The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1906-07-03
A STUDY
FROM LIFE
By LEIGH ATWOOD
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

see, that was why | thought so much
about it. | know now it is impos-
sible to make an allowance do, and
nobody expects it either.
was only ten pounds short at the
end of the quarter; and really,
hadn't been bit extrayagant, except
perhaps for that lovely jeweled muff-
chain, which cost-but there, that
doesn't matter.
dear, and of course gave me some more
money; but it seemed to me | ought
to save it myself, yet somehow
couldn't.
However, one day all of sudden
had splendid idea. | would write a
book! 1t looked SO easy and paid so
we'll | knew, because Mr.. Kingswell
dads friend, wrote books for which
he got heaps of money-thousands OF
pounds, somebody told me.
1t proved to be very much more trou-
BILE than you would think. | had read
somewhere that one ought to parse
every word one writes. | didn't see
why Yet did 1t, for OF course an
author must expect to put up with
a little inconvenience; though | am
afraid the parsing would have made
dear old Miss Howard shudder, for
always hated parsing at school,
I soon gave up the idea of writing
a book.
A tale would be quite enough and
far less bother. So burnt the
other stuff, parsng and all, and
started on the tale. 1t was easy to
decide what it should be about All
the tales I've read have been about
girl, man and a wedding. So |
soon got it done. 1t was rather
rush to get it copied by post time, but
| managed 1t and sent 1t off to the
editor in whose paper | wished it to
appear, and then waited for him to
send me the check.
About two days later big envelope
came up with my letters and couldn't
think what it might be; but when
opened it | was indeed surprised 1t
was my ldie' nc eullOI uluu
want 1t.
After breakfast | went into the
library and sat down to read the man,
uscript over. | picked up the printed
slip which came with it. Marked on
1t were two or three words about the
tale having mo plot and being too
crude" 1t was so absurd, because
there was a plot. | know what a plot |
is. We studied the plots of Shakes
peare at school. The plot is the tale, |
and my tale was about man who
met girl and married her.
was thinking this out when Mr..
Klngswell was announced. After he
had shaken hands he went and stood |
on the hearthrug with one elbow on
the chimney piece, looking at me at
the writing table surrounded by all
my papers
Whatever documents have you
there? Are you auditing the house
hold accounts?" he asked.
NO" | said, Il don't have anything
to do with the accounts yet; | don't
think | could manage them" cor
course | couldn't. Hadn't | made a
muddle of my own allowanceO
"Ah! Then you are perhaps cal
culating your personal liabilities?
But, no, see you are not dealing with
figures"
He was laughing, | could tell; but
| didn't mind that, some people laugh
so nicely, and | determined to tell him
all about it,
Il am writing story" | said, "or
rather | have written one, and, would
you believe, the editor | posted it to
has sent 1t back"
IT'S habit am told editors have"
Mr.. Kingswell replied, quite seriously,
though fancied his eyes were laugh.
ing.
It's very silly habit" | asserted,
"and editors must be very stupid il
they are all like this one. Why he
says there Is no plot in my tale: I
could anything be more ridiculous?"
What is the story? Tell me all
about It," returned Mr.. Kingswell,
"and l shall be able to sympathize .
more completely" ,
So told him briefly, of course. for !
there wasn't much to tell and when :
l had finished: ;
Indeed, Miss March," he said, 1.-THE I
editor must be mistaken. Given a r
man and a woman there's bound to t
be tale. But let me read it. Per
haps you haven't worked it out prop. :
erly. You are inexperienced, you +
know"
| gave him the manuscript and h
watched while he sat in dads arm. +
chair to read it. He is what you A
would call fine man, with such +
strong shoulders and lovely brown t
hair with little tips Of gray, like sill. s