Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-05-01
Glassware Crockery, Vases and Brio Bra Flower Pots. An
elegant line of adinieres from 0 up Chdens Carts, Wagons
40 North Main St., Cordon's Block,

, asking me to call at 3 today" said the
girl.
81 am the editor, certainly, but l
can't recollect writing toMiss-Chester.
In fact, expect some one else at this
hour"
"Mr. Claude Nottingham, perhaps?
Eyes. Do you know him, then" ask
ed the man eagerly.
"Oh, yes, think | may say l do, a
little" she replied, smiling again. "ln
fact, IL am the individual himself.''
81 don't quite understand" returned
Baird wonderingly as there such a
person at all, then"
ooh, yes, very much so. I'm he, or,
rather, he's my nom de guerre," she
answered quietly, seeming to enjoy his
evident mystitication.
"You? he replied. "You? What on
earth made you take such n pseudo
nym?" he demanded wonderingly.
"Oh, because thought a mans
! name would give my story a better
chance of acceptance. But why did
you write to me?" she continued anX-
iously. II was so glad to get your let
ter! thought you had accepted the
tale. You are going to publish it, aren't
yor?" she added all her smiles vanish
ing.
M" said Baird looking at her
steadily. Il don't think | shall"
The girls eyes filled at the answer,
and, as he saw the bitter disappoint-
ment in her face, the editor began ia
feel quite remorseful. 1t was Il deuced
awkward business, he told himself.
81 am sorry, Miss Chester he said,
pulling himself together with an effort
"that you should have thought my let
ter meant acceptance of Your contribu'
ton. Before we go any further, how
ever let me- ask you one question. Dit'
you send in that story, The Solitary
Soul as original matter?'
A pause ensued. The ticking of Il
clock on the mantelpiece alone broke
the silence of the room. The editor
watched the woman keenly. \ sudden
slmsm passed over her face and a
hunted look came into her eyes. Then
for the first time the man noticed her
pallor and the poverty OF her attire
she had clasped her hands together as
if to make an appeal, and he saw tina,
even her gloves were carefully mend
ed.
'If YOU would rather not answer" Inc
said gently and in a very different tone
from that which he had intended tc
| JnI nuI ~
need not do so. Only, think you must
acknowledge that it is impossible fol
me to publish the story in my maya
zine"
"Will YOU tell me w-why?' she ask
ed. irving to control her voice. IL VIII
own that I shouldn't have offered il
to you without an explanations per
haps. But II
> For answer he took from drawer q
newspaper and a pile of manuscript
"This is your manuscript" he remark
ed. watching her keenly as she pu1
out her hand for it. "and this" ht
added gravely, taking up the paper
"is the journal in which certain
story entitled "rhe Liar appeared
Now perhaps you will understand"
The girls hand tremblcd so that SHE
could hardly hold the printed sheet
After a momentary glance she laid il
down again, and then, turning hcl
blanchcd face to him, she said tremu
lously, 81 ask your pardon
"Will you tell me, Miss Chester" hi
asked slowly, "why you sent TINS u
me? Was it for the sake of getting
into print-a natural enough vanity
I'll allow-or," he continued in a softer
tone, "was the payment that YOU
would have received had the manu-
script been accepted an important con
sideraton?'
"Oh. Mr.. Baird" she exclaimed, try
ing to regain her composure, Il know
It was dreadfully dishonorable thing
to do, but-but you don't know nov
hard it has been for me in London. =
woman has no chance at all. and for
girl like me, without interest O
friends, it seems impossible to sc
work. I've lost heart utterly now, ant
I'm so tired Of it all"
"Have you met with any success a
all? he asked sympathetically.
Eyes, a little, but not very much an'
nothing regular. got some fairly reg
MAR work on The Morning Comet, bu
the paper failed last summer ana lei
some money owing to me, too" sh'
added sadly.