The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-12-26
Fiction
ON THE INBOUND.
nr eARFIELn MAcNEAL.

che sickening consciousness tnaL 6he
-,s On old maid. She parted the
rratopne curtains Of her bed, curtains
covered with red roses. suggestive Of
snmmer sunshine, and turned her eyes
toward the window. Rain beating
AGAINST the panes and dun gray sky
unclaimed a cherries November day.
She sighed. Then, stretching out q
shapeIy arm, she took a silver hand
mirror from the nearby dressing table
and carefully studied her features.
In the language Of Shakespeare. she
saw no deeper wrinkles yet" face
long and oval, patriclan In outline and
expression, skin rather olive, eyes
brown. deep and luminous. a mouth
generously nodded and a wealth OF
brown hair. On the whole, II was q
notable face and one Of character.
Dropping the mirror on the bed, she
called ''LoisE" A French maid, neat,
trim and smiling. appeared with the
breakfast tray.
aAh, ma'm'sellel A thousand con-
ordinations on your birthday
MY thirtieth, Lois But thank yoU
Just the same"
aMa'm'seIle Is stu young, and al
ready fame has come 10 you And
when your novel is published the world
viii be at your feet" said Lois, with
comprehensive sweep indicating the
world
"Oh, yes, the novelF' 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 Treadwen opened the one bulky
package and looked at the accompany
ing letter. 1t was from a great pub
fishing house formally expressing re-
gret 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 yearsI
Truly, this was most delightful birth
day gift
Lois" she said, and her voice trem-
bled-"Lois. my novel has been de-
elined-"
"Ah. ma'm'seIle, I am too sorryS-
with quick sympathy-sbut some other
publisher win accept It"
Her mistress shook her head. Il
shall not send It out again. / shall
stick to hack work. / can at least
make a living at that" Then she add
ed rehectively, NY life has been a
failure.n
Lois protested She worshiped her
mistress "Ma'm'seIle has been sue
eessfuL You have a pretty apartment
and everything you want"
''0theF 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 beIl, which at this moment
buzzed loudly In the hall
She reappeared with 4 huge white
box. FLOWERS. ma'm'seIle. and note, /"
ene SaAu BAyAy-
Miss Treadwen cut the ribbon that
held the box ana disclosed a mass Of
violets. They seemed to look up ct
her tendeEly, Jet shrinkingly. as she
bent over them. With a sigh Of pleas
ure she took the note and studied the
bold handwriting Of the superscrip-
t1on. Her heart Jumped Surely It
was Jsck'si Dear old Jack hsd re
membered herl
She zllt across the end Of the en-
velope while her fingers rembled and
eagerly unfolded the paper.
Dear lillian" she read, may I
hope that this remembrance Of your
birthday win prove that I have not
forgotten you7 have been IN town
two days secured your address
from Css Magazine ana send these
flowers to warn zen that am coming
10 invade your sanctum sanctorum and
talk over old times. Always your
friend, Jack Ainsworth."
She started up, scattering letters and
manuscripts on the floor. Lola she
HA4u 0clA4c44ys a Hduk yyu V ~ 00b
my new morning gown. the sea green
one with the train
Sitting down at her dressing table,
abe began a careful toilet Her
thoughts were busy with the past
Jack had been her girlhood friend IN
the little in1and town where they were
both born and bred. Again shs was
twenU-f0ur and he was tWenU-s1x.
Why had be never spokenf she knew
be loved her. and perhaps she had
loved him, too, then. But when her
mothers death left her alone b the
world she was seized with the desire
70 come TO New York 70 Try Der for
tune Jack had advised against n but
strange perFersity made her deaf b
n1s warnings.
At Grst they had kept up q core
spondenee. Soon even that link was
broken Is she vas drawn nore ana
more into the absorbing Whirl ~ news
paper and magazine work. For I'VE
years no letters had passed between
them- To be sure. she had heard Of him
mdrectiy-hoE be gradually Eorgsd