Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-11-11
THE ACHIEVEMENT
OF ALEXANDER 4
By BtNNET MUssoN
Copyright, lss. by T. C. Mcclure

SAaoe>e@e~e aes@o%o~eeeee<S
success is said to come to any man
ubo takes one thing seriously. The
hing Wilfred DAILY took seriously was
snrlesoue. lie wrote odd. fanciful lit
"a sketches for the newspapers and
magazines, and he was so convinced
~ tha sincerity of the characters he
nnt in them that he felt rather hurt
when an editor or critic referred to his
stories as charming nonsense or de
IIrhtful foolishness."
After success another thing entered
mis- life which he found necessary to
take seriously The last item had
blond hair. blue eyes and a bewitch-
inc manner, and Wilfred's meeting
with her YEAS dTe to his spending the
mmmer in the Catskills. He had de-
eded to stay at farmhouse on ac-
count of its privacy. When he found
that this exclusiveness did not include
Miss Dorothy Sibley. he had cause to
bless the general fitness of things.
He was sitting on fence one after.
noon blessing the fitness and regarding
goat named Alexander which dis.
ported itself in an orchard with all
the perky nannerisms Of its breed
pair OF lawn clad arms were pres
emily placed on the fence. and two
blue eyes looked laughingly into his.
"Are you seeking material for sto.
~ in Alexander?" asked Dorothy.
Ill r,t.fef ass l..
name" And Wilfred leaped to the
ground,
81 suppose that Ii was given him by
some facetious summer boarder," said
Dorothy. regarding Alexander. who
plrouetted toward them with a look
In his eye that was half vicious, half
humorous.
81 think Rip Van Wrinkle would be
more In the way of summer boarder's
name," dissented Wilfred. Anyway,
I'm glad the fence is between us and
that goat, for / suspect him of being a
villain
How have you been spending the
afternoon" asked Miss Sibley.
Reading a story"
"a good oneY
"One of my own"
"rhen the question is answered.
Dorothy said smilingly.
Wilfred drew a magazine from his
pocket and they strolled down the road
to little glen. They seated them
selves in a nook which often had con
tanned them during the summer.
"You know. l don't usually take real
people for my characters" said Will
fred, but couldn't resist this one. He
is new member of our club. He is
small fat aud fussy. A row he had
with waiter furnished the incident
for this sketch, and my only fear about
1t is that when he reads the tale, as he
may he will recognize himself in it and
ask the house committee to suspend me
from the club"
A blond head and curly black head
were soon bending over the magazine,
but Wilfred's story was unread.
Don't ask me to go over 1t again"
ne said. I've something to tell you
this afternoon"
The something" was told, and it
was story in which burlesque and the
fantastic had no part-a story which
often is called old, but which keeps
the world going for ali that.
When it was ended, Dorothy leaned
back against the tree which supported
her-leaned as near the tree as an en-
circling arm would allow. Wilfred
gazed pensively at the green and brown
side of nearby mountain.
The summer is almost over" he said
softly, and life is just begun"
Or will be when you have spoken to
Uncle Bryan" Dorothy said roguishly.
And he is to come today" Wilfred
exclaimed.
Yes. What time is it?"
Half past 81
Dorothy jumped to her feet. Il was
TO meet him at 5.' she cried.
Wilfred laughed, and they started to-
ward the road. Around bend in it
came small, stout man clad in
check suit. Dorothy ran to him and
greeted him affectionately.s
1t was good of you TO come to find
me- Uncle Bryan. | Intended to meet
you" she said as Wilfred approached,
out Wil-Mr. DAILY has been telling me
something She stopped and blushed.
VI course you haven't met him. This
Is Mr.. DAILY; my uncle, Mr.. Bryan
ives, she continued formally
his Is the Mr.. Daily whom you have
mentioned in your letters?" asked Mr.
Ives.
Yes said Dorothy, and she looked
at her uncle wonderingly, for he did
noe offer to shake hands with Wilfred
ihen she glanced at DAILY and was sur
prised to see him regarding the older
Juan with look of horror. Mr.. Ives
urew from one of his pockets maya
@ihe and turned over some of its pages
nave had the pleasure of seeing
mr. DAILY at the club, though l have
uol met him before" he said. His ac-
qualntance with me seems to be ex-
'eislVe, however," Then he read from