Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-17
lotion
ON THE REBOUND.
BY GARFIELD MAcNEAL.

Lillian Treadwell awoke on the
morning of her thirtieth birthday 70
the sickening consciousness that she
was an old maid. She parted the
cretonne curtains of her bed, curtains
covered with red roses, suggestive Of
summer sunshine, and turned her eyes
toward the window. Rain beating
against the panes and duh gray sky
proclaimed a cheerless November day,
She sighed. Then, stretching out a
shapely arm, she took silver hand
mirror from the nearby dressing table
and carefully studied her features.
In the language of Shakespeare, she
saw mo deeper wrinkles yet" face
long and oval, patrician in outline and
expression, skin rather olive, eyes
brown, deep and luminous, mouth
generously nodded and a wealth Of
brown hair On the whole. it was q
notable face and one of character.
Dropping the mirror on the bed, she
called "Loisv A French maid, neat,
trim and smiling, appeared with the
breakfast tray.
"Ah, mann selle A thousand con-
gratulations on your birthday"
my thirtieth, Lois But thank you
just the same"
"Ma'm'selle is still young, and al
ready fame has come to you. And
when your novel is published the world
will be at your feet" said Lois, with a
comprehensive sweep indicating the
world.
ooh, yes, the novelp' murmured her
mistress, sitting up and starting in on
her coffee and rolls, while the maid
laid a bundle of letters and manu-
scripts on the bed.
Miss Treadwell opened the one bulky
package and looked at the accompany
ing letter. 1t was from great pub
fishing house formally expressing re-
greet that they were unable to accept
her novel.
She gulped down something in her
throat. Her novel declined-her first
really original work, to which she had
given the leisure hours of six years!
Truly, this was most delightful birth
day gift.
Lois" she said, and her voice trem-
bled-"Lois, my novel has been de-
clined"
"Ah, mam'selle, l am too sorry
with quick sympathy-"but some other
publisher will accept It,"
Her mistress shook her head 81
shall not send it out again. shall
stick to hack work. / can at least
make living at that" Then she add
ed rehectively, "My life has been a
failure"
Lois protested. She worshiped her
mistress. "Ma'm'selle has been sue
cessful. You have a pretty apartment
and everything you want"
"Other women, too, have pretty
apartments and everything they
want"
"Ah, yes, but they did not work for
them" said Lois, with a worldly
shrug, as she went in response to the
electric bell, which at this moment
buzzed loudly in the hall
She reappeared with huge white
box. "Flowers, ma'm'selle, and a note,'
she said gayly.
Miss Treadwell cut the ribbon that
held the box and disclosed mass Of
violets. They seemed to look up at
her tenderly, yet shrinkingly, as she
bent over them. With sigh of pleas
ure she took the note and studied the
bold handwriting Of the superscrip-
ton. Her heart jumped. Surely 1t
was Jack'sl Dear old Jack had re-
membered her!
She slit across the end of the en-
velope while her fingers trembled and
eagerly unfolded the paper.
'Dear Lillian" she read, may
hope that this remembrance Of your
birthday win prove that have not
fera"ttsn YOU? l have been in town