Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-19
AS THROUGH A
GLASS
BY Lillian c. PAS--i-.-.
Copyright, 1909, bu the

swivel chair ana held an open letter
toward katherine Howard, Editor
Woman's Page" known in private life
as Jack Higgins.
He took his feet down from his desk
and his cigarette from his mouth,
which small incivilities lose their i'm
politeness in the good chumship Of
newspaperdom, even if he had not
been her cousin and privileged. and
read aloud:
New York, Oct. Z.
Dear Miss Howard-Will you please adj
wise me through your valuable column
which 1 read daily with much pleasure
how 1 can possibly obtain an introduction
to q most attractive young lady in the
office across the street from mine? l am
sure she is good and bright and lovable
from her looks, which study surrepti-
tiously from my window every day. But
seeing through glass darkly Is most I'M
satisfactory-s is SO tantalizingly near
and yet so far. l am young jewelcr OF
twenty-seven father left me good busi-
ness-a Yale graduate of good family and
honorable intentions. but how can l let
her know all this? She is not the flirting
kind, and might wait years before find
ing mutual 1rlenu 10 introduce US
Yours anxiousy, PERCIVAL X. G.
"Uh-huh," grunted Miss Howard"
putting new life into the dimming light
of his Turkish. like scads Of others
We get, isn't it?'
But do you see the address Of that
importing tirm?'
Lesson & CLIFFORD. DIAMOND I'M
PORTERS.
J. B. Lesson. PR. Clifford.
Fifth floor. Center Building, N. Y.
"Looks familiar" Jack ruminated,
gazing thoughtfully out into the smoky
side street. His glance fell upon a
white lettered sign on the window OPP
posite. He chuckled. by Jove! see
1t all, cousin. He is your conquest
across the way. who probably labors
under the impression that you are
Miss Howard-thus are my laurelS
stolen from me. He is standing in the
window over there now, waiting, most
likely, to see how you take his deep
laid plot"
"Who? Conquest. I have no. be-
gan Miss Davidson innocently, but
she flushed pinkly all over her pretty
face and stopped short under Jacks
amused scrutiny.
Nov, 10, dear. don't try to fool
your Uncle Jack. It's my private
opinion that every woman's heart is
Marconi receiving apparatus that reg
listers faithfully every answer to her
own charms"
Jack This time the tone was In
dignant. "You couldn't think I'd flirt
with stranger"
"Never, my child. You misread my
metaphor. Well. I'll let you answer
the letter. Tell him Faint heart ne'er
won etc." he 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 advice" she returned, with toss
Of her shapely head.
Accordingly the next days issue Of
the Evening Arrow published the let
ter of "Percival r. c." at the head of
the "Cupid's Column" Below it was
the chilling editorial reply:
'Wculd refer you to wiser author
ity, the national proverbs first, APP
pearances are deceitful'; second, Fate
brings together those destined for each
other Don't NEEDLE with destiny"
Which journalistic wet blanket, how
ever, seemed not to have the intended
cooling effect upon its recipient, for he
opened his window every afternoon
thereafter just the same and whistled
loudly to newsboy below to bring
up two Arrows"
Having in due time received them,
be sat down OH the broad window sill
md ostentatiously perused the entire
page. Across the way the
assistant editor thereof dimpled and
twinkled over her desk and her muci-
lage brush, though her head was stu
liously turned away from the street.
Miss Davidson prided herself on her
rigid sense of justice, but sometimes 1t
was sorely tested. 1t was her duty
10 open and read all letters and the
for the daily prize story
of 500 words. These last she assorted
into three piles-good, possible and i'm
possible. The first were published, the
second turned over for another read
ing and final decision to the editor.
Miss Howard" The last were re-
turned to the writer's.
She came upon one which she I'M
hesitatingly pronounced good and was
about to place it on the first pile when
the name and address of the author
caught her eye.
She recognized them as belonging to
/ woman who was second reader
IN well known magazine and who
had only the week before rejected a
story which Miss Davidson had sub
nitted for publication. Her cheeks
burned anew as she recalled the curt
scrawled across the usual
printed declined with thanks slip
which rouses all the evil passions In
he literary temperament:
Dear Madam-You can surely do better
stories than this Send us really first
'ate story. and we will be glad to con-
,ider It. ALICE c. SMITH. Reader.
She took a rejection slip from a
oigeonhole in her desk. Chance had
,ut revenge into her own hands.
She dipped her pen into the violet
nix and poised it above the slip. Then.
'he paused. This was the Sumter
shot of the war between ''cattinesS,"