The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-04-18
"THE HAND
OF FATE"
Goriglnai.l

[Origlnall
lfr. Creswell had refused me bis
daughter because had chosen litera-
ture for a profession. left him dis
satisfied, not only with him, but with
my choice. Passing from the library
to the drawing room, informed En-
ma Creswell of her fathers decision.
Emma had no more confidence In the
productivcness Of literature than her
father, but she loved me and wanted
me. and me only, for her husband.
She was wealthy in her own right, but
had no intention Of marrying girl
who would feel when she married me
that she would be obliged to support
me.
.Abandon Literature" she said to me,
take position in fathers Office, and
all will so we'll"
81 love literature, and SO long as J
have hopes of success 1 would not be
satisfied to abandon it. You and
would both regret such n course"
perhaps you are right" she replied
4Ou Alho DNSSNA 49,.
your ability to please the public"
l. went away wishing that Emma
was not SO practical. Nevertheless
determined to abide by her wishes.
had finished q novel which / knew was
us good piece of work as I was ca
pable of doing. It had the freshness OF
youth in 1t. and the plan afforded just
such opportunities as my abilities most
| needed. / determined to use every Ell
fort to secure its publication and stand
or fall in literature on its success OF
failure. tried half dozen publish
| ers before my work, 1.-The Hand OF
Fate" was accepted. Then / spent
several weeks reading the proofs. BY
the time 1t was published had spent
| a year writing 1t, six months revising
it and the rest OF two years getting II
into print If paid at the rate of $3.50
| a month for my labor, l would receive
$1,000. Should the work be a great
success ! might make as much as SoO,'
| OUG / had strong conviction that II
would be success.
The book was finally launched. Al
| the end of the first month inquired
| of the publisher what the sales had
been and was told that 1,50o copies had
! been disposed of. My royalty on the
| proceeds was sos. was very much
| encouraged The second month the
sales dropped to 500 copies. was con
/ siderably cast down, but my publishers
| told me of n number OF novels that
| had paid largely after lying on the
shelves of bookstores for year OF
more. Then came January and Feb
| ruary. and my royalty for the first was
S1.5O and for the second % cents.
| went TO Emma plunged in profound
i grief, admitted my failure and was
ready TO take 10 the lgnoble calling oil
business. EmnIa's eyes filled with
tears.
wait" she said. This is u very dull
season for books. hear. Perhaps the
| sales will be better in the spring, when
people begin their light summer read
ing"
/ was ready to catch ut straw and
concluded to take her advice.
One day toward the end of March
. was surprised to receive a note from
my publishers that the sales of "The
Hand OF Fate" had suddenly picked
| up and new edition had been order
ed. In May was informed that the
second edition had been exhausted and
a third was in press. was delighted
The Hand Of Fate Is working out q
career for me-" exclaimed 81 shall
follow the profession love"
Ono thing h0xvavpr I Cnuld mt nm.
derstand-while one edition after an
other was being sold and was daily
expecting to be pointed out In clubs
and drawing rooms as the new literary
light went everywhere without excit-
ing the least attention. On the LIST OF
July received a check for $1.24s. be.