The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-11-11
MISS Wl0GS'
 PRIZE STORY
lcopuirht. isa. by T. c. Mcclural

She carefully cut the end of the en- yelope with the scissors and drew out the letter It was very brief:
 -The editors of The Story Magazine take great pleasure in presenting the inclosed check as payment of the prize offered for the best short story submit ted In their recent contest
 That was an. But a dozen pages of praise could not have pleased little Mss wiggs more. It was not large sum of money. to be sure. but to her it meant a great deal Ever since that day three months before when she had mailed the story and the required sub scrIption money she had waited and hoped with all the fervor Of her little body
 There had been little sewing for her Co do Of late. and she had watched her Income dwlndle away with growing fear. She had never thought of trying Co write tm Cordelia Brown one day brought her a copy or The Story Maga- zlne to read. C0rdclia was seventeen years old now and we'll along in high school. but she bad never forgotten Mss WiggS' Kindness ot former days
 When the girl was gone. Miss Wigga picked up the magazine Almost the first page to meet her eyes was an ad- yertisement offering a prize for the best short story submitted before a certain date. lt was then that the Idea of trying to write a story first occurred to Miss Wigs
 She had a tale Of the first settlers in her memory handed down from mother to daughter. as such stories are. More over. she possessed a good education a clear mind and plenty of leisure Moth. ing was more natural. therefore, than that Miss Wiggs should write a story
 In due time the story was completed Miss Wiggs copied It in her best hand writing and inclosing the dollar de manded as one of the conditions of the contest. mailed it Co the magazine Then she told Cordella what she had done and even read her the first drafr Of the story.
 When she had finished, Cordelia shook her head. "I am sorry. dear Mss Wlcgs." she said gently, but ] am afraid the story will hardly suit them" Then. with all the Kindness she could command. she explained to the woman the needs of the magazine It used little else than love stories. she said. and for that reason the editou would scarcely take the trouble to ex anime manuscripts ot another churac ter.
 But why not try again:" she dn lshed brightly. "Our subscription has expired. and you can send in our re- newal with the story. Please do. Miss Wlggs"
 So Mss Wiggs did try again Some how as she sat in the darkened parlor a plot came to her. an Idea for love story. unique clever. interesting She. told it Co Cordelia. and the girl clapped her hands j0yously.
 "Oh. It's ever SO good. Miss Wiggs. ,. she said. And when the story was writ. ten and read to her she gave it exactly the same praise. And now the story had won the prize
 
 The back door opened softly and Cordelia entered the house. It was some time before she discovered Misi Wiggs In the parior. As the girl enter ed the room the woman looked up with a smile lighting her thin face.
 "See. Cordelia," she said with chile lsh g.ee. "I won the prize.
 Cordelia did not smile. Drawing a. chalr close to Miss Wiggs she opened the magazine lu her hand.
 "I am going to read you story. she said slowly that was printed seyera' years ago"
 Mss Wiggs smiled at the girl loving ly as she listened to the first few words. Then the smile gave way to a look Of wonderment that in turn changed to one Of pain. When the story was ended. she looked up at the girl with tears in her eyes.
 You don't think. Cordeiia'- she be gan brokenly
 Cordella sprang to her side and placed an arm caressingly around the woman
 Dear Mss Wigs she said quick ly. perhaps it was merely colnci- dence or lt may be you once read thls story and then forgot it tin it came back to your memory. apparently aD original Idea"
 They sat silently In the little parlor tIll twilight fell Mss Wlggs bravely kept back the tears but the hand that Cordella held trembled constantly.
 The pOstman's step sounded on the front porch. and Miss Wlggs opened the door for him. He handed her a long blue envelope
 My story of the first settlers" she explained to COrdelu noting the name bf The Story Magazine on the envelope.
 She tore it open and slipped out the manuscript. A little note came with it
 -Read it. Cordelia." she said My eyes are not very clear today"
 The editors of The Story Magazine" " read Cordella. return the inclOsed manuscript with much regret. We'll written and readable as it Is, the plot t8 somewhat hackneyed. and for that roaBon the story Is returned"
 With a sudden suspicion Cordeia turned to the manuscript. asrnE nnr-- Wr~f----- .--r...H