The suburban citizen., 1902-08-09
The Chance of a Lifetime.
Observation-Disclosures aE2ssGAE;ee3asE;;s@EEAE;3

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She would have given all she pos
sessed TO have been able to rush to hel
room and have her cry out, but. In
stead, she tried to read che words
which danced before her r,.sty gaze
But as she read the mist cleared, anC
her checks flushed with excitement.
"Llstenw she exclaimed, and in a
voice which shook, IN spite OF her ef
fort to control It, she read:
"The Talhots. Tuesday Afternoon.
"My Darling Mary:
How are your stories getting on? l
was so sorry 10 hear you had that one
about Loves Revenge back. | thought
it splendid but it's always so; nothing
that is really good gets published. !
have sent some sweet poems up to sew
eFal papers, and they always come
back. But, cheer up, dear, now is the
| chance of our lifetime.
TON has friend coming to spend
a week with us. They We're 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 1 may ask you to come
and stay with us at the same time.
Could anything be better?
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.
"Good-by, dear, 1 am so excited.
"YOurs ever. KITTY"
"P ST. shall expect You by the $40
on Saturday. No more returns, Maryw
The joyfulness 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 will
ing consent to Mary to go.
Norah and Elsie, who knew nothing
Of editors, asserted their firm convic
tion that Mary would suddenly leap
into fame.
An acceptance Of the invitation was
hastily penned and the following days
were spent in making preparations for
the event.
Mary's mother and sister were inde.
fatigable, 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 We're mingled with earnest ex.
hortations not to forget their instruc.
tions respecting what she was to wear,
and when she was to wear it.
81 do hope something will come of It
all" murmured Mrs. Donovan fervent.
ly, and on her way home from the
station she took the opportunity of
paying several calls wherein, with no
intention of inaccuracy, she gave the
impression that Mary-"that quiet
little puss you know'-had actually
got her foot on the ladder of fame
and fortune, and at the present moment
was on her way to see an editor about
her novels"
When Mary finally arrived at her des-
tinati0n, her excitement and a Eew
and delightful sense of self-mportance
prevented her from observing that her
friend Kitty, who, with her brother,
had come TO meet the expected guest,
was looking particularly detected.
Don't mention literature" was
hastily and emphatically whispered in
her ear under cover OF their girlishly
effusive embrace.
She was mystlfied at the tone. but
not until she and Kitty were alone be.
fore they dressed for dinner was any
explanation vouchsafed.
And then, with tears Of modification.
Kitty told her that Tom had found out
what she had intended to do. and he
had been simply horrid about it.
He had said it would be behaving
shamefully to put his friend in such an
awkward position, and he had made
her promise not to say a word about
the poems or stories.
"Sllly trash he called them" said
Kitty. "Oh brothers are hateful" she
added, vindictively; but | had to prom
lse, or he said he wouldn't take me to
the Fights, and l have n particular
reason for going this year." she said.
blushing consciously.
1t was with a feeling akin to despair
that Mary went down to dinner-the
editor was to take her in. But what
did it matter now? What would they
say at home?
And she felt she had been lured
away under false pretenses.
1t was a week later. On the morrow
Mary Donovan would return home, and
her visit would be thing of the past.
The world was full Of spring sun.
shine, and Kitty had suggested a walk
through the woods to her old nurses
cottage, where they could have tea,
and then a walk home in the moon.
light.
Tie idea had met with instant ap.
proval, and the little party of Kitty
and Mary, Tom and his 6ancee, her
brother and John Graham, otherwise
tlp pditOr Ind ealliad fortI