Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-01-09
A Changed
Career ~ ~
BY JULIA TRUITr BISHOP
Copyright, 1901. by Authors syndloato)
THE three girls sat and stared a
one auofbar in dicnn.r

NE lHTte girls sat and stared at
one another in dismay.
The milkman had just driven away
from the gate. The rattle of his
wheels was still audible; and the eldest
Of the three, the one with the apron
and the bunch of keys, faced the 9TH
ers with a c-ountenance that was still
pale from the conflict.
ITO think of his i~mpudencel" she
cried. did l ever imagine that a milk
man would dare to sit in his wagon
and shout at us-absolutely shout
and ask if we were ever going to pay
that bill?"
"Oh, it was awful" moaned the girl
with her elbows on the table and the
pen in her elasped hands.
"But still, You know" said the curly.
haired girl, with an air Of conviction.
1--WE really do owe him the money
and maybe he doesn't like to wait. You
never can tell what milkmen think on
those subjects. What did you tell him,
Mariana"
y told him we expected TO have the
money in a few days" said Marian, Of
the apron and keys. "And so we do,
if-if any Of Madge's stories sell"
A general groan went around the
group, and Madge sat with a frown on
her brow, biting the end Of the pen.
staf.
"And surely some OF them must
SELL" cried she OF the curly locks, re.
turning to her sewing. "They can't all
missl"
"And suppose they sell as The Der.
elicit did?" said Madge, in her most
pessimistie tones. "That was accept
ed more than a year ago, You remem-
Der, to be paid for on publieation-and
10 hasn't been published yet"
81 hate these old magazines that
don't pay for a story till the author is
dead from starvation" grumbled Kate,
threading her needle with a jerk.
They'd feel nice II they had to bring
out that story some day, by the Late
Margaret Bertram'-but then just as
likely as not they'd publish a lot OF
praise Of the promising young author,
whose career was cut short In the very
beginning and so on. But I'd rather
have enough money 10 pay the milk
man than to have columns Of post
norton praise"
'aBut, oh, Madge. that last story was
so good" cried Marian, the hopeful.
Somehow. I feel almost sure it will
be accepted"
Il know II was a good story" re.
piled Madge, half musing. Il felt as
though my very life were going into
that story. II seemed almost TO write /
itself. There was strength in It, and
courage, and inspiration. And yeti
think it viii come back"
And ever while the others protested
came the postman's whistle, and there
were four large envelopes for Miss
Margaret Bertram, inclosing four re-
jected manuscripts; and among them
was the story which had written IT.
self.
The three shrinking girls sat and
looked at one another, and seemed to
hear again the loud taunts OF the
milkman, and the landlords rude conn
ments on tenants who allowed their
rent to fall into arrears. They had all
grown pale with disappointment and
fear Of the future; and the young
arose and tossed her rejected
into a drawer and shut them
up with a bitter laugh.
81 wonder whatever made me think
I could write?" she said. ct was all
a mistake. ] have no talent. I am a
mere scribbler. 7 have been taking
too seriously. Don't look so
w~oe-begone. Marian. And go on with
-FOUR work, both Of you. I am going
10 write something after my kind"
And that evening she read them a
story; a story at which Kate
in a half frightened way, and
Of which Marian said candidly:
at doesn't sound like you. Madge.
Of course it's bright and funny. and
in that-but your last story was beau
"And didn't SELL" said Madge.
What is the use Of WI 2 beautiful
/ have a drawer full Of them.
md every one of them has travelled all
the country. Now III try to
muse the public instead" ,
And less than three weeks after
came the reply, notifying Miss
that the story was accepted, ,
nclosing a check for $50 and inviting
contributions. -,
Fifty dollarsl Oh, impossiblel 1t ,
must be five. or, at the most, fifteen.
But no-the three heads bent over the ,
heck. and there IL was, too plain to
mistaken. And then the three sis e,
ers embraced one another and cried A.,
nd laughed. and did more absurd ,
hings than they had ever done since !
he struggle for a living had begun .
With them; and Kate ran around the !
Dom. waving the slip Of paper as 4,
hough IL were a banner. But after
he frstgush Of gladness was over the :
ale young author sat down and looked