Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-03-14
THE STORY OF A LOVE STORY.
By Henry Irving Dodge.

doctor, taking his visitors measure
with a glance. "Pll show you it was,
as l said, mere hallucination. sus-
pect she will have forgotten you by
this time" Then, leading the way to
remote corner of the room. he drew
aside a curtain and said quietly:
Miss Marguerite"
Come in" said the girl in low,
musical voice and marked southern
accent
A mellow half light" filled the
apartment.
1--WE a visitor
The splendid Harvard man stood at
the doctors side and slightly to the
rear. From his eyes there shone a
great compassion.
"This is Mr. Hamilton" A cry of
alarm came from the pillows.
Hamilton approached the bed.
Wont you tell me why my name
alarms you so?" he asked tenderly.
She looked at him for what seemed
an interminable period, then shc said,
half to herself:
How could man with a face like
that do such thing?"
At this the doctor would have with
drawn, but Hamilton. with motion of
the hand. detained him.
'Do what?" Hamilton asked.
81 heard you say, DOCTOR" the girl
went on, 'it was an hallucination; but
here-read this!" She fumbled under
her pillow, drew out a sealed envelope
and handed it to Hamilton. II didn't
intend that should be opened until my
should see it,
Hamilton broke the seal and read
The doctor watching him saw look
of the keenest pain come to him.
The contents of the envelope had
fallen from Hamilton's hand. They
were simply letter and clipping.
The doctor picked them up and handed
them to the girl. but she gave him
back the letter and said quietly, "Read
it,"
1t ran:
Dear Miss Wentworth:
''Your story, His One Love- has
been favorably considered by us. We
want you to let us publish it anony-
mously, or under nom de plume. 1t
suits our purpose so we'll that | shall
| pay you 'Kipling prices for it. In
| closed please find check for s100. |
| trust you will find this fair compensa-
| ton.
Yours, Truly.
John Ray Hamilton, Editor"
The doctor folded the letter, and as
| the girl took it she said:
| when l received that my dream of
| happiness was realized. l did not
mind their publishing it anonymously.
1t has my idol. did not care for fame,
| but | had labored-oh. so long-over
that story. But, like most women.
couldn't keep it to myself. | had to
| tell all my friends that my story had
| been accepted by the leading New
| York magazine. | showed them all
| this letter, and was fairly lionized by
the simple village folks. l was pointed
out as the young literary woman of the
state, and some even said | would be a
great novelist. Well, finally the maga'
| zine came
| Hamilton groaned.
Everybody in the village had order
cd one, and Bill Morrison, the stage
| driver, handed them around; but he
didn't make any comment. He seemed
in a hurry to get away as soon as he
gave me mine, and when | called after
him and asked il he had read my story
and weren't going to congratulate me
| on it. he seemed not to hear me, but
turned so quickly away that l was
alarmed. He had read my story
though, and this is what he head al
the top of it!'
Hamilton raised his hand in a depre
eating manner.
The doctor took the slip. 1t reat
as follows:
For long time we have been or
the lookout for the most WORTHLESS!
story possible. in order to give oul
readers an idea of the kind of rubbish
we receive, and have selected this a:
the one"
The doctor stood with the slip in hi
hand. The girl watched his face as hi
| re d. then said:
"A whole world, no doubt, laughed
at the brilliant editors sarcasm. AL
but lone, little village in the back
woods of Texas. There were dozei
men there who would gladly hav'
gone to New York and shot that editor
but | begged them not to do so. | wa
dreadfully ashamed. | could hardl.
look nv own mother in the face. AM
after all the hopes they had built ol
me. too. They loved me so, and pitie'
me so. but when heir compassion be
came greater than could bear | crep
away alone-alone with my broke
heart-to die here. | hadn't done any
thing to deserve 1t. either had jus
worked at my story. dreaming @
fame; and when 1t was ready | copie
II so neatly. and didn't roll 1t or fol
1t, but put 1t between two pieces c