The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-10-24
:DOmeSticDifficuIties

ICopyright, 1909, BY w. r. caldwelI

ICoByFent, lbUus ~ w. IL. Caldwell
What's thatT exclaimed Mrs. Blair
as a 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 resigned
ly, sprlnging up from the breakfast TIA
bic and disappearing into the hall.
Presently he returned with fat en-
velope, which he tossed beside his
plate, and a magazine. which he pro
ceeded to open and glance through.
(which one Is II this timer" asked
his wife sympathetlcally.
"rhe mining story sent Off last
Thursday"
"only five days agol done believe
they even looked at ltP'
"oh, yes, they did. They probably
saw at glance that they didn't want
II and We're kind enough to ship 1t back
promptly. Perhaps 1t was too long or
too short or Stay, let me see what
the editor does say" tearing open the
envelope and glanclng over a printed
slip.
I'VE have read the lnclosed manu-.
script with interest and regret that It
does not seem precisely adapted to our
present needs aud therefore return IT,
HIM, hint This does not imply any
lack of merit No. of course not. In
fact. 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 sto,
rles in this number Of Hampers, and
thousands Of others are published ev-
cry month. II seems as IL everybody
wrote for the press nowadays"
Even the lawyers" said his wife
with glimmer OF fun In her eyes.
well, even lawyer doesn't tiisdain
an occasional twenty or thirty dollars
for few hours spare work"
Twenty or thirty dollars! You are
coming down rapidly In your prices
Last year II was forty or fifty. and the
year before 1t was hundred or So"
THE law Of supply and demand, my
dear. II had made hit like the au
thor Of MIR, Jlggs of the Oyster Bed.
my prices would be advancing at cor.
responding rate. but what | was 90
Ing TO say Is this; How do all these
writers get Ia and why in the mischief
can't | get Ia tooq Jerusalemr'
The expletlve was addressed to the
maid, who In setting . cup OF coffee
beside his place had Splashed some OF
tho hot contents over his hand and
upon the tablecloth. He glared at her
savagely while she awkwardly apollo
glzed and mopped up the fluid with
napkin.
AIRS, Blair frowned at him, as II to
say, Don't scold herr aud then oh.
served kindly to tho maid: Never
mind. Mary. The cloth would 60 In
the wash tomorrow. anyway. Now
will you please set finger bowl on
the table,"
Mr. Blair returned to the magazine
Here Is another story by that new
writer, NJ, Conway, and 1t seems t.
start or we'll wish could meet him,
or. more likely. her. for most OF the
new writers seem to DO women. ia
say TO him, or her; sir. or madam. how
in the world did you do liz How did
you set TN? Was II by influence OF
cheek or personal acquaintance Wit
the edltorS Won't you kindly Inform
me how It was accompllshedH Tell ms
how TO get Ia aud I'll promise to whaeh
up hair Of my first years pronts.'"
\ loud crash interrupted his remarks.
aud, CHANGING Up. he beheld the mall
standing helplessly over the fragments
OF a cut glass finger bowl
We'll, what ncxtI" he began. bui
his wife hastily lnterposed. Never
mind, Mary. A little clean water won't
hurt the rug. and you can sweep m
the glass after breakfast"
When the maid had withdrawn Mrs
Blair said to her husband. You must
be careful not to speak 50 sharply or
ven lose her, and don't know where
we could get any one TO take he.
1lace