The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-03
THE DEATH
or. THE
POET
3, BARRY PAIN

~.
tremely distastefui to him, and
passion for a girl called Annie, whicl
seemed absolutely hopeless. TIL
young man himself was fully con
ecious Of the tragedy OF the situs
tfon. He knew that It was from
such furnace az this that the pur
gold Of poetry was extracted. HI
took to doing little poetry in hi
leisure hours.
IL was very much like other poet
ry; that is to say. It was neither yer,
bad nor very good. The leisur,
hours were limited, and this limited
the supply OF the poetry. There wal
not enough for a volume. Perhapl
there never would be. That which
was already written did not entirely
satisfy the young mans nice ant
critical taste. He would have recas
It again and again II he had IN,
money. Much meditation on the
poignancy OF this situation led hin
to the decision that when he wal
dead, with the green grass growing
over him. after his name, carved In
a simple headstone, should come the
effective words, Who died unex.
pressed" II was some regret to him
that he could never live to see It.
Most of his poems were addressed
to Annie, who was practical young
lady. A girl who Is called Annie Is
almost certain to be practical. He
would. without much encouragement
read these poems to her. Then she
would say Thank you," and look
very doubtful. He did not like the
look. He went so far as to ask her
II she did not think he was right in
using the one talent that heaven had
given him.
We'll, don't know about that"
said Annie. tits nothing to me, and
you've got to suit yourself. OF
course. it's better that you should
spend your time over this writing
than II you stopped boozing in the
public house all night-same as
some do. My two brothers make pic
ture frames in the evening and sell
them, too. It's not for me to advise,
but why don't you try the picture
frames? Besides, ought you to GO
on writing poems about me when
you know perfectly well there's
nothing in It? l like you well
enough so far as you go. but II ever
l take a husband it'll be somebody
In far different position than you.
Just think about that"
At that moment he was extremely
annoyed and had to be pulled up by
Annie with a sharp jerk. After
wards he did go away and think
about 1t, and all the while he was
thinking about It respectable soap
boiler OF moderate fortune passed
peacefully away.
BY the death of the soap boiler,
who was indeed his uncle. the young
man was placed in a very different
position. Annie received the news
from him in brief and extremely
business like note. Her mother
agreed that 1t was clearly her duty
to 20 round and see about It. She
would be able to catch him at the
shop In Fulham on her way to work.
He was not at the shop, and she was
Informed that he had resigned his
post. She had Just time to go on to
his lodgings. But he was not there
either. He was at the moment en-
gagged in the purchase OF one OF the
very best glass eyes that money
could buy. 1t was a triumph. He
could only tell the difference
between the real eye and the artifi-
cial by shutting first one lid and then
the other. His self-respect grew tre-
Annie, who, as I have said, was
quite practical, did not forget that
August 8 was his birthday and sent
him a pair of slippers which she had
worked with her own hands. She
thought the acknowledgment which
she received of her gift was little
loo formal. She was driven so far
toward desperation that In a per-
'ectly needless letter OF reply she
asked him to send her any poetry
hat he had been doing lately A
poSe Ouiu IcdCueu HeT ITOH MafSal0
bearing the simple statement that
he had not been doing any lately.
Annies charm had been the charm
,f the unattainable. That was gone
how. and his eye showed him that
here were other prettier girls. The
'ther eye, the glass article, was SO
complete that he no longer suffered
rom any feeling of physical deform-
ty. He was free from the long
hours of work at a business which
had never pleased him. He had
heaps OF time to write poetry and to
'ecast what he had already written,
Ind he never wrote single line.
Just once. as he enjoyed his after
luncheon cigarette. he did recall the
'impie headstone and the proposed
inscription. who died with moth
ng to express" occurred to him.
But he did not worry about 1t. He
aad promised to take q girl out on
he water that afternoon. a remark
lbiy pretty girl. too. He went In
'earch Of her. whistling az he went.