St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-07-20

Il = - Z sqE = < 55
gone, and / can never think Of it
again, said my wife, severely.
But, / insisted, are you sick?
Why did you have your feet in that
bowl and why this bandage On your
head?o
No, am not sick. / put my feet
in hot water to keep them warm and a
cold bandage on my head to keep my
brain cool while write. I have heard
that some famous author always did
50, therefore tried il. Now, do go
back to bed, and let me try to find my
lost idea" Elizabeth Anna had
not lost any Of its severity.
I'll help you find it in the morn
ing" said I. "Don't you think you
have written enough tonight You
must not overtax yourself, or you
might not be able to finish what you
have commenced She yielded, and
| had no more trouble that night.
Previously, Elizabeth Anna had
been a marvel Of neatness in house
keeping, and the envy Of her neigh
bors in the art of dress, both for her.
self and the children. / say it with
pride, that she can make the most
taking garments out Of little odds and
ends saved from time to time. It is
her talent. But she became SO abb
sorbed in her plots and their develop
ment that her household duties were
neglected, dust lay undisturbed on
the kitchen shelves and parlor furni-.
ture alike. Meals were cooked in the
quickest time possible, and herseWing
machine might have gone off on va.
cation.
I admit that sometimes am forget
full or careless, Just as you please to
call it. now walked into the house,
often tracking mud over the kitehea
floor, without receiving the slightest
admonition, for which, of course, /
was truly thankful Little Olives
long, beautiful curls were often hasti-
y combed or worse still, entirely neg
lected, for which / was not truly
thankful. Life in general began to
be burden, and suggested to Eliz-
aheth Anna that We hire girl until
her story was finished. She would
not listen to it, saying: when {
have won the prize and proved my tall
ent we will Keep 4 girl. Ishan have a
room added to the house and furnish
it for a study, where / can devote my
time to my writing, undistnrbed. =
Visions and dreams haunted Eliz-
abeth Anna, making her mental hori-
zon bright with their scintillations
and changing the color Of al her fu-
ture.
Are you writing a long story?o ]
yentured to ask one evening
Oh, I've written several, John, and
I should ike to read them TO you i
you would be pleased to hear them. :
I assured her that 4 hoped TO be
pleased. But, alas, how I did offend
heri Before she had read half the
first one had dozed repeatedly ii mr.
chair, though she did not discover it,
ss my back was toward her Ibid not
fare So well az she finished II, for, I'M
fortunately, snored.
John Eddingfon MARSHALL ! do
believe you are asleep, said Elizabeth
Anna, comingaround where she could
see me.
@Oh, 10, my dear, I am not, said
I, sitting up very straight.
No, but sou were. If ! did not
want your opinion ] would not read
another word. Now, dc please listen
while / read this time.
/ promised, and kept my word. 7
stood up, part Of the time on one foot
80 that I could not possibly 80 to
sleep
aWhat do you think Of II n said
she, when she had finished.
sNen, q said. hesitating gly, do yon
want my candid opinion"
Certainly
I'm afraid it lacks point or
something Of that sort. I don't know
just what editors call it. ] guess you
haven't heated it enough, or else you
didn't beat it hard enough whenit was
on the anvil. You'll have to apply
the bellows again z
DO you mean that ! ought to re-
write it?''
q think itneeds little more ham
mering,o said I.
aI just think you are mean, and ]
don't believe you know how to judge
"a story said Elizabeth Anna, icily.
/ thought / could detect tears IN her.
voice.
In my inmost heart T was sorry.