The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-12-06
OF BOOKS AND LOOKS
ny ~. y. CANFIELD.

For ten years Mr.. g. Ileming Mag.
nus, Of Philadelphia, had been a
writer for the lesser magazines. He
wrote short stories and essays and
sent them to the editors in the hope
they would be accepted. His stamp
bill was large. Still perseverance. a
mild intention and knowledge dug
from the encyclopedias will tell in
time. His accepted manuscripts in
creased in number. This perked him
up. lie started a bank account Of
moderate dimensions. Nothing
make a mar 20 brave a. a bank ac-
count. And he joined two or three
"litcrary clubs" wherein he was a
'lion." Pale bc.pcctacled ladies with
~yearnings assured him that they had
read his article in the "L.adies' Fire
side Instructor on every Woman
Her Own Delsarte," and it was Glove
~" This pleased Mr.. Magnus almost
a. much a. did the editors check.
lie vas u slender man, with dropping
shouldc :. mild blue eyes and a sandy
Vandykc beard. When "lionized"
he used to twist this beard into sharp
point and stab himself upon hi. mar.
row shirt front. Though his legs
were wobbly and his feet large. his
'heort was in the right place" This
he knew from the fact that when
startled by n sudden noise it beat
thick and quick, like a mailman on a
drum
4 boisterous doctor came up be-
hind him. slapped him on the shout
der and howled:
"Maggy. old man, how'rcthc brutal
editor mcn?'
The heart. which wa. in the right
place. began humping. Magnu,
wheeled aud faced him, wrath in his
pale eyes.
81 do so hate to be called 'Maggy,'
he snapped. lit really is not my
name" Then his thin. delicate hand
went to his lef, side.
1T. all right. Magnus.' the doctor
said. Beg pardon. You look over
worked. Take a bit Of free advice;
Go away somewhere and rest"
II was early summer and the mem
be-, Of the literary clubs, tie fashion.
ables aud the preachers were fitting,
The bank wa, healthy. Magnu,
looked over the papers. Among 8
thousand advertisements Of placc'
"with all the ~comfortssof a home
his eye was caught by a mention Of
Harper Ferry. Va, lie asked about
it and was told it Wa, ina good coun.
Try, with pure air, farm foods. trorl
fishing and cheapness. That seemed
to suit. Next afternoon he alightcC
from a dilapitated buggy in front o.
'Gm.sdenc' farm house. Shadow
lay deep on the alley. The Potomac
rolled grandly TO the south. The hill
were blue. save upon their SUBMITS
which were crimsoned by the dyinl
sun. From the afar came the drows,
tinkle of a COW bell. A slow win,
brought the scent Of fresh fields an'
flowers. Looking from his window
over the sweeping river, Magnus said
"Here is rest. ] do not want hu
man companionship. A cultivate'
mind needs only itself. Surrounde,
by these eternal hills, amid whicl
dwell a simple people, solitude shoul'
bring happiness. Their ways are no
my ways, their souls are half-deyel
oped. but We need not cltsh."
He fell readily into tfe habits o
the household. 1t consisted Of Mr.,
Loudoun, a ,ilver-haired widow, he
granddaughter, Amanda Loudoun,
bF6wn-eyed girl of Is, with a deliciou
figure, a mass of brown hair and
frank smile, and a man of all worl
who ate enormously and said never
word. The two women gave him n
condolences, for which he was CRATE
ful. Ne was forced to aduJ.. iha