The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-13

)
means that you're not going 10 accept
my story, does it?'' observed AIuriel Eli
lott reprCachfully.
The editor of the Empire Magazine
hdgeted uneasily in his chair. There We're
two things that he disliked exceeding
~. One was having to give a direct
answer. the other was being compelled
TO disappoint pretty girl. AS ne was
now required TO do both of these things,
he felt very uncomfortable indeed.
My dear Miss Elliott" he commenced
hesltaungly, I'm, really very sorry in
deed, but-er-'
Yes, I've no doubt YOU are" was the
answer. STILL you're not half so sorry
as L am. All MIR. Mortimer she went
on in different voice; after all you'd
said about wanting to help me, 1 did
count on your accepting my story. I wish
you tell me why you're declining 1t,
though. Didn't YOU like it?'
''Oh, yes, I liked it very much indeed, :
returned the other hastily, Selling, as
it appeared to him, the chance of APP
peasing his visitors anger
You liked it very much indeed?' - she
echoed wOnderingly. Then. Mr. Morti-
mer why or earth did you send it back
again? Surely you are the editor of the
Empire Magazine?'
That's just it." he replied I'm the
editor of the Empire Magazine and in
that capacity I'm compelled to stife the
promptings of my philanthropic nature
You wouldn't believe that 1 was simply
Dubbllng over with the milk of human
Kindness, would you%
No, 1 wouldn't" answered the girl
decisively.
''Ahr' sighed Mr.. Mortimer dramatic
ally, you don't know how you wrong
me. 1 assure YOU" he continued, look
ing up with a smile into his visitors
troubled face, there's more kindness to
the square inch in my frame than there
is in the bodies of all the other editor
ial stats in London put together. Now,
don't say 'humbug" Miss Elliott; it's not
a pretty expression for so charming a
young lady as yourself to use
All right; l won't then,,' she an
swered, trying to smile, although she
felt infinitely more like crying. But
you must prove your words, though
I'm going to- was the calm reply.
Now, look here, my young friend" he
went on, taking up a manuscript from the
pile of papers before him; this is your
story. You call it, I see, The Love That
Lasts Now, that's not the very best
title imaginable Still. that scarcely mat
tiers; II s the treatment Of your plot that
object to. You've worked it out in such
q depressingly sad manner that it's quite
useless for our pages. Readers of the
Empire insist on having only lightness
and brightness, or, at any rate, in all the
stories having at least Il happy ending
Now, If you will take the manuscript
away and rewrite it so that it fulfils this
necessary requirement, perhaps 1 might
be able to use it later on
Z Sc" returned the girl; you want
me to give The Love That Lasts a hap
Ply ending, do you, and then resubmit
Precisely"
We'll, Mr.. Mortimer, I don't think 1
can do it,
MY dear Miss Elliott, I'm sure you
can" returned the editor ''Why, its
very title is a misnomer if you don't
Love That Lasts should always have
q happy ending -
1T ought to, perhaps" answered the
other slowly; but it doesn't always, all
the same"
Then it isn't the genuine article was
the triumphant reply. Never mind
story; just make up light and cheerful
one, and you'll find me quite ready to
accept it
But the world is full of sad stories,
Mr.. Mortimer" protested the girl.
Yes: and that's just why we don't
want any of EN- in the pages of
the Empire Magazine" was the answer.
/ IL
At o'clock on the evening of the day
On which she had had her interview
with the editor of the Empire Magazine,
Muriel Elliott sat down to try and give
her rejected story the attraction sug-
gested by Mr.. Mortimer. Every attempt
that she made, however, resulted in
failure, and, after wasting the best part
Of an hour over it, she threw the manu-
script aside in despair.
How can Mr.. Mortimer expect me to
give a story like this a happy ending?"'
she exclaimed tearfully, as she realized
that her Labor had been wasted THE
things absolutely impossible Still, he
couldn't have known the story was
true one,' she reflected, so l mustn't
blame him." X
Whom do you blame, then, Muriel? p"
demanded her sister, looking up inquir-
Ingly, in order to detect the cause of the
Dutburst. I suppose you do allow your
self the feminine luxury of blaming
Eomeone?"
Yes I. do, May; blame Dick Hilton,
of course-and Ill blame you, too, If
you take his part against mel" she ad-
ded.
.'Don't distress yourself about me.
dear" laughed the elder girl I've got
quite enough troubles of my own to
smooth over, without worrying about
yours. All the same, I believe it's far
more your fault than Dicks that there's
this quarrel between you"
Really, May! how can you say that?"
demanded Muriel, Indignantly IF Dick
I mean, Mr.. Hilton-isnt to blame,
what Goes he keep away for?'
well, considering that you told him
you never wished to See him any more,
1 don't see what else You could expect
the poor man to do"
Wei, he ought to have known I didn't
mean tor, at any rate, he might have
asked me again." she protested.
Beng merely man, he hasn't been
gifted by Providence with feminine per
ception," was the answer. "As a natural
consequence, he doesn't understand that
when woman says no. it's only a
preliminary to saying yes later on.
He's nice boy, though" she continued,
and think you made a mistake to
quarrel with him.
1T was all his fault May He let
that horrid Darlington girl make vio-
lent love to him in public, when all the
time he was engaged to me-
My dear" returned the other quietly
81 wouldn't let that trouble me, if
were you. 1t couldn't really have been
serious, either, because Edith Darlington
was also engaged herself at the time
and was actually married three DAYS
after she met Dick
Really, May? How do you know -
cried Muriel eagerly. 81 never heard Of
it"
We'll, on the day that you quarrelet
with poor Dick, you went away for {
month, if you remember, to occupy your.
self with your writing, and never saw z
newspaper all the time. 1t didn't occur
TO me to mention the matter when yor
returned TO town. Surely Dick told vol
JhOGEh2