The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-26
The Story of a Love Story

first afternoon of his stay in that city
brought him "a brief note, which bore
the official mark of a hospital, was
signed by one of the doctors, and
marked private" 1t ran:
Dear Mr.. Hamilton: We have here most
curious case Of melanchOly-of slow hcartbreak.
The case is that Of young woman. most in
teresting feature Of the affair is that the patient
was thrown into the greatest excitement by the
reading Of your name in the "hotcl arrivals" in
this mornings paper. Perhaps you will be in
tcrested to see her, although I've no doubt her
trouble is a mere hallucination. Yours truly.
spraguc, NJ. u.
Two hours later the young doctor re-
ceived Hamilton's card. The men shook
hands, and then. without any pre-
liminaries." Hamilton said
Or Sprague. want to see the young
woman who showed such alarm at the
mention Of my name
Nothing easier. sir" replied the doc
tor taking his visitors measure with
Il glance. "Ill show you it was, as l
said, a mere hallucination. suspect
she will have forgotten you by this
time" Then. leading the way to n re-
mote corner of the room, he drew aside
"a curtain and said quietly: Miss Mar
guerte."
Come in," said the girl in a low.
musical voice and marked Southern ac-
cent.
a mellow half light" filed the apart
ment.
i've a visitor"
The splendid Harvard man stood at
the doctors side and slightly to the
rear. From his eyes there shone
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 a face like
that do such thing"
AT this the doctor would have with
drawn but Hamilton. with a motion of
the hand. detained him.
DO WHAT" Hamilton asked.
Il heard YOU say, DOCTOR" the girl
went on, 'it was a hallucination: but
here-read this!' She fumbed under
her pillow, drew out a sealed envelope
and handed it to Hamilton. Il didn't
intend that 1t should be opened until
my death, but think you, of all men,
should see it,"
Hamilton broke the seal and read
The doctor watched him, saw a look of
the keenest pain come over him.
The contents OF the envelope had
falen from Hamiltons hand They
were simply letter and u clipping.
The doctor picked them up and handed
them to the girl, but she gave him
PACK 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 anonymously or
under nom de plume. II suits our purpose so
well that | shall pay you "Kipling prices for
it. lnclosed please find check for slOo trust
you will find this fair compensation.
Yours truly
John Ray Hamilton Editor.
The doctor folded the letter, and as
the girl took it she said:
when | received that my dream of
happiness was realized. did not mind
their publishing 1t anonymously. 1t
was my idol. | did not care for fame,
but l had labored-oh! so long-over
that story. But, like most women, /
couldn't keep it to myself. l had to
tell all my friends that my story had
been accepted by the leading New York
magazine | showed them all this let
ter and | was fairly lionized by the
simple village folks. was pointed out
as the young literary woman of the
state and some even said ! would he a
40
azine came"
Hamilton grOaned.
Everybody in the village had or
dered one, and Bill Morrison. the stage
driver, handed them around: but he
didn't make any comment. He seemed
in hurry to get away as soon as he
gave me mine, and when | called him
and asked him if he had read my story
and wasn't going to congra tulate me
on il, but turned so quickly away that
was alarmed. He had read my story.
though, and this Is what he read at the
top of il"
Hamilton raised his hand in a de-
prccating manner.
The doctor took the slip 1t was in
small type. and was:
For a 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 as he
read, then said:
"A whole world, no doubt laughed
at the brilliant editors sarcasm. All
but a lone, little village in the back
woods of Texas There was dozen
men there who would gladly have gone
to New York and shot that editor, but
| begged them not to do so. was
dreadfully ashamed / could hardly
look my 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 their compassion be-
came greater than could bear | crept
away alone-with my broken heart
TO die here. | hadn't done anything to
deserve IL. either, I had just worked
at my story. dreaming of fame; and
when 1t was ready copied it so neatly,
and didn't roll it or fold it, but put il
between two pieces of pasteboard, and
then posted 1t myself. And I 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 a violent ut of sob
bling. At this Hamilton groaned and
turned away.
II have only one thing to say" said
the girl softly. II thank God for Civ
ing me the chance to tell you / for
give Won