The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-06-26
Scrap of Carbon Paper

If one were looking for a cure for
bashfulness, carbon paper would seem
an unlikely thing TO select But IT was
a piece Of this paper which, if it did
not exactly cure John Kendall, at least
OveTcame the effects Of his shyness-
Johns bashfUlness was most per
uicious, and while II had not retarded
his career as a successful maEufac-
turer, in the flourishing town Of Schuy-
leTville, it proved a very embarrassing
possession when he was smitten with
the tender passion
In the first place, Margaret Little
was "an authOress," and that alone
was an awe-inspiring circumstance To
be able TO write stories which met
with. occasional acceptance; 70 have
the pOstman sometimes bring her thin
letters containing checks, and not to
be the grinning bearer Of. bulky pack
ages OF rejected manuscripts. placed
her on a plane above other women
in Johns eyes. Not that she needed
such placing, for it would be futile to
chronicle the angelic qualities with
which he endowed her.
The trouble with this endowment
process was that it was not disclosed
to Margaret. John could write, and
did write, letters teeming with senti-
ment. OF course, it was unfortunate
that these letters were never sent 1t
was more unfortunate that he found
himself unable to express in her pres
ence the feelings which agitated his
six feet Of manhood.
He had made three attempts at
proposal, each Of which had ended in
stammering confusion and dire fail
ure, and it is probable that the num-
Der would have been extended in
definitely, had not rival appeared on
the field.
Anyone who showed Margaret the
slightest. attention was a rival in
Johns view, and it seemed impossible
that the editor of q New York maya
zine would come fifty miles to Schuy-
IerviIle for the sole purpose Of con
sUlting Margaret about a series Of
stories for his periodical. If this in
nocent purpose brought the editor,
something emOtiOnaIly attractive in
Margaret's pretty face must have in
duced his temperance within a
month, and it was during this second
visit that John spurred himself to &C
ton
On a June afternoon he deserted his
desk and determinedly strobe toward
the Little homestead His courage
usually lasted until he passed the front
gate, but on this occasion he was sur
prised to find it uphOlding him even
after he had reached the veranda It
evapOrated when he rang the bell. A
maid told him that Miss Little had
gone for a walk with a gentleman from
New York. This information. coming
as a respite, at first relieved John.
Then jealousy renewed his courage.
and he boldly said he wished to leave
a note for Margaret.
In the matter Of impassiOned mis-
sives John Kendall was no coward,
and he sat at Margaret's little desk
and dashed on a few glowing periods
on a sheet Of her manuscript paper.
When the effusiOn was finished il
proved satisfactory. being. in fact, a
condensation Of the others which he
had left unsent- He folded IL neatly,
and was reaching into pigeOnhOIe in
the desk for an envelope, when he
happened to glance out Of the window.
Across the orchard came Margaret
and the editor. The latter-a small,
blonde, handsome man-was walking
close beside his contributor, and look
ing smilingly into her beautiful eyes.
After viewing the scene John was
seized with panic at the thought Of
Margaret's reading his note immedi-
ately. The next instant he was strid-
ing away from the house, scattering
bits OF white paper to the June
breeZes-
He did not see Margaret for a week.
and during that time deep despair