The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-29
AS THROUGH A GLASS
By LILLIAN C. PAsCHAL

+ Z + Z
added teasingly, taking up his blue pencil
to begin the makeup for the next issue OF
the woman's page.
II shall certainly give him some good ad-
vice, she returned, with toss OF her shapeiy
head.
Accordingly the next days issue OF the
Evening Yellow published the letter OF Per-
cyal r. c. at the head of the "Cupid,s
Column" Below 1t was the chilling editorial
reply:
Would refer you to wiser authority the
national proverbs-frst, Appearances are de-
ceitful;, second, Fate brings together those
destined for each other Don't meddle with
destiny
Which journalistic wet blanket, however,
seemed not to have the intended cooling eff
feet upon its recipient, for he opened the win-
dow every afternoon thereafter just the same
and whistled loudly to newsboy below to
bring up two Yellows."
Having in due time received them, he sat
down on the broad window sill and ostenta-
tiously perused the entire woman's page.
Across the way the assistant editor thereof
dimpIed and twinkled over her desk and her
mucilage brush, though her head was stu-
diously turned awary from the street
Miss Davidson prided herself on her rigid
sense of justice, but sometimes it was sorely
tested. 1t was her duty to open and read all
letters and the manuscripts for the daily prize
story OF oUu WOFQS- lHeSe ~tdoL dsSoI tSe
into three piles-good possible and jmp0s-
sible. The first were published, the second
turned over for another reading and final
decision to the editor, Miss Howard" The
last were returned to the writers.
She came upon one which she unhesttatinz.
ly pronounced good and was about to place
it on the first pile when the name and adj
dress of the author caught her eye.
She recognized them as belonging to Bo-
man who was second reader on a well
known magazine and who had only the week
before rejected story which Miss Davidson
had submitted for publication. Her cheeks
burned anew as she recalled the curt SEN
tence scrawled across the usual printed de-
clined with thanks slip which reused all
the evil passions in the literary tempera-
ment: go. .--sa -t. r--- .-
Dear Madam: You can surely do better
stories than this. Send US really first-rats
story, and we will be glad to consider it.
Alice c. Smith. Reader.
She took rejection slip from pgeonhois
in her desk. Chance had put revenge into
her hands
She dipped her pen into the violet Ink and
poised 1t above the slip. Then she paused.
This was the Sumter shot in the war between
.cattiness," which she detested, and justice.
Another moment of hesitation, then victory
perched on the banner Of the blind goddess.
She laid down the dried pen and tossed
saying briefly: ...--. ~ -..-=
"Better run that one to-morrow.'
"AH right. Whatever you say goes.''
MAY I see Miss Howard?" asked a deep
voice at the door of their cluttered den two
days later. Jack Higgins looked up from his
sheaf of proofs and recognized ''Perciyal
r. c. H= u.
81 am Miss Howard" he said, coolly
What can do for you?"
"Oh-I-I thought" stammered the visitor;
then recovered himself, catching in his en-
barrassment at the first straw, which hap
pened to be Jacks Greek letter fraternity
pin. "I say, am an Alpha Omega, too
And he gave him the grip. my name is
Clifford. I have message of thanks for
you from my sister, Mrs. Smith. whose
story took your ten dollar prize yesterday;
also the receipt for your check"
Jacks eyes twinkied as he sized up this
persistent suitor. Cad, III help him out, -
was the mental result Of his scrutiny. He
waved his hand toward the desk by the win
woman. ~
my cousin, Miss Davidson, attends to that,
Mr.. Clifford he said. --- G,---s.e s. ~
. And that was the way fate introduced
them.
The way that arbitrary old dame finally
disposed of them might be guessed from a
pretty scene enacted on the after deck of the
Etruria as she swung out Of the North river
one hot day last summer
The man had just brushed off with sur
reptitous GESTURE another stray grain of rice
from his coat collar. With his companion he
found a sheltered seat under gangway
while the other passengers bustled to their
various staterooms to dress for dinner.
"As through glass darkly, Percy" mur-
INJURED the girl dreamily while together they
watched the gray line of shore recede from
view till twilight fell across the purple sea.
But now''-he glanced around to see that
the deck was clear, then bent his handsoms
face to hers-'rbut now, darling, face to face"