Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-05-01
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THE WINDOW
PICTURE
-HE managing editor gave me thl
BY ELIZA ARcHARD CONNER
Copyright, iao,, BY Eta -irehard Conner
-

THE managing editor gave me this
photograph and said TO me:
Miss Daegetty. write some
thing around that picture. Fake
up something. don't much care
what"
My name is not Daggetty, though the
managing editor calls me that. II is
Emily Dalgetty. which Is pretty
name. but | never hear IL here. The
Office boy calls me Dag" behind my
back. heard him one day. So does
the religious editor. a young snip who
is killing himself with cigarettes.
can't think of anything TO write
around that horrid old picture yet. so
| just let my typewriting machine rest
and take pencil and scribble by hand
any nonsense that comes into my head.
That is good way to tap the flow and
get started. find, and that's why | let
myself write this foolishness. | wish
could get hold of n beginning about
that photograph. It's merely a snap
shot of gone to pieces old man with
long beard and bald head. lie leans,
with folded arms. upon the window sill
of log cabin which has the window
taken out. If there ever was any in.
Oh, you old image! Why can't | get
started on you? But no. All | can
think of this morning is Ned Ball. I've
not thought of much else for ten years,
| believe, and I'm twenty-five now. l
can't remember when we were not
sweethearts, Ned and |. | can hardly
remember when we were not engaged.
"1'll have time this afternoon TO fin
ish off that old ogre for the Sunday
paper can't finish him at all, | can't
begin him. unless something comes in
to my head about him. shall just
write one of Ned and me till tap the
supply. wonder where ii is, anyhow,
that Ii won't come when you call for
IL?
Ned, dear. think ! will write this
just as though | were going TO send 1t
to you for Il letter though know your
eyes will never see it. wouldn't dare
let you know how | long for the sight
of your face. even pale and withered
with pain as 1t is. for the touch of your
hand, even though you could not rise
| from your couch TO meet me. Forty
prying. vulgar eyes would be upon us,
too. there in that ward of the charity
hospital where you have lain six years,
despair eating your heart hollow. To
| this day | cannot make II seem real,
dearest, you with your shining yellow
hair and pink cheeks and broad shout
ders. the strongest, straightest, quick
est, handsomest fellow in the univer-
sity. the captain of the football team.
We thought we should meet in a year
when you went away. was going to
Prim college, so il would not seem so
long. But father died in a week after
you went, and INhad to work for my
living. did not mind the work,
though, Ned. was glad of way to
put in the time and keep from grieving
for father and from wishing for you so
constantly. | knew ii would only last
till | married you, and then | should
have plenty to do TO put in the time. |
never told you, Ned, but Tim Greene
wanted me TO marry him. You re-
member him-a sawed off, chuffy little
fellow. with bad teeth. | laughed in
his face. couldn't help it. Tim
Greene to aspire to Ned Balls sweet
heart!
And then-and then-Ned. only a few
months more, and you We're struck