The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-08
THE EVENING STORY


What's that?" exclaimed Mrs. Blair.
as loud "thud' in the hall smote upon
her ears.
It's only the mail carrier throwing in
one OF my rejected stories, OF course
replied her husband, resignedly, spring.
ING up from the breakfast table and DIS
appearing into the hall.
Presently he returned with a fat en-
Nelope, which he tossed besioe his plate,
and magazine, which he proceeded to
open and glance through
Which one is it this Lime?" asked his
Vile sympathetically.
The mining story sent off last
Thursday
they even looked at III
On, yes they did. They probably
saw at glance that they didn't want
II, and We're kind enough to ship 1t
PACK promptly. Perhaps it was too long,
or too short. or-Stay, let me see what
the editor does say" tearing open the
slip.
&c We have read the inclosed manu-
script, with interest, and regret that it
Goes not seem precisely adapted to our
present needs, and therefore return it
lin! HIN! This does not imply any lack
of merit No; of course not In
Iact, my dear, it's the same old story in
the same old way!''
He slammed the condemned manu-
script upon the table, and resumed his
study OF the magazine.
Yet plenty Of writer's do get in" he
continued. Here are eight short stOr-
les in this number of Hampers, and
thousands of others are published every
month. It seems as If everybody wrote
for the press nowadays"
Even the lawyers" said his wife,
with a glimmer of fun in her eyes.
w ell, even a lawyer doesn't dlsdain
an occasional 20 or 80 dollars for a few
hours spare work"
Twenty or thirty dollarsi You are
coming down rapidly in your prices.
Last year it was 40 or So and the
year before it was a hundred or So"
The law of supply and demand, my
dear. If I had made a hit like the
author of Mr.. Jiggs of the Oyster Bed
my prices would be advancing at cor
responding rate. But what I was go
ing to say is this: How do all these
writer's get in, and why in the mischief
cant 1 get in, too? Jerusalem!"
The expletive was addressed to the
maid, who, in setting a cup of coffee
beside his plate, had splashed some or
the hot contents over his hand and upon
the table cloth. He glared at her saw
agely while she awkwardly apolOgized
and mopped up the fluid with a napkin.
Mrs. Blair fr0wned at him, as If TO
say, Don't scold heri" and then OBJ
served, kindly, to the maid: Never
mind, Mary. The cloth would 90 in
the wash tomorrow, anyway. Now,
will you please set a finger bowl on
the table
Mr. Blair returned to the magazine.
Here is another story by that new
writer, NJ. Conway, and it seems to start
of well. l wish l could meet minor,
more likely, her, for most of the new
writer's seem to be women. I'd say to
him-or her. 'Sir-or Madam-how in
the world did you do it2 How did you
get in? Was it by influence, or cheek
or a personal acquaintance with the ed
itor2 Won't you kindly inform me how
it was accomplished? Tell me how to
get in, and III promise to whack up
half of my first years profits.
A loud crash interrupted his remarks,
and glancing up he beheld the maid
standing helplessly over the fragments
of q cut glass finger bowl
We'll! what next he begani but
his wife hastily interposed.1 Never
mind, Mary. A little clean water won't
hurt the rug, and you can sweep up the
glass after breakfast"
When the maid had withdrawn, Mrs.
Blair said to her husband: You must
be careful not to speak so sharply, or
we'u lose her, and I don't know where
we could get any one to take her place.
.Ail right" returned Mr.. Blair. But
there's one thing | VIII INSIST uP e.,1e
She must keep out OF my Gen She
was in there again this morning
Yes. She asked my permission 10
look at your dictionary
THE dictionary Now, what
As If in answer to his unfinished ques-
ton. the maid entered, blushingly hand
ed her mistress a note. and quietly with
drew. -.
with muttered exclamation OF
amazement Mrs. Blair glanced through
the note, and then read It aloud;
s7Dear Madam regret to inform you
that our pleasant connection as mistress
and maid will terminate on the 10th inst,
when my month Is up. This does not
imply any lack of kindness on your
part. but simply that I am engaged IN
more remunerative and congenial en-
ployment- 1870
maid who viii prove available 1 am
very. respectfully yours, ---..r~ ,,
m. CONWAY FANNERTY.,
"Great Scott NJ. Conway-our maid.
gasped Mr.. Blair. -,
Tbey gazed blankly at each other
moment, and then roared with laughter.
Finallv; you'd better give it up, my
dear" said his wife, chokingly, as she
wiped her eyes.
,,o,-;n+ IN twain. when housemaids
take to story writing, it is high l., time n
for lawyers to stick to their brieLs;
4oae r (,atQWetl.)