The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-07
ROMANCE OF A MS. READER.
BY Elliot Walker

BY Elliot Walker.
"Give me my bundle. Mac, I went to
get an early start to-day" said Fancy
Boone to the manuscript clerk as that
alert individual whisked the precious doc
uments aside and entered them rapidly
in his record book.
Here you are, .Fan'-quite a dose, l
guess" replied the other as he slapped
down a number of envelopes OF various
sizes Want a string?"
mo take 'em loose" said the reader,
gathering up his grist and starting for
his desk
Julius Boone, commonly addressed as
Fancy" by his intimates on account o
his powers of imagination, was quite
youthful in appearance. although his head
showed some gray hairs, and the severe
wrinkles Of close mental application lined
his mouth and brow.
Although he was not yet thirty, 1t seem
ed a long, long time since that day when
Fancy had drifted into the office with his
red cheeks and his big yellow envelope OF
POEMS so confident of hearty and imme-
date welcome into the literary fold, and
so full OF beaming good nature and limo
cent hope, that the chief of the manu-
script department had taken pity on him
and set him TO work filing old papers.
wild and wonderful were the verses in
the yellow envelope. To the credit OF
the boys be it said that they restrained
their emotions as the would-be poet I'M
inspection and gazed at the readers with
the most hopeful of anticipatory express
sions.
I'D have given a months pay to have
let out Just one whoop," observed Nc
Quail afterward; "but couldn't
It was old Harnett who took the boy
to one side and told him a few things
The poor fellow did not say a word bui
set bravely to work in a corner with his
back to the crowd. and every little white
his brown head would tuck down between
his shoulders like a mud turtles. and he
would shake. There wasn't a fellow there
but sympathized with him. They had all
known what that sort of disappointment
means.
The yellow envelope was sealed up and
tucked away in the safe.
The next day Boone turned up bright
and smiling and told the most appalling
yarns about ghosts that frequented his
country home, and unheard of wild crea-
lures which roamed the mountains, so
that he was Immediately dubbed Fancy"
and the name stuck to him.
Yes, that was years ago and there
had been many changes. The story of
the advent of the slender, quiet. hard
working young man twas almost for
gotten.
IT never thought ne would make a
reader" said the chief, but he has and
a good one. Why. at first he couldn't
bear to turn down regular 'rot-now he's
almost too critical. / think he is writing
on the sly. He has managed to read a
pdle and is good authority on a number
of subjects"
Boone adjusted his eyeglasses. rum
pied his hair, and looked over his bun
die of stuff" Here's that girl again"
he soliloquized. She's getting to be a
niASahde-not worth a first reading
what is 1t this time-a poem? Now,
Gwendolen Green, why do your You
can't you know; IT'S too bad, but you
can't"
He began to smile as he read the
words. why this isn't bad she must
have become inspired by her hard luck
a good idea" He read quickly. keeping
time with hds foot:
SONG OF THE REJECTED MANU-
SCRIPT
"I have been on a bootless quest
rye beeen handled and read with a feel
ing of dread
For the mandate that tellls me 10 CO.
This isn't quite up TO the rest
We've got to be careful. you know;
II shall never be said we print any
thing dead,
This matter is good. but Ms slow
Pm tumbled and thumped and forlorn.
I hate the United States mails.
my cost,
And whatever I try always fails.
II fear I am crumpled and torn.
am dreading my authors sad walls
She will fix me / know, and again
will go
To Join not available tales"
What's the matter. Fancy?" asked his
neighbor Gillette. as Boone laughed aloud.
Got a good thing?"
II don't know yet" was the answer;
its soulful, anyway"
IT don't believe she wrote st." he said
to himself, turning over the paper. era
cious, heres note on the back"
II was a scribble in pencil "Wili the ed
itor who reads this kindly let me know
what there Is wrong about II. II doesn't
seem quite right. but / can not do any
better. viii gladly welcome the correc-
ton. Sincerely. G. O."
"I'll have TO take this home. ! think"
unused Boone, grinning. ~ can't bother
with II now. IT'S none Of my business. but
/ guess / can ix II up for her. and III
drop her a line. The editorF I suSDose
she thinks editors read sll this stun. Per
haps she may do something yet"
He put the manuscript IN his pocket and
plunged into an article entitled, Shall
Cats BE Made TaxableY'
That evening he made a copy OF The
Song" pointed out ~ defects. wrote a
kind note IN his small neat hand, and
ia a spirit ~ fun signed n Fancy
Boone." The original manuscript was re-
turned IN que form.
A week passed ana be had almost for
gotten the Incident. when. one morning
letter came % from tina business a.
Ieftmfnf There wa . loud laugh from
hc@peh ps NE eye fell upon a. Hers
iftfer for you, MADAM" b. announced
- he handed 4 10 toens. a. was a.