The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-04-20

could hear his slow, even tread on The
stairs. Perhaps he was only going tC
leave Mrs. Warren's mail, on the fool
below. But, no he was coming on
up the second flight. The girls heart
beat violently. He must not find hei
waiting there, and she sped noiseless,
ly to the window.
Rap-tapl
With a sinking heart Bertha saw the
large envelope in the carriers out
stretched hand; but she smiled a'
brightly and said, ooh, thank your
as heartily as if she had not known
that the brown wrapper covered the
story on which she had builded SC
many hopes.
The corners of her mouth dropped
with the shutting of the door. So il
had come back-after these weeks ot
weary suspense! 81 did think they
would take It'll" she said to herself
tearing open the envelope. She
glanced at the printed declinatior
blank, and there was slight curl oi
the pretty lips. With an impatient
gesture she tossed the package from
her. "There is no usel" she said
"If they won't take that, they won't
take anything-from mel" She gazed
stolidly out of the window. For six
weeks this story had been her forlorn
hope. Never had the future looked SC
dark as now. Alone in the world,
with fourteen dollars in her purse,
and no visible way of obtaining more
that was he rpresent situation.
Bertha Wayne's first attempts in
writing had been fairly successful.
That was three years ago. Then had
come the financial depression which
had been SO far.reaching, and for the
last twelvemonth the only market she
had found for her literary wares had
been most unsatisfactory. The man
whom she had counted as her best
editorial friend had died, and the new
editor had his own corps of contribu-
tors. Stories and poems which a
year ago would have brought liberal
checks were now returned to her with
politely-worded circulars. Publishing
firms that were her debtors collapsed
without warning, and for two months
she had not had a single article ac-
cepted. It would have required a
stouter heart than hers to have met
these days without quailihg. For
weeks she had felt physically and
mentally incapable of continuing the
fight. Now she told herself, "I might
as we'll give it mp first as lastp'
Thinking her bitter thoughts, she
looked down on the hurrying throngs.
"All with something to dor she said.
"But for me there is nothing-noth-
ing! There's that ugly little doctor
again!"
Her eyes rested on young man
alighting from carriage. He was be-
low the medium height, slender and
boyish, with face that was unde.
niably plain. Having fastened his
horse, he swung a yellow bag from the
vehicle, and passed within doorway.
"He is a success" muttered Bertha
jeslously. 'Only a little while ago
he was footing it all over town. Now
he drives everywhere. Well, he's a
man-and smart, Isuppose; he isugly
enough to be! 1 am only girl.
What's the use of living anyhow!'
At last she went to her writing; but
her mind was distraught, and the
story Jagged. 1t is not easy to build
q happy romance when ones heart is
aching.
Day after day Bertha Wayne wasted
her precious pennies on paper and
postage, hoping against hope. Days
of work and worry were succeeded by
wakeful, weary nights, until nature
had her revenge. One evening the
girl dragged herself home from the
post Office and crawled up the long
flights of stairs, only to faint at the
door of her room. Miss Winslow, the
little dressmaker across the hall,
found her on the floor.
''It is nothing" Bertha said, trying
to reassure both herself and hel
frightened neighbor. 81 am only
tired. shall be better in the morn
ing"
But she was not better in th. morn
ing. On attempting to arise, she
barely escaped another faint; and Miss
Winslow insisted ON summoning g
physician.
DIR. Halberta was of splendid pro-
portions,-tall, erect, broad shoul.
dered. AS he stood in the doorway, his
strikingly handsome features lighted