The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-12
k THE ADVERTISERS # # ?
 # # DAILY SHORT STORY.Sl /
Copy right. 1soo. by Daily Story Publishing Gel

HaS any one salo anything about a retraction?"
 Yes. I have said something about it-and 1t must be printed in your pa- per-"
 "Oh. but that would offend my cor respondent"
 Then I suppose the running of a reputation is as nothing compared with the offending of a squint-eyed-"
 "Oh, you know her, do you?'
 "No. don't. I don't remember to have seen her"
 But your description is good as far as 1t goes, for Carry has squint eyes.
 Then hope I am equally correct In my further description when I say that she has no respect for the truth. Will you write a retraction or shall write it for your"
 What do you want said?"
 That your correspondent is liar; and I want you to sign it."
 You ask too much. But you may sign a statement to the effect that she is liar"
 No, that would involve me in Q con- troversy with an old naaid.'
 But in the meantime my circulation would increase and might buy my pa per from you"
 This is no joke"
 "Oh. of course not. There Is nothing funny about buying paper"
 You take life quite as easily as you kill reputation"
 And 1t is that spirit that makes my circulation grey. People like to be amused"
 With scandals" said Levett. And then he added. T shall expect a re- traction in your next number. My af- fairs at present are such as permit me to remain here for several days and am going to stay until the retraction Is made, so you might save trouble by making it at once. am not a man to be fooled with"
 The next day he took up the paper and found that the retraction had not been printed. And hastening to the of flee he presented himself at the door of the editors room; and how cheerful was the voice that bade him come in. And that smile, and those eyes! Surely she was handsome.
 Well" said Levett. sitting down, q see that you didn't print that retrac- tion. Did you forget it?'
 "Oh, mo-"
 Then why didn't you print it?"
 Crowded out by the notice of a candy pulling"
 More important that a character pulling, I suppose"
 "Oh. yes. Character can be pulled at any time. but candy must be pulled when it's hot"
 That isn't bad idea. Are you very busy? Let us take a walk. The spirit of wine is in the air"
 They walked out into a little park, and beneath a tree they sat, watching squirrels at play. When Levett parted with her at the dcor of the office, he said: Now, remember that retraction. You can't put me off much longer. Write 1t and sign it.
 She flashed a smile at nim that rob- bed him of sleep that night. q have escaped a long time," he unused, but this printer of falsehoods has hit me must leave town tomorrow. and shall cut out this place hereafter" At the office he called early, even before the editor arrived. But pretty soon she came with a bunch of violeAs in her hand. "Oh. you have come to see about tre retraction," she said Have you read the paper closely this morn ing?"
 Levett stammered that he had not seen 1t. Then how do you know that the retraction has not been printed"
 Levett stammered that he didn't know. and then she relieved his em- barrassment by remarking that the re- traction had not been printed. You must write it, for I don't know how" she said. and her voice had in 1t a note of sad sweetness, Levett batted his eyes as if dazZled.
 T will write it." he said. taking up a pen.
 Tt must be a short one." she re- marked as he handed the paper to her. And then she read the words: 'Will you be my wife?" Her arm was on the table, and her head sank upon her arm; but quickly she stood up, took the pen from Levett's hand and wrote ''Yes."