The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-27
Short Story Of the Day.

(By Henryll Sienlliewicz. Translated
from the Polish for The Commercial Ad-
verliser by L. B. Fletcher)
Ferdinand Markiewicz, the literary pride
of Warsaw, flung his pen on the table
and threw himself back in his chair with
a violence that made that piece of fur
niture gIcan.
His young wife, who had come in os-
tersjbly to look for her k-basket-
though she knew it wasn't theFe-looked
up at him anNiously and said:
so tired. dear?"
Tired can scarcely; breathe!"
"Why don't you rest for a few days?"
81 think | Will. I must, in fact, no mat
ter what happens" He stretched himself
on the sl0l and continued: The editor
of the Review was here today. l have
promised him the first chapter Of
Blessed Spirits for Friday, SO that he
can begin printing it Immediately after
the holidays. Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday Friday-only four days! And
theu--it makes me shiver to think Of 1t
Il shall not have an hour to myself for
a month at least. Then I've got to fin
ish At High. Pressure for the Journal.
correct the proofs of Hard Luck and
see it through the press. Heavens! 1t
makes my head SWIM
Ills wife folded her hands-a sign that
she had something serious to say and
Intended 10 say it-and walked over to
the sofa Ferdinand" she said, ''f you
won't think of yourself, at least have
some consideration for your wife and
children. You go to bed at and get up
before 3, YOU know no Sunday, no holl-
day How long do you think you are
going to stand it? And what will be
come OF us when You break down.
1t. ND h
knitted brow. You are right. quite right,
my dear Aniuika. For the space Of three
whole days from this moment | swear l
wont touch a pen, and I'll try to for
get hat ink looks like. Where are the
children? Let me play with them" He
spran4 10 his feet, opened the door and
called:
..Zofi4, NTarynia! Come here| Two
pretty lille girls, four and five years Of
age came romping into the room.
Papa want Malynia?" cried the young
er. who was not yet on good terms with
her rs"
yes. my child come and play with
papa. What shall We p-ay?"
oh frogs" Zofa exclaimed, and Ma
ryuia echoed:
"Oh. tiOgs. toss"
Good! Frogs # is. Down on your
hands and knees
But they will ruin their Clothes the
mother objected. laughing.
"Oh. bother the clothes! Come on, girls!
Hands and knees
Then there was great hubbub Of frogs
jumping and croalling in soprano and
baritone according to age, mingled with
slacc1to remarks, such as:
..HeaNels! This is immense! Three
days. No pen and ink! Nothing but
play"
In The midst Of it an the door bell rang.
Not ut honler' cIoaked the bull frog
and Not oft hOmen' piped the frOglings,
and all three jumped higher than ever.
The door opened. In the doorway ap-
peared a servant, who, for moment was
stricken dumb by the strange scene.
When he recovered his wits he said:
ut was the postman, and he brought
these" holding out a mass of letters and
packages.
Put them on the table and get OUT"
cried The famous author making a spring
!0r little Marynia.
The man obeyed, and went off shaking
ais head.
minute later however, the writer
- rose TO his feet
My old back hurts" he explained.
Then he added, glancing at the table:
"Au these letters must be answered,
- good-by to rest! Or shall I leave them
bin afterward? No. There may be some
lining OF importance I shall be worrying
about. then my vacation won't do me any
good. Better sacrifice this evening to
them and have it over.
Too bad. girls, but 1t can't be helped"
ooh. let the letters wait" his wife
pleaded
No. my dear Anlulka, don't want to
have anything on my mind
Laughing, he drove the children back
10 the nursery. then returned and began
to examine the letters.
Shall I help you?" Aniullla asked.
Yes. please"
Auiulka opened the first letter and be-
gan:
Honoved Master! I know that your
y every moment belongs TO the public and
that your leisure hours should be sa-
cred"
OH groaned the author pulling a
long face, but AniuIka calmly went on:
but l also know that your heart, as
great as yOur genius. embraces all hu-
mainly and beats in sympathy with every
suffering. I am the chairman Of the Com
mittee fer the Relief of Poor Young La
dies Who Are Too Proud to Work" Our
means are small, our needs enormous.
The situation, indeed, is so desperate
that the very existence of our society
one OF the most useful in the city-is in
jeopardy. But if YOU, hOnored master,
Will beStOw upon US, out of the uness
of your portfolios. the manuscript Of
b novel. or even a short story, we can Of
fer il at auction"
Enough Markewicz Interrupted in n
rage The devil take them! PortfoI S q?
What portfolios? Do they think I've got
Mss. to burn? Here I am with three or