Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-01-09

mere was really no limit to the won
ders worked by that check. II
smoothed away more asperities and re-
stored good-humored smiles to more
frowning faces than any similar
amount Of money was ever able to dc
before. And it was made so easily, and
1t would be SO easy to make morel
Then for some ~bewildering months
Madge found herself going irresistibly
along with the current. She wrote in
the new style with a fatal facility, and
her work found a market so readily
that there was no time for thought.
There were no longer any small, irri-
Eating debts to vex the souls Of the
young gentlewomen, and all three of
them were able { have wraps as the
cold weather came on. How long they
had gone withoutl-and had pretended
with airy laughter that they found the
weather really oppressive when they
were half frozen. Tradesmen who had
been rude became respectful-sueh a
promoter of courtesy is the reputation
Of being in easy circumstances.
And Madge had letters from this and
that magazine, asking for her picture
and a sketch of her life. Critics COM
mented on the amusing character of
her work, and even found in il a won
derful depth of philosophy and a sur
prising knowledge of human nature.
She was invited to become a member
of literary societies and press clubs.
Young editors Of new-fedged maya
zines besought her TO furnish articles
for the opening understanding
bright and catchy-something in the
style Of MA James Quiltin'," or "The
Ghost Jim Saw"
"Oh, how my ambitions have all been
wrecked" she cried, piteously, one
day. 81 know ! am capable OF better
work than this. / feel ashamed Of all
this notoriety. ] have degenerated in
10 a mere scribbler Of comic sketches
Ia kind Of clown, whose business II is
10 grin and prance and make funny
speeches, to keep the people on the
benches amused"
"StiIl, we paid the milkman," said
Kate, s~uceinetly. looking up from her
work.
"And after awhile you win be able to
60 on with your real work." added
Marian, hopefully.
81 wonder II ever camp" she unused.
wistfully. 81 wonder il the world will
let me do it? Somehow, ! am afraid
they win refuse to let me wash off the
paint and be my real self"
One evening she was tempted out
to some social function at the house
OF a friend and there she met acertain
great editor. For one awful moment
she wondered If he had ever heard of
her-if he knew that she was living.
II appeared presently that he had
taken cognizance of her existenoJ
some time before, and had followed
her career with interest; that he had
even, on his own confession, been
somewhat anNou to meet her.
"Can yeu call it a career?" she
asked, with a touch of bitterness in
her voice. Il have drifted into it al
most unconsciously-but il is not
what / once thought my lifework
would be-"
"Since yoi have been so frank" said
the great man, u%nbending, Il viii adj
nit that 1 have thought you capable
of a higher class Of work"
Madge lifted a pale face and looked
at him. He was the editor who had
sent back the beautiful story that
wrote itself.
"What would you do" she asked,
a thrill in her young voice, "if
you were poor, aud could not wait;
If there were others depending on
you-if anxieties were crushing your
very soul"
well" he said, carefully, there
are higher duties, perhaps, than mere
~ writing what one likes to write. Per
haps we are too quick to judge what's
our lifework. If we only knew, il may
be that our lifework is keepiugthe pot
boiling. and paying debts. and taking
Of those dependent on us. 1t
seems a pity that-that we cannot all
work out our dreams. You see, hav-
ing once established a reputation of
this kind. one becomes its slave instead
IF its master. I regret that ! did not
have the opportunity to examine some
Of your serious work before you start
I'd out on this line. There might have
great power in it. l judge that
fou would have written with strength
no doubt with wonderful path
,s"-for he had seen the glance she
on him.
She read /, over again that night aft
she went home-the story that he
rad returued-the story that wrote it.
.elf. Her pen was going until long aft
n the morning star had risen. and the
tory which she sent him that day, ]
which he published soon after, ]
vas pronounced by competent judges
o be far more amusing than anything s
lse she had written. Kate shrieked I
With laughter over 1.-THE editor in
hat story was so droll, and the coun-
81 - L. -. =