Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1908-02-21
THE PRICE OF A MANUSCRIPT.
(From the High School Nugget.

the paper before her, with a deep,
troubled look, although she seemed
to ask herself why her conscience
smote her so. Then she Gained her.
self by saying half aloud, "Ethel has
the money, | have the brains and
need the money to make father com
Portable. never could gain the adj
miration of the people like Ethel.
Why not let her have the fame. "
Bessie was not overly beautiful, but
her fine dark hair waving back from
the high white forehead, and her
quick witty conversation made her
attractive to all who met her.
In few minutes Ethel Vance would
call for the paper that she was to read
as her own production at the weekly
meeting of her club. Ethel was
gifted with beauty that from the
slender aIched foot to the crown of
her dainty head was without a fault,
furthermore she had a father worth
millions, that enabled her to buy the
work of Bessie's brains.
Soon Ethel came in, threw off her
costly furs, aud the two girls sitting
side by side went over the paper.
Then as Miss Vance read and re-read
the paper, Bessle's eyes swept over
the rich and beautiful clothing of
Ethel, and her eyes flied with a visit
full look OF great longing. Until a
month ago Bessie would have been
contented with her cheap ready made
suits, but her chance meeting with
Mark Gleason made her wish to appear
as beautiful as Ethel Little did she
dream Mark admired brains, spelled
with big letters, much more than he
did a beautiful and attractive per-
sonal appearance.
One afternoon few days later
Ethel burst into Bessie's room, and
breathlessly gasped, "Bess, that was
the best paper you have ever written
for me, everyone made such a fuss
over it"-here she seemed to pause
for breath, and slightly hesitated
| OOAOAo SOibS Ony buon SUM OCO Oh III
her light, daring way again-"Butt the
best of all was that Mr.. Gleason, the
famous illustrator and artist, was pre-
sent to hear me, and he pronounced
my paper the best one read
Bessie's face lighted, but Ethel
rushed on, ''He says if l would
write good novel, it would be a
pleasure for him to illustrate it.
He also said if there was anything he
admired in a woman it was brains"
All through this one-slded oonvers
sation Bessie sat calm and still,
although her thoughts we're with the
book she had just finished, and on
which she bad placed so much hope.
Again Ethel went on, "When 1 was
here the other day, 1 heard you say
something about a novel you had
just finished. Is it ready to be pub
lished, and how much do you
expect to receive for it?" Bessie
mustered together all her will power
in order to appear calm, and an
swered. 81 am preparing to send the
manuscript to publisher this afterJ
noon, and hoped to receive about
five hundred for it," Such a mode {
price seemed to strike Ethel with
horror. 'FIve hundred, why Lay
dear girl, if you would sell it to me
to publish as my own, would pay
three times that price for it,
Bessie did not answer, but looked
at Ethel as though she were trying
to picture fifteen hundred dollars.
Miss Vance soon left, saying she
would Call III the morning for
Bessie's decision.
All night long as Bessie sat by the
bedside of her father, her brain was
III turmoil of thoughts. First she
thought of herself, il Mark admired
Ethel so for her work, would he not
admire her also. Then the differ
ence between the two amounts flash
ed on her again, and how much she
could do for her father. For only
that morning the doctor had pro-
nounced his days to be numbered
unless that winter could be spent in
the South. Again and again he com
pared her tame with the good the
extra money would do her fatherd
Finally a call from bis feeble lips
brought her to his bedside, aud as she
gazed at the pale, wan face she made
her decision.
Next morning Ethel drove up in
front of Bessie's, stepped from her