Orange County observer., 1903-07-23
Ao&. AYLOR was Rock toms most
I nv Y distinguished citizen. While
9 g the celebrity Of few Of his
4 = y fellow townsmen reached

g g the celebrity Of few of his
4 = fellow townsmen reached
1CE beyond the county lines,
his. name was known throughout the
land or at least where newspapers
penetrated and libraries fourished.
Rockton was proud of Taylor; it had
rendered him dinner which had been
one of the chief events of the Rockton
social season, and he had worn with
ease and grace the laurel wreath which
the towns best oratory had placed up
on his brow.
Yet life in Rockton had lost it's zest
for the young man. 1t was not, to para
phrase classic language, that he liked
the town less, but that he disliked the
coldness Of its fairest daughter more
He and Elsie Matthews had been en-
gagged. There had been misunder-
standing and a returned ring. Elsie
had been naughty and had refused to
listen to explanations. Clever as Tay-
lor was in smoothing out the tangles
in imaginary loves and making all end
happily, he had come to the gloomy
conclusion that his own very real love
affair was failure. This was the true
inwardness of his feeling that he
needed change of scene.
When Wilcox rang the doorbell impe-
riously one evening shortly after the
brief stop at Rockton of the Eastern
express. Taylor's delight at greeting
his old friend showed very plainly in
his face.
Hello, old man." cried Wilcox with
characteristic breeziness, you're sur
prised to see me, I suppose. Well, I'm
on my way back to New York from
Chicago, and I've stopped over a train
to shake hands and smoke pipe with
you. How are you nowadays? I've
been reading your last story ON the
that your names up among the mixed
pickle and oatmeal signs in the Chicago
street cars? I hope I'm not interfering
with the blaze of genius tonight"
From the depths Of easy chairs, with
clouds OF tobacco smoke drifting be-
tween them, Taylor and Wilcox talked
The latter Informed his friend that the
Il haven't written line for a
MONTH" he said, ''but it's time began.
I have an idea for new story. A
young fellow has falling out with his
girl, goes to New York, conquers the
town. and comes back in triumph for
his bride. Sounds very trite, doesn't
it? But it all depends upon the way
it's worked up-contrast between vii.
lage, and metropolis, sociological prob
lem of the drift to cities touched upon
and all that sort of thing, you know
But | can't write it,
why not::'
Because l haven't the material.
want to make the young fellow news
paper reporter, SO that he will see q
great many phases OF city life. But
I've never been inside New YOrh
newspaper office in my life
Wilcox puffed vigorously on his cigar
for a moment
Its easy, easy he exclaimed, sud
denly. and with enthusiasm. dun
can, the managing editor of the Globe
is good friend Of mine; besides, tht
governor has influence with the pub
Usher. They won't suspect tha
Thomas Taylor, applicant for jo'
as reporter, is Mr. T. Livingston Tay
lor, successful novelist. This is grea
scheme. Throw your things together
Old man, and come along with me OF
the midnight train. I'd wait till to
morrow if l hadn't promised to Sc
The Harrington girls off to Europe i
the morning. But you have tim
enough. Great Scott, OF rather, grea
Taylor, it was happy thought o
mine to stop off and see you.''
Taylor smiled and smoked though
Iully "After all, why not?' he med
tated. The adventurous element in til
suggestion appealed to him. 1t Woul
De di~5raction, in addition to givin
hlm valuable material. AS for til
suddenness Of his departure there wa
no one to consult-his parents wel
dead-but Mrs. Mcmahon, the hous'
keeper. She had retired, but he woul
leaVe her note.
/ have half a mind to do it, he e.
claimed.
And | have whole mind that &c
snail" responded Wilcox quickly, 9:
we have mind and half made I
on THIS. Now pack your things in
hurry"
AS Taylor was taking a farewe
iooA around his disheveled room
lalled to observe that the note he h;
lelt for Mrs. MacMahon had, in t
hurry OF his preparations, been push
lllto half-open drawer among sor
old papers.
oh the second morning afterward t
souiS men were escorted by b
through big room with long tables
TIE little office in the corner. The G.
tol rose and shook hands cordially w.
Wilcox
lease resume your cold editor
n"iliier, Duncan exclaimed the l
,r ri' hughingly, after he had introdu(
~aSlOr. I'VE ha ve come on q busin,