The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-19
~ Ohm MARION Tread" for the

~ Ohm MARION read" for the
III publishing house of Robson.
As a Judge of fiction John
Marion was possibly unsur-
20 n passed, but as a discoverer
W of Ecnids in manuscript, the
most difficult and delicate Of
all discoveries that mortal
man can attempt, he was practically
unequaled. John Marion could dis
cover novel for you and a possible
novelist. too. even disguised under the
worst handwriting and most irritating
ignorance Of the mystery Of para
graphing" that ever taxed the illimi-
table patience of the publishers read
er. Yet John Marion could not write
a novel for you himself. No, not
line. He knew it, too. And it cannot
be denied that even the kudos Of mis-
position with Robson failed to entire
ly console him. But John Marion was
a sensible creature. He took the
handsome salary which Robson paid
him, and with that and his critical
work in the best reviews made HIM
self content and gave up crying for
the moon. His position in letters was
high, his income was good and in
creasing. This of late had become "a
most important consideration. The
most important. perhaps-so import
ant as to push even his regret as IN
unavailng novelist entirely to one side.
For John Marion was in love-very
much in love--and he had just been
able to persuade the object of his af-
fections to accept his love- further, to
admit that she would take the possi-
blity of marrying him--sOme day
into consideration. Further than that
he had not attained yet
But in truth the object of his affac-
tions was rather a willful little per-
son. AT least she was that sort OF
girl who never, on principle. allows
a man to be quite sure of her. Where
fore man usually debases himself be-
fore that sort of a girl, presumably
that he may prove to her that she
may be quite sure of him.
This lady love of Johns lived in
New York. Her father was a stock.
broker and had a house on Riverside
drive. Aline was her name, and be-
sides being the daughter and living on
Riverside drive and having John 20
fall in love with her. Aline was liter
at present as to be a "literary celeb
rity." Not even liberia! dress allow
ancc or all the pleasing round Of gay
ETY. which naturally follows upon Il
proper dress allowance and a house
on Riverside drive, nay, not even the
abject homage of that distinguished
man of letters, John Marion, was
enough for Aline. No, Aline scared
far above such insignificant trifes as
that.
Aline meant to write her name upon
the age. That was how she express
ed it to herself. But she began to
write industriously, and had been so
far successful that she had three or
four short stories printed in one of
the magazines. Such was the point to
which she had attained when John
Marion laid his heart and hand at
her feet, while she. with a small toss
of her beautiful waved" head, had
mtimated to the owner of those arti-
clcs that she would consider what she
would do with them. But she by no
means intended to remain at that point
in what she was pleased to call her
literary career. oh, dear nOi And
she took an opportunity Of saying as
much 10 John. The result being that
one fine day John walked away from
the house on Riverside drive with his
loves valedictory sentence ringing by
no means quite pleasantly in his ears.
And if you don't recommend Rob-
son to publish it"-thiJ was his loves
valediction-"I will never speak to you
again as long as l live"
And the worst of it was, as the un-
fortunate John knew only too well.
that she was perfectly capable of car