The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-06-12

he regretted having taken the step ne
had done. and wished he had never
seen The Maze of Life" He would
laugh at his fears. and picture himself
the author of the day. a month slipped
by and Il polite note reached him from
the publishers to the erect that their
reader had reported favOrably on his
work and they would be happy to ne
gotate for it's publication.
Three months later the literary
world was in Il state of excitement. On
every hand people We're talking Of the
new book which had been launched
upon the sea of literature with such
signal success. The critics had. with
few exceptions. spoken of THE Maze
of Life" by Halifax Flanders. as n
work of genius. Edition after edition
had been issued. and still the book
sellers clamored CONSTANTLY for more.
The book was discussed by all classes.
by the mechanic as well as by the
professional man, learned men and
women. and one and all joined in vol
luminous praise of the man who had
written it,
But who was Halifax Flanders? No
one seemed to know. Paragraphs We're
appearing in the papers daily setting
forth in one quarter that the author
was a lady of the best society. and in
another that Halifax Flanders was
the nom de plume of man of letters
already famous under his own name.
The publishers would give no infOrma
tion beyond stating that the author
desired his identity to remain I'M
known.
And what of French? He had in
tended to change the title. but some
fatal influence compell0l1 him to retain
the original name, alifax I'D
ers' he regarded~ clevex1 -
ceived ntm dc plunfeGa ma
would attract by reason of its
mon sound.
But if he had been unsettled ID re
the book appeared, his agony was Nm
fold worse n6w. AS the sale of the
book increased by leaps and bounds.
his fears of exposure rose accordingly.
Don't under any consideration di
vulge my real name" he had said to
the publishers: but daily he expected
the author to come forward and hold
him up as Il thief and fraud.
One evening he was sitting in his
room when his landlady tapped at the
door.
He started up guiltily.
What is it," he shouted a nervous
apprehension seizing him.
The landlady entered. closely fol-
lowed by young woman in walking
costume.
"If you please. sir" blurted out the
former. this young woman called to
IN hoe,
wasn't going to see anybody, she
would follow me up the stairs, saying
il was very important business" and
she surveyed the visitor with an eye of
disgust.
Herbert French rose from his chaif
It's all right, Mrs. Coomber,' he
said; you may go"
Wont you be seated!' he asked the
young woman. when they were alone
Thank you" was the answer, i'll n
pretty feminine voice. 1--WE come from
the Bulletin to interview you, if you
will allow me-"
The man turned pale.
How did you obtain my address? ~
he asked. with a culver in his tone.
| Il will tell you later on" responded
| the interviewer. You are Mr.. Hall
fax Flanders, aren't you?''
| Il am" came the strained reply.
But that is not your real name-is
it. now?' queried the young woman.
Isn't it Herbert French?'
| Herbert French! How do you
know"
II got it from the same source
whence / obtained your address. l got
it from Miss Jennings typewritinG
agency, in Nassau street. An. l see
you recollect." The answer was giver
| in :. haunting manner that Stunl
French to the quick.
What is it you want?" he raved
WHO are you? What do you want OF
| me-
pray calm yourself, my dear sir,
interrupted the other IF you vii
resume your seat | will tell you wha
1 want with you. Come now. sit down.
| Like child he obeyed. There wa
something in the keen eye of his visi
tor that forced obedience.
Now. Mr.. French. L will tell yo'
who 1 am. My name is Nellie Searle-
name which l suppose you dom
know 1t is l. and not you, who wrot
The Maze of Life, now so famous
Don't interrupt" as French begar
speak ing; listen to me first. / wrot
that story--wrote when L was anearl.
starving: Not friend had L in tn
whole world-not one. Night afte
1 night. after L had toiled .uselessl,
through the streets looking for work
/ have sat in my room writing TO
dear life, every word 1 wrote beini
like drop of my own life's blood ooz
ING away Then at last / finished II