The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-20


avoided.
A couple of days later the Ms. hav-
Ing come back from the typists hands,
he went out to post it. The postof11ce
was at the corner of the street, and,
being short of stamps, he twent inside.
There was girl at the counter, and
she had a long envelope IN her hand,
which she held in such a manner that
the address was plainly visible. North
more seemed to read it at a glance. It
was natural that he should do So for
it was addressed to the magazine TO
which he was sending his story, and
the girl was the sgirI opposite" Her
occupation was unknown to him no
longer. She was a writer, ike hlfn-
self.
He was SO astonished by this dis
cOvery that he Acknowledged her slight
bow in a purely mechanical fashion,
and, having obtained his stamps, ne
left the Office with hurried goou-
night, to muse over the surprising dis
covery in his room.
Who could she be? That was the
first question he asked himself, and ne
took some pains to solve the mater.
To SON extent Miss I4atiner was able
to crafty his curiosity. She had OBJ
tanned several particulars about ner
friends new lodger. She was Miss
Rose Henderson, and her father mad
been a clergyman somewhere in Dew
onshire (Northmore nodded his heau
here with the air of a true propnet)-
She was an orphan. and a nicer young
had declared
This news did not throw much light
upon his neighbours literary Identity
The name of Rose Henderson was I'M
known to him. but, Of course, she might
use a. pseudonyrn.
During the days that followed North
more found his interest in his pretty
neighbor increasing by leaps ana
bounds. All her comingS and go1ngS
were events of importance to him. He
,f7I1 I<av. hah
dow curtains, and she interfered with
his work to degree that was down
right annoying.
One evening as he stood on the watch
she came to the window and looked
down the street. The postman was
coming up and her eyes followed him
with an eagerness that made North
more hope he would bring her good
news, an encouraging letter say, or
better STILL one of those pleasant little
checks that do such a lot to smooth the
rough road on which the writer travels
He had something for her number, at
any rate. Northmore saw her leave the
window; then, as the man crossed over
he wondered what Fate had in store for
him. A few minutes later Miss Latimer
appeared, bearing a single letter. The
address was typewriter, and as he
turned it over his heart gave quick
jump, for the flap of the envelope was
stamped with the name and address of
the Mayfair Magazine.
His fingers trembled as he tore it
open, and his heart beat fast as he IN
folded the sheet of f7imsy paper.
1t ran as follows;
1.-THE Mayfair Magazine
Fleet Street, E. c.
April II, 1899.
Dear Sir
Il have read your story. entitled a
Bunch of Danodils.' and should be
pleased to see you about the same on
Wednesday afternoon at O'Clock. Kind
" let me know if this will be convent
ent to you. Yours faithfully.
Northmore's eyes sparkled with
pleasure as he read this note, and as he
was on the point of sitting down to re-
ply to it he suddenly wondered if the
letter the girl opposite" had received
contained such pleasant intelligence as
his own, and he turned to the window,
hoping that his wishes might be veri-
fed 1t was dusk now, and as the gas
was lighted and the blind not drawn,
he could see plainly into the room.
What he saw certainly surprised him.
The girl was executing a triumphant
dance around the table, waving q sheet
of nctepaper above her head. Her news,
then, was good, and in his joy he felt
a strong desire to wave his welcome
letter to her, for he was just in that
mood when he would have offered his
hand to his bitterest enemy.
Five minutes before the appointed
time on the important day found him
standing opposite the offices of the
Mayfair" He felt distinctly nervous
now that the critical moment was at
hand, and his ring was as timid as
that of a junior poet who wishes to see
the editor about his stanzas on spring
The attendant who answered 1t took up
his name, returning in a few minutes
to say that the editor would see him at
fort 4 NIT I,
the great mans sanctum.
1t was small room in which North
more found himself, the most noticea-
bic piece of furniture being a large
writing table BY the window. at which
was seated a Observation-Disclosures gray
haired man of between so and So He
looked up from the manuscript he was
reading as his visitor entered, and at
once arose.
I am pleased to see you, Mr.. North
more, ne said, grasping the young
man hand and beaming genially.
Take a seat
For the first few minutes he chatted
on IN a pleasant strain, and his manner
was so friendly and frank that North
more soon felt that he might have
many minutes.
And now about this story you sent
me. ne said at length, laying his hand
on the manuscript as he spoke. "A
very curious incident has happened m
connection with it. May I ask if it is
founded on fact to some extent ~
Northmore, showing his surprise a.
the inquiry, said Yes"
4 thought so,'' the elder scribe MR.
INJURED, smiling to himself. The incl
dent in the street, where the hero pre-
sents the heroine with a bunch of daf
fodils in place of her own is true oh p,
Quite true" Northmore answered.
puzzled by the smile that played upon
the editors benevolent face.
1t happened to you personany?'
heroine?" O~A