The evening times., 1901-11-28
TH1 STORY OF p STORY
BIZ ADELAIDE L. ROUSE.

But I want to know what is the
matter with my story. It must be good.
Aiy aunts and uncies and all my rela-
tives have read it, and my cousin, who
took a prize in college for an Grafton,
said it was immense.'
Mr. Marsh mentally agreed with the
cousin, and wished himself safe with
Sister Anna.
The truth IS, Miss Pratt, that ev-
erybcdy cannot write a short-story. In
fact, il is the hardest kind of writing.
1t takets longer to write a short-story
than t6 write long one famous
writer said that he had not time to
write a short-stor-y. (Bert's hobby
again-)
DO you think I eould write long
story 1 have one -four times as long
as this 1 should like to read it TO you
Mr.. Marsh felt his hair rising at the
prospect He locked at his watch. Il
fear 1 can't stop today, fer l must make
the four O'Clock train. Otherwise I
should be charmed to have you read
the story to me-
ri send il to You, and perhaps you
viii like II better than the short one.
I've got to write, so / shall keep on till
someone takes my stories. I would
rather have them printed in the Epoch
than in any other magazine. I have
got TO succeed, for I must have money,
and this is the only thing can do
1t needs money. therefore it must
write / wonder what it needs money
for, thought Bert. She was well dress
Ell, and ali ne saw OF the house and
grounds spoke of comfort and good
taste He could not tell her that she
could never write, and he left her look
ing very diScOnsoIate. He would have
liked to stay and comfort her, but it
would hardly have been conventional
lrgA
put on the associate editors desk. 1t
was from Miss Pratt, and was address
ed TO him After il was duly entered
and acknowledged, Bert placed it
among other manuscripts on the senior
editors desk Haisey could tell her the
truth, Bert told himself he could not
break her heart His breath came a
little faster man usual. as he remem-
beTed her sitting in the sunshine and
looking so unhappy over her story He
made marks on his blotteT in an alb
sentminded fashion, and wondered
why she needed money so much She
had referred to il again IN her letter
Bert had half a mind to straighten up
her story. put some go into it. and
publish it But when Halsey came in
he put the idea away.
Hello, Here is Elizabeth Hastings
Pratt again, as good as ever Bert,
have you been encouraging her? What
Is the story this Gme2 The Search for
Sylvia Sherwood She goes in for al
Iteration. Now for feast Of reason
and flow Of soul The sun was she'd
ding his last rays upon q lowiy cot
eulbowered by trees. behind which flow
ed a TivuIet. Got that, Bert?" And
HaIsey turned in his swivel chair.
Man. it's a prose idyl! Now what
next2 Something is bound To happen.
A door opened and a youth sailed
forth, bearing upon his brow the marks
of anguish. This il getting to be thrill
ing Do you mind the youth with a
brow2"
Don't. Halsey. She isn't a bit of a
fool. except oH this one subject. and she
Is a good deal more than pretty
'' If she be not fair for me what care
Bert, my son, I am afraid you are
in love I'll wager two hats that she
sent this .ale directly to YOU. and YOU
put the job Of reading 1t off on me. II
you had told her point blank. that she
never can write. she wouldn't have sent
this in. It's your affeir, 50 I turn the
manuscript over - yoI. Take IT back
10 her and plan for q serial; she VIII
send one next time"
Mr.. Marsh gloenliIy tucked the story
away in his desk. wondering how Hal
sey had guessed sC, straight about the
serial
He wrote three letters nex+ day, and
tore all Of them Gp. He finally des-
patched The Search for Sylyia Sher-
wood with a brief note saying that he
would pass through the town on the
following Saturday. and would again
call and explain on Monday he told
Halsey of It, and that individual was
wicked enough 10 cough sentenuousIy-
7 told her" said Bert, as he straight
ened the pins on his cushion, that she
couldn't write, that the second story
was even worse than th- first, and that
you said so"
And she wept on your shoulder"
No. she didn't She was angry, mad.
She said that she wo;lld prove TO you
that she could write That vas after
told her that you said she never could
write I couldn't tell her tha I thought
so too. Her eyes are so big and brown
that a man couldn't say such q thing
TO her face She is going TO study style,
and I made out d list Of books for her
to read.
Exactly, And yeu are going to take
them to her next Saturday when you
go to your Sister Anna's-
Exactly. It's the best thing I could
do, TO set her TO reading. While she is
/ studying she won't write, and after she
/ has studied a while she viii see that
/ she cant write It is an excellent plan
MY Saturday class in journalism
HaiSey TnuIUeuEeur as ne went OUT 10
! luncheon
1t was the usual thing for the editcr
1 TO ask his associate on Monday morn
/ ing how his class in journalism pros
| pered- There had been no manuscript
| from Miss Pratt for several weeks, and
| he sometimes asked Bert when his pu-
| Pill would graduate
Bert the editor asked one morning,
/ did you ever find out why E H P
wanted money SO badly2 What did she
| want it for, rather?''
| Bicycle. said Mr Marsh laconical-
| Iy You have had the fever yourself.
and you ought to sympathize-
! Il do. II I had known that she want
| ed the money to buy q bicycle I should
! have been tempted to buy the story I
| supposed that she wanted money for
| extras, like bread and shoes, not for
! necessity Has she got her wheel YETI
Yes; that is. she has part Of one. We
| have a tandem.
A tandem[" HaIsey got up and
| kicked the waste basket over. IF you
! have gotten So far as that, / suppose l
| may as well say, Bless you my chill
| dren-
| 4 don't mind if you do said Bert,