Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-04-02

IA
EHlIWl v IA}as4 appeared at tho
tiW WNR M 800 entrance She I
WNfl Nh ik283 crossed the room.
MJH'NN '//BGy$ and opened her
StTVcNJ door crack. she
could hear his slow, even tread on the
stairs. Perhaps he was only going 20
leave Mrs Warren's mail, on the floor
below. But, no he was coming on
up the second flight The girls heart
beat violently. lie must not fad her
waiting there, and she sped noiseless-
IL 20 the window.
Rap-tap.
With q sinking heart Bertha saw the
large envelope II the carriers out
stretched hand: but she smiled as
brightly and said. "Oh, thank your
rs heartily "a If she had not known
that the brown wrapper covered the
story on Which she had builded 50
many hopes.
The corners OF hex month dropped
with the shutting OF the door. SO 1t
bal come back-after these weeks Of
weary suspensei Il did think they
would take it" she said to herself.
tearing open the enVelOpe. She
glanced at the printed declination
blank, and there was "a slight curl OF
the pretty lips. With an inpatient
gesture she tossed the package from
her. There is no USE" she said.
"If they won't take that, they won'i
take anything-from mel" She Gazed
stolidly out OF the window. For Sly
weeks this story had been her forlorr
hope. Never had the future looked Sc
dark rs now. Alone in the world
with fourteen dollars in her purse
and no visible way of obtaining NOR,
that was he rpresent situation.
Bertha Wayne's first attempts il
writing had been fairly successful
That was three years ago. Then ha'
come the financial depression whicl
had been SO ar.reaching. and for ia
last twelvemouth the only market sh
had found for her literary wares ha
been most unsatisfactory. The ma
whom she had counted as her hes
editorial friend had died. and the ne'
editor had his own corps of contribu
tors. Stories and poems which
year ago would have brought hberl
checks were now returned 10 her wit
politely-worded circulars Publishin
firms that were her debtors collapse
without warning, and for two month
she had not had single article ~
cepted 1t would have required
stoutcr heart than hers 70 have IN,
these days without Quailing +,
weeks she had felt physically al
mentally incapable of continuing Il
fight Now she told herself, Il mig
as we'll give it mp first as last
Thinking her bitter thoughts, 5,
looked down on the hurrying thvcng
"All with something 10 dor she sal
''But for me there il nothing-not
ing There's that ugly little doct
again
Her eyes rested on young m
alighting from a carriage. He was I
low the medium height, slender a
boyish, with a face that was unl
niably plain. Having fastened
horse, he swung a yellow bag from t
vehicle, and passed within a doorwl
che is a success" muttered Bert
jealously. "Only a little while a
he was footing it oil over town. n
he drives everywhere Well, he's
man-and smart, 1 suppose; he is u
enough 10 be! 1 am only a g
What's the use of living anyhow"
At last she went 20 her writing;
her mind was distraught, and
story Jagged. 1t is not easy TO bu
happy romance when ones heart
aching.
Day after dly Bertha Wayne was
her precious pennies on paper a
postage, hoping against hope. d.
of work and worry were succeeded
wakeful, weary nights, until nat
had her revenge. One evening
girl dragged herself home from
post Office and erawled up the h
fights of stairs, only to faint at
door of her room. Miss Winslow,
little dressmaker across the b
found her on the floor.