingling
of chills and apprehension and thrills
of admiration as he experienced when
this particular young lady appeared on
the scene.
She was a sweet-looking girl, in q
dainty toilet Of pink that suited her
brown eyes and hair to perfection. But,
in these same brown eyes was an omin-
Gus look that called into existence the
chills OF apprehension which he was
also forced to acknowledge.
''I regret to say the editor is out of
town." replied Hugh, courteously, and
most truthfully.
lnuctus anu may L dSh WHO Is tdhluB
his placer"
Here the chills of apprehension rose
high In the ascendant, as the coming
event cast its shadows before"
II have the honor" he answered,
wishing heartily all the honor there
was in it belonged to anybody else.
Then ii is you have to thank for
so altering the story published yester-
day that even its author can scarcely
recognize 1t. May / ask If you con-
slider your alterations an improve
ment?"
This was, then. as he had guessed.
the author of that unended story.
II must explain" he said. you
see, the last pages Of the manuscript
were missing. Unfortunately, / had
not read the first part of the story, be-
ing so rushed with tennis, though it
was not necessary to explain that,
"and so had to guess at the ending.
am exceedingly sorry about 1t, but 1t
could not be left unfinished, and as the
end could not be found there was moth
ing else to do. Any amends that can
be made will be done most gladly, as
sure you.
You are very kind. What amends