The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1902-11-06
fssass road tewsrd ether blseter spois
that waited for him 10 tho village.


|
q from the easy chair 10 whish be b
q besn siltips stretched himself snd vii
o hzI .ish remarked. Well. I've soi
! dig back and wiile . story.
/. Fsrt Ashion looked up siih sn ant
ed smile, Does be mary the siflf }
, ssfed, slisht srcssm evident 10 b
ione.
Sapposs you take the story. sal
Iherpton, 80 Ashton skillinlly dodge
the book thrswn at Lin. and had sn
I've been 81 the mschins sll the sits
moor, and I'm tired.
IL 10 not necessary, rsioried Ashtos,
knos very well that he does, II l wrst
stories like you're l should feel like
matrimonial buresa. Sill I'll take
dosn f5r you, cot irrm curiosity, bn
out Of pure fuendsLip.
/ Thornton Isushed lsxily ss be ssnk u
to chair be lie the iJpswritsr. II
merely commercial necessity, he ei
plsined, IS Ashton placed bim,eli IL
iro.t OF the hey board. II the chap doe'
not marry tho girl. you caut sell tbt
story. Add while the Wedding pssls AZ,
crossing to bs chtItbut bells 10 ihis vicin
ty, I'd rather have checks and ohesi
nuts than unhappy endipss and printed
slips commencing. "rhs editor regrets
that the inolosed man snuscript
Ashton slipped a piece OF paper into
the carrier. 90 90 be l.ushed. I'll BE-
bsst usn and help you marry them ofl.
Thornton slsnced at his friend tho usb
fully, I.'s for your own good. Frank be
said. and then started in to dictate.
1t proved = love story. in which the
hero, . cynical. and rather world weary
man. loved q gill to whom he was afraid
TO propose. lest the step should serve on
ly TO terminate pleasant friendship
which be had tbor.ushly enjoyed. II
drew . picture Of q girl hungry Tor the
words OF love the hero withheld, and de
vised 9 clever situation by m esps Of which
the real state OF her feelings was exposed.
When 1t was flashed. Ashton moved
back from the machine add fastened a
wire clip on the iypeuritten sheets.
That was a pretty good story, Jim, he
admitted. as be lit flesh cigar, bot you
have . m oct nnholy habit OF making copy
oat OF your friends. may be dense, bu,
Pm Ut least clever enough 10 see that
you are pictu ing Edis Goodwin and my
self. The only d!ffnenoe Is that Eiis
wouldn't merry the best m,n ON earth
and I'm several dekf,es remo-ed from
bang the best man on earth. She's so
wrapped up in her career thst one oan't
even talk love to her, let alone propose.
Thornton hsd returned TO the arm char
AID was regarding his friend With quiet
amusement. You're clever st some things
ba. when Il comes 10 kno#ips Efiis you
display the intelligence OF 40 oyster. 10
spite OF your fsd for potias ss man OF
The world, yoa're eIueulstly dense,
Whet do you mesn' asked Ashton,
qaickly. What do yon knov2
smoke Not much, il let yon tell it. be
said. genislly, and il | told you oil ]
know. yon would be wiser than l am.
Yoa need't Try to pump me. because I'm
not goiag to ssy another word
He lsy quietly 10 the chair. idly watch
ing Ashton with hsli-olosed eyes ss the
latter irsnped restlessly around the II
brsry, examining with painful minuteness
the bits Of brie-R-brso with which the
apartment was decorated. Presently be
slipped on bis coal, snd. catching up bis
bat, came over TO where Thornton sat.
10 long, Jim. be said, with . bsdly SO
,umsd sir Of carelessness: I'm going to
'ske . run down the street. Will yon
be down at the oAce tomorrow VI 81
Tboruton nodded without spesking.
md moment later the slsumi Of the
,atside door tnnounced Ashions depsr
urs.
Tooroton sat for while. revolving 10
,is mind the plot Of story he wanted to
. up, and then, aud then. citing
lown at his desk, started to lay ont the
irsi draft The family had gone to the
hes,ef. sud for two hours he wrote rapid
, ADD withoa. Interruption, Oaly The
cralchirg OF the pen disturbed the still
loss. Al last b. stopped 10 the middle
u the sheet.
Well, be said. uucoosciously speskipg
lond. tbst will be oil right. guess,
, hen iis polished up. though It's 80 no,her
me OF those marriages. that sre not made
q heaven. but are contracted purely be
suse the editors insist upon it. / sop
pose that Ashton will jaer st IL, but
The ringing Of the telephone bell pre-
ented the completion Of the sentence.
resshed for the receiver. Yes. ,
10 ssid. this /, Thora'ou, That you, ,
''snkf Cettsinlr, come right up. i
han't 90 10 bed for sn tour yet No
ou sob't disturb ne 10 the least. I've
1s, flashed . stery and / want TO cit
~ Tor while TO cool ofI Coue up snd ,
Ie'l hsys something 10 trirk ard . bis
ui'.
rs.bty niluitt Later be susvered .
las st The bell and admitted A'bton.
lone risht 10. Fsnk. be ssid. the folks
re going cut to suppsr after the play.
ID they son't be home Tor 30 hour yet.
Is led the asy 10 The library, and sssin
ur'ed hin .tif ~ n ,he srGehsf. vsit
IL p.,ieaty I'll Ashton bad sgsin 10 4
rtcit The tiit- -5fsc and wts ready to a
peek. r nsi'y his frisSi dre~ etsir q /.
,pi siis sri kaosked The sshts on, oi /,
10 pipe iaie The ffapltcs.
~ ~ leust .skx.sdty ef he ,efls AZ I .