Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-04-10
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, THE STORY OF A LOVE. STORY. &
BY Henry Irving Dodge.


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.
won't you tell me why my name
alarms you so?" he asked tenderly.
She looked at him for what seemed
an interminable period, then she said,
half to herself:
"How could a man with face like
that do such a thng?"
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;s hui
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
death, but I think you, of all men.
should see It," :.
Hamilton broke the seal and read.
The doctor watching him saw q 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, ~ (; ~ 8
1t ran:
Dear Miss Wentworth: s5;sIs,
"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. It
suits our purpose so well that shall
pay you 'Kipling prices for 1t. In;
closed please find check for $100. II
trust you will find this fair compensa3
ton.
Yours, Truly.
"John Ray Hamilton, Editor,
The doctor folded the letter, and as
the girl took it she said:
when 1 received that my dream of
happiness was realized. did not
mind their publishing 1t anonymously,
1t has my idol. did not care for fame
but 1 had labored-oh! so IongoyeE
that story. But, like most women,sI
couldn't keep it to myself. had Npi
tell all my friends that my story had;
been accepted by the leading New:
York magazine. showed them 81
this letter, and was fairly lionizea bs
the simple village folks. was oiAtsdi
out as the young literary woman Of ne,
state, and some even said you'd bsssS
great novelist. Well finally a.
zine eame. as's
B Every body in II ae village mad orde. !
81 one and Bill 9Mo yrison, the stage,
driver, harded them asgssssnsaa asessna ;pus - :
didn't make any comment. He n.sa
in hurry to get away as soon as NJ n
gave me mine, and when Icalled after.
him and asked if he had read my story
and weren't going to congratulate me
on it, ne seemed not to hear me, but
turned so quickly away that Vas
alarmed. He had read my story,
though, and this is what he head at.
the top of it,"
Hamilton raised his hand in depre:;
eating manner.
The doctor took the slip. It read
as follows:
"For long time we have been on:
the lookout for the most worthless
story possible. in order to give our
readers an idea of the kind Of rubbish
we receive, and have selected this as
the one"
The doctor stood with the slip In his
hand. The girl watched his face asshe
read, then said: I
"a whole world, no doubt, laughed
at the brilliant editors sarcasm. All
but a lone, little village in the back
woods of Texas. There were dozen
men there who would gladly have
gone to New York and shot that editor,
but l begged them not to do so. I was
dreadfully ashamed. I could hardly
look nv own mother in the face. And
after all the hopes they had built on
me, too. They loved me so, and pitied
me so! but when heir compassion be-
came greater than I could bear | crept
away alone-alone with my broken
heart-to die here. 1 hadn't done any.
thing to deserve it. either. had just
worked at my story, dreaming OF
fame; and when it was ready COPIED
it so neatly, and didn't roll 1t or fold
it, but put it between two pieces OF
pasteboard, and then posted it myself.
And waited so long, and then the
editors letter came. And oh! the JOY
of it. And then-and then-oh! the
tragedy, the cruelty of it ALL"
She broke into violent fit Of sob
bing. At this Hamilton groaned and
turned away.
81 have only one thing to say" said
the girl softly. 81 thank God for giy-
ing me the chance to tell you that
forgive you"
A. sound like the faint echo OF 9
zephyr escaped her; then a great still,
ness followed. The doctor moved
nearer to the bed. He bent down and
looked at the girl; then he touched
Hamilton gently on the shoulder.
Come" he said.
"No," said Hamilton, mot till lstell
her how feel, what I will try to 40
what"
"Your words will have to go te
heaven to reach her." replied the doc
tor.
The story ended abruptly.
Mansfield turned the page.
Where's the rest of it?" he ASKED
of the writer-man with the red tace
and yellow mustache. -.
"There isn't any rest" answered