The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-09-06

find delight in showering on his wild.
ow and her attractive daughters, she
dreamed away the hours.
Such conduct was incomprehensi-
bic to Mrs. Donovan, who, naturally
enough, used to calculate what a
number of things Mary might have
done in the time wasted, and when
she had got the sum total clearly rep
resented in her mind, she would lay
it in its appalling nakedness before
Mary's shrinking gaze.
But the day came, as it comes to
all who are afflicted with tempera-
ment like Mary's when she thought
she would write"
Success lay before her mental vis-
ion writ in huge letters; she would
pour forth into the ears of sympa-
thetic public what had hitherto re-
mained unspol<en in her own heart.
But "the thoughts of youth are
long, long thoughts" and oftentimes
a WEAKNESS to those who have to lis
ten to them, and considerate editors
guarded their public from being bor-
ed with thoughts expressed by Mary
Donovan.
She cast her bread on the editorial
waters, only to have it returned after
many days.
When she had propounded the
idea of her venture in all its newness
to her people their attitude had been
noncommittal.
Mrs. Donovan acknowledged that
it might answer, but her dubious ex-
preston conveyed her disbelief in any
success, and she told Mary that any
expenses, such as typewriting, pos
tage, etc., must be paid for out of her
dress money.
To their credit be it said, her fam
lily was very long-suffering with her,
and at first the duties which she
straightway neglected were done by
her sisters without complaint but as
the months went by, and the only re-
suits of her hours of labor were severe
headaches, and the sure and certain
return of all the MSS. she sent out,
their patience began to diminish, and
Mrs. Donovan had almost come to
conclusion that long enough trial
had been given and that Mary must
leave her scribbling and try to give
her mind to ''the common round and
trivial task" of daily life.
The return of this last story turn
ed her indecision into determination,
and thinking it fitting opportunity
for expressing it, she was about to
do SO when her eye lighted upon
letter which she had not noticed be-
fore, lying by the side of the poor re-
lection.
Hadn't you better read your let
ter, my dear?" she said, in a voice
which suggested that sympathy and
irritation were having tussle in the
maternal bosom.
AS Mary leaned forward 80 raKe II
two scalding tears fell on the en-
velope.
She would have given all she pos
sessed to have been able to rush to
her room and have her cry out, but,
instead, she tried to read the words
which danced before her misty gaze.
But as she read the mist cleared, and
her cheeks flushed with excitement.
Listen p she exclaimed, and in
voice which shook, in spite of her ef-
fort to control it, she read;
"The Talbots, Tuesday Afternoon.
"Aly Da,kng- Ma,y.,
"How are your stories getting on
1 was so sorry to lear you had that
one about Loves Revenge back. I
thought it splendid, but it's always
SO; nothing that is really good gets
published. I have sent some sweet
poems up to several papers, and they
always come back. But, cheer up,
dear; now is the chance of a lifetime.
"Tom has friend coming to spend
a week with us. They were at Ok
ford together, and think the world of
each other; and, my dear, he is an
editor. Think of it, Mary! And
mother says l may ask you to come
and stay with us at the same time.
Could anything be betterl
"Bring everything you have ever
written, and / will collect all my
poems chow fortunate we shan't
clash, } and it will be a strange thing
if, after this, we don't get everything
published. Goodbye dear, am so
excited. Yours ever, KITTY"
"P. ST. shall expect you by the
$40 on Saturday. No more returns,
Mary |"
The joyfuless of the tones in which
Mary read the last words proved quite
contagious. Mrs. Donovan instantly
abandoned the idea of nipping her
daughters hope of literary career
in the bud, at all events until this
visit had been paid, and then gave
her willing consent to Mary to go.
Norah and Elsie, who knew moth
ing of editors, asserted their firm
conviction that Mary would suddenly
leap into fame.
An acceptance of the invitation was
hastily penned, and the following
days were spent in making prepara-
tions for the event.
Mary's mother and sisters were in
defatigable, and by Saturday morning
she possessed dress basket full of
pretty clothes, and the parting fare
wells she received from her family
when she had taken her seat in the
train which was to bear her to Let
bury were mingled with earnest ex-
hortations not to forget their instruc-
tions respecting what she was to
wear, and when she was to wear it.
II do hope something will come of
it all, murmured Mrs. Donovan fer
vently, and on her way home from
the station she took the opportunity
of paying several calls wherein, with
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