The San Francisco call., 1898-04-04

yielded to Who'd Be a Woman!' oe- ferring to her age and experience.
 "Why, do you know, l was so sure or being accepted-it gave me sucn SHOCK to be returned-that I almost lost my senses was in fury, too. suppose was very vain, but you see l was ms first. and he was so proud or me! But I forgot my own feelings when got home Oh, the humiliation, the shame, the bitter disappointment he felt! l shall never forget it. I felt guilty myself, and only kept up my courage by bragging to myself about what would do if he gave me another chance"
 And did he-and what then?" asked ''In Our Iown.
 There's no need to ask,' said Who'd Be a Woman?" with simple dignity. Would I be here if"
 ''Yes. that's true," murmured "In Our Town
 'You've never been submitted: where are you going? Do you know?" asked Another Mans Wife.
 ''To Scribner's. I believe"
 They'll never accept you. was sent to Scribners and"
 "Yes, but" began "In Our Town" but you-you're about
 Well" said Another Mans Wife" hotly, suppose I am? Are the magazines
  stories appear in them exclusively for the jeunes files, with not even department for mature minds?"
 There was an embarrassed silence and no answer to her questions.
 Here comes Joel Morrison" said the "Penance of 4-eter,'' relieved ct a diver sion. Hes been gone long time. Sorry to see you, Joel"
 Sorry to see you" he answered, cor foJ1, r Ioft how. can't help having hopes or you.'
 Neither can l." sighed ''The Penance of Peter." Anything newT
 No; same old story. They didn't even read me through. Missed the best part: that which pleased him so. 'Pon my word, 1t isn't worth wasting postage stamps on us. We're a measly crowdp' he said, despondently.
 "Ohp" broke in in Our Town" ''you wouldn't have him abandon hope-you wouldn't have him stop writing?"
 ''Why not?" asked Joel Morrison"
 "Because-because3
 Because you wouldn't get your chance? Never fear! You'll be sent to join that pale paper caravan which moves on to the magazine offices in myriad squadrons. only to bout face and home singly again. I do hope though, you'll be the excep- tion," he concluded, generously.
 ''Oh, if I should!' she exclaimed. "It would be a beginning, and then he might revise"
 Revise! Why, I'm the shadow of what I used to be-" said "The Story of Ag- atha.''
 And I'm so swollen with new material I no longer know myself" said "Faraway Ferguson"
 Hes never touched me-" said '"The Penance of Peter.''
 "Nor me-" said Adrian, the Musician" ''Wonder whose turn will come next? No, Tn Our Town you may wait here weeks yet. Some fancy will seize him that Peter hasn't had a fair chance, or that Joel there is too good to keep, or that somewhere some one dwells and pub fishes magazine who can judge Another Mans Wife with artistic Hberality, or he may
 Hush! Listen!" whispered "The Story of Agatha"
 The noise of continuous scratching permeated the desks lid.
 He's writing another!" "In Our Town" gasped. pale with disappointment.
 Well, like his gr.., remarked "Joel Morrison"
 "Wonder what it'll be about? We're all so different, said Adrian the Musi- cian.'
 ''All so alike, you mean" sarcastically interrupted "Faraway Ferguson"
 How? In what?" demanded an indig- nant chorus.
 Tn our unavailability," he answered, tartly.
 There was universal rustling sigh.
 Perhaps this one-'
 ''Yes, perhaps this one"
 'Ohl if-'
 A silence followed, broken only by the rapid, steady scratching of the pen above. Inside the drawer the folded MSS. lay, hushed and prayerful.
 MIRIAM MICHELSON.