The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-28
would tel! Tommy frankly Just how ths
matter stood /

"ouiu te' loiiiDy IfdukIy Jubt uoW tos
matter stood.
II like you very mueh Tommy" she
said. YOU'RE the only one of the boys
care for. but you see, Tommy l can't
think Of marrying-at least not just now"
"Why noty asked Tommy little bros
keny /
'It's this way, Tommy. You know I'm
fond Of writing, and-and I'm getting a
good deal Of encouragement And a girl
who hopes to be great in literature can't
afford toto marry. Perhaps it would
spoil her whole career"
Would it?" said Tommy dolefully.
ayes, Tommy. And so, you see, before
/ really make up my mind to marry
must first find out what my chances arc
for making great literary alame."
"Will it take long, Nary: III
81 don't know, Tommy. But Of course
] couldn't ask you to wait" s
"I'll watt" said Tommy doggediy. ~
And there the matter rested Tommy
came as regularly as before and the old
folks wondered why he didn't speak, for
Mary kept her own counsel and went on
with her rhymes and her stories and play.
One afternoon Mary rolled up part Of
her manuscript and, in her white rutfied
outfit, with bit of rouge on either cheek,
started for The Megaphone 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 stepped into the managing
| editors room, breathing quickly after the
long climb, she found a stranger at the
desk.
'Im looking for Mr.. Waldeck," she
| falteringly said.
| The stranger raised his head. He was
sharp faced nervous man with glasses,
and his enunciation was startlingly quick
| and precise.
"Not here-gone to st. Louis" he snap
ped. II take his place. Wish to see
him personally?'
"Yes,' said Mary Burns, with a sink
ing heart. She felt she had lost good
friend.
''Sorry. May not come back at ALL.
General shake up all around. Want his
addrcss?"
"l-I am a contributor" said Mary
with an effort. "Mr Waldeck was kind
enough to say that my writing gave
great promise of future excellence"
"Eh? That's just like Waldeck. Con-
tributions all go through my hands now,
you know. What have you got?' and he
threw a frowning glance in the direction
of Nlary's manuscript. Mary blushed as
she handed it to him. He opened it
quickly and ran his eye down the page.
Poetry. eh?'
He read rapidly, stopped, stared hard
at Mary, chuckled slightly and went on
with his reading
"Mr. Wadeck thought very well Of my
work, and so did some of the other
Megaphone gentlemen" said Mary, to
whom the suspense was growing very
painful.
The new editorial manager looked up.
I'm little afraid he said, with a
sharp glance that took in the tnery, the
rouge, the frizzes and all, that Waldeck
and the boys were giving you a carefully
planned jolly. Here, tell me about this
poem. How does it average up with your
ether work"
Il thought" said Mary family, that
it was one Of the best things l have writ
ten. 1t took me three weeks to write it"
''Well," said the new manager, I'm
going to do you favor. I'm going to
give you an honest criticism on these
lines. You've been led on and fooled by
Waldcck and his funny gang. l 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 a 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
teen true friend to you. I've tried to
undo the mischief that Waldeck did.
Probably you won't believe word I've !.
said Take your stuff and 'goodby."--
Mary Burns stood up as he thrust the
manuscript into her hand. Her lip trem-
bled little, md all the natural color had 4
gone ont of her cheeks.
''Then you think" she slowly said and
there was touch of plaintiye appeal
in her tone-''then you think there Is no
promise of better things in these-these
vcises?"
"Not a 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 sush myself.
on the quiet, for the Inst 20 years. Look
upon me as a companion failure. See
what it brings 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
81 no. bal taIa
was farther away from her than the si-
lent stars. Fool fool. fool!
She clutched the now hated manuscript
with a savage grip and moodily tramped
the long distance home.
That night she looked across the little
sitting room and met the wistful gaze Of
Tommy Purcell.
Tommy" she said, "would you like to
take walk"
"Sure,' cried the delighted Tommy.
and eagerly sought his hat.
"Tommy," said Mary very softly as
they passed along deserted stretch Of
deeply shaded walk, do you really think
! could make you happy"
"What," cried Tommy. ''do you near
you've made up your mind, Mary? And
is il TO be-"
Yes, SAID Mary.
"Why. Mary, dear" cried Tommy,
"yoar check is wet. Is it because you're
feeln so bad about leavin home?"
Brt Mary only held his arm a little
tighter and bent her head little lower
and made no reply.
And Tommy never know that she was
paying last tribute to her buried dream.
-Clevrland Plain Dealer.
Athletes.