The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-16
The Authors.

She flushed at the egotism of her words,
| and handed her aunt a printed circular
| which set forth the fact that the Writer'S
association Intended to meet at Clinton,
| Iowa, for purposes artistic and sociaole,
and Mary Bell Duncan, otherwise 'Bry-
ant Hawley," was invited as a represen-
tative Western writer to be present.
Miss Mathilda Duncan, being a kindly
woman, endeavored to appreciate the
qualification of her niece. Writing had
always seemed rather a singular and
affected thing TO her, especially in the
line of fiction. She hadn't so much to say
against history-that was we'll enough.
She had not confessed 10 any OF her
neighbors that Mary Bell. who enjoyed
the reputation of being sensible girl,
had taken up writing, and as she used
masculine name to disguise her identity
in writing. there seemed not much dam
ger that she would be found out Her
stories, published in a number OF We'll
known periodicals, had, as it transplred,
attracted sufficient attention to cause the
officers of the Writer'S association TO IN
quire of the magazines her true name and
address that she might be invited 10 par
ticipate in their literary convention MISS
Matilda, who was a practlcal STOCK
raiser, remembered the pride she had felt
when she was invited for the first time
to be present at the National Poland
China Breeders association. and she,
therefore arose to the occasion and con-
graduated her niece She went even FUR
Their, and bought her two new gowns.
THE thing that gives me the most
pleasure in the matter" said Mary Bell
that evening, sis that I shall almost GER
tainly meet Helen Hepburn-you know
have spoken TO you about her stories
number of times She writes about the
oh RI
about if 1 had the power, and in the way
that I would like to do it if could. Some
times, when 1 read what she has written,
It seems to me that 1 must have written
it myself It will be a happy day Tor
me when I meet her. I expect to take
satisfaction in her acquaintance that
never have in the society of any one else.
az hope you will meet her." replied Miss
Mathilda, just a trile hurt. She knew
she had not been just the person TO raise
an imaginative, sensitive, booklsh girl
but she had done the best she could ana
Il was not pleasant to be reminded in this
thoughtless way of her failure to I'LL that
girls intellectual needs. But she put
vanity aside and saw Mary Bell off in all
the splendor of her first tailor-made suit
Mary Bells eyes were glowing and her
face full of health and expectation.
'sIt is nice to be young" observed Miss
Matilda 70 herself as she went home to
prepare the pedigree of a black hog she
was to place on exhibition at the county
fair.
All the way to Clinton Mary Bells heart
beat merrily She was an author going
to an authors convention. How little
the woman who sat in the seat next her
guessed It'll How far from suspecting it
the young man who looked like a COM
rnercial traveller He had a handsome
leather case with hin-a dress suit case,
though Mary Bell did not know (which
contained without doubt. so she said to
herself, his samples. His large, round
head with its close-clipped hair. his
hearty laugh and frank, direct manner,
and his rough tweed suit marked him,
somehow ,as a knight Of commerce.
could anything be more modern or
more commercfal?" observed the young
authoress TO herself. How different the
ideas he will offer me from those 1 shall
get from Helen Hepburn when we meet"
And with view-to enjoying the contrast,
she kept up a vivacious conversation with
the young man. Mary Bell had not had
much social experience, but she was pos
sessed Of natural sense of politeneSS, so
she endeavored to talk about things that
would interest this engaging Philistine.
She discoursed about her aunt's stock
farm, and about the relation OF trade to
politics, and defended Imperialism and
svmpathized with those who had to live
on railroad trains and at eating-houses.
81 once read a touching and beautiful
story about a commercial traveller and
little boy: I think it was called The
Nomad' and It was written by fellow
Of the name Of Bryant Hawley. I all
ways think of that story when I hear
any one sympathizing with the CONNER
cial traveller" said the young man. Mary
Bell flushed with exquisite pleasure, Of
course, the story was her own. She en-
deavored to show her gratitude in prac-
teal way by talking with the young man
about his calling.
What line do you carry?" she asked.
IL beg your pardon?" stammered her
companion.
what house do you travel for?"
"O-ah-h-h-a pencil house. But
speaking of pencils, I don't know tany
writer today whose pencil I would rather
hold than that Of the same man I was
speaking of-Bryant Hawley. I am con-
WINGED that If we were to meet We would
prove the best Of friends
Mary Bell covered up her delighted en-
barrassment with a hasty remark.
DO you sometimes feel that way about |
people, too?" she inquired. Now that |
is just the feeling I have about a certain |
woman unknown to me at present except |
through her beautiful work. I hope to /
have the great privilege Of meeting her |
this afternoon and I am ardently dream |
ing that she will like me as well as I /
like her"
"Ah" said the young man. much in
terested. DO you like to tell me her |
neme?"
Indeed" cried Mary Bell. ct would
rather speak her name than not. II is /
a distinguished one-it is Helen Hepburn"
For some reason that Mary Bell could /.
not surmise this remark appeared to dis
comft the young man exceedingly. though
he did not look displeased but CONVERSE
ton tagged between them. II seemed /
almost as If they had suffered some sort
Of 2 misunderstanding. At Clinto Mary
Bel got her belongings together and held
out her hand II her companion as the
train moved into the station. She desired
70 part good friends with him-he was
a delightful young man! What
2 pity. she thought. that We cannot keep
within our knowledge the people We meet
and choose.
ships that pass in the night and speak
each other in passing.
Only signal shown and a distant voice
in the darkness:
So on the ocean OF life, We pass and
speak one another
Only look and a voice. then darkness
again and a silence"
Someone came busting uD--evi9ently q
member Of the reception committee.
Are you Miss Duncan 7 thought 80.
Where's ar. Dens'ow? We expected him !
on thiS train
Mary BelHs companion raised his hat.
That Il my name, madam"
$50 glad, Did YOU two travel down
together But perhaps not Allow ne.
Miss DunCau-othervts Bryant Fawi-v Z