Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-11-18
would tell Tommy frankly just how the

said ~ 'r',a tho ,,,Iy ono If fhn h,vs 7
care for hrt Won 500 Tn,,,mv c,r,t
tLinl. = r,,,.,-;,,.,, i,,.t ,,,,,,. >,
"\yhy unI =. n,: al ,rnmriv :, liz To- hrn-
tc,,Iv
"It.. ,Li. ,,.,,. ,,..,..,,,,. yo,, l.,,c,,. r.,
fond Of wrilin., nnd-snJ Tm ,rttipr n
rood d,ol If ru,,l. ,.,c,ncnt Ard - Girl
who h,,,rs +, IN. ,,rr,t in Htrrnturn cnn't
afford to--tu marry. PERTAINS il w,ull
snnil l,rr. ,,hulr corrcr''
"Wn,,ld it, said Tommy dolcfullv.
eyes. Tommy. And So. Won see, before
I really make mn NV mind to marry
must first find ont v.hot my chances AFRO
for making great literary name"
"N-iu il tokr long Nnrvy"
81 dou't Eu,v Tnmmv Pint of courso
I couldn. n.k Won to wnit''
"Ill wait" said Tommy docgcdly.
And There the mottcr rested Tommy
romr ,s rrpulorlv rs before and tho old
folks wondered why he didn't sneak. for
Mary kept her own counsel and went on
with her RHYMES and her stories and plov
One afternoon Mary rolled ND part Of
her manuscript and, in her white ru(flcd
outfit, with bit of rouge on either cheek,
started for The Mcraphonc office. She
hadn't been there for ten DAYS or so. and
she felt that she was SADLY in need of in.
spiration.
When she stepprd into the managing
editors room, breathing quickly after the
long climb. she found a stranger at the
desk.
I'm looking for Mr.. Waldcck," she
faltcringlv said.
The stranger raised his head. He was
n sharp faced. nervous man with glasses,
and hi, enumeration was startlinrly uuick
and precise.
Not hprc-gonc to St. Louis" he snap-
ned II take his place. Wish to see
him pcrsonallv?"
eyes" said Mary Burns, with a sink
Ing heart. She felt she had lost a good
friend.
Sorry. May not come back at all
General shake ND all around. Want his
addrrsS?''
IL am contributor" said Mary
with an effort. mfr. Waldeck was kind
enough to say that NV writing gave
great promise of future excellence"
Eth! That's lust like Waldcck. Con
tributions all go through my hands now.
You know. What have YOU got 2" and he
threw n frowning glance in the direction
of Mary'S manuscript. Mary blushcd as
she handed it to him. He oprned it
quickly and ran his eve down the page.
"Poctry. rh?'
He read rapidlv, stopped. stared hard
at Mary, churklcd slightly and went on
with his reading.
"Mr. Waldcck thought very we'll of nv
work. and so did some of the other
Mcgaphonr gentlemen" said Mary, to
whom the suspense was growing very
painful.
The new editorial manager looked ND.
I'm little afraid" he said, with n
sharp glance that took in the fincry, the
rouge. the frizzcs and all, that Waldcck
and the boys were giving YOU n carefully
planned Jolly. Here, tell me about this
poem. How does it average ND with YOUR
ether work?"
81 thought" said Mary :aintly. that
it was one of the best things | have writ
ten II took me three weeks to write il -
We'll" said the new manager, I'm
going to do YOU a favor I'm going to
give you an honest criticism on these
lines. You've been led on and fooled by
Wnldcck and his funny gang. | can see
it all. or course, YOU couldn't see it.
Perhaps you will before | get through.
Now, these lines of yours are not poetry
at ALL They are merely RHYMES, and bad
ones at that. There isn't really poet
zeal idea in them. The sentiment is maud
lin and the expression crude. The only
lines that have ANYTHING like the true ring
to them are lines YOU have borrowed. The
fact is. my girl. you have simply wasted
three good weeks that couldn't have been
more fooliShly employed There. I've
been true friend to YOU. I've tried to
undo the mischief that Waldeck did
Probably YOU won't believe Il word I've
snid. Take your stuff. and goodby."
manuscript into her hand. Her lip trem-
bled a little. and all the natural color had
gone ont of her checks.
"Then you think" she slowly said, and
there was touch of plaintive appeal
in her tone-"thcn you think there is no
promise of better things in thcse-thesc
yrlseS?"
"Not Il PARTICLE" replied the stranger,
with brutal frankness. Don't imagine
anything of the kind. Try to take my
word for it," He laughed short, hard
laugh. I've been writing slush myself,
on the quiet. for the last 20 years. Lock
upon me as companion failure. S,
what it brings a man to. Good day
again"
"Thank YOU" said Mary Burns as she
slowly passed out into the hall and went
YEARLY down the stairs.
She believed every word the stranger
had said. She was the easy victim of a