Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1909-09-30
40 tf'73''I,''t ''I3t,''tSst9ef9st t}'ffs-
Accepted
With Thanks
The Stories She Wrote and
Her Own Self as Well
Fly LAURA MARY ROGERS
Copyright, 1903, by Associated Lit
erary Press.
Ey LAURA MARY ROGERS
C,.E}.S.S..o.{tsC0sCoCssO.S3.,1c


contents Of her portfolio upon the af-
CHAN and searched among the loose
leaves and envelopes. Not stamp TO
be found.
Ihe search was a mere fOrmality
for She could account for every one of
the dozen stamps she had borrowec
week ago. With compressed lips
she looked for inspiration around the
hroom and out in the hall Mr.. Wilkins
6as coming down the stairs.
Miss Lila caught her breath. He
was the only lodger to whom she did
not owe stamps. 1t had been com
fort 10 her to feel self respecting in
regard to one cf the dodgers, and she
had told herself that it was not mere
ly because he had never put himself
in the way Of her solicitations But
now-why cling TO such small rem
nant of pride.
Mr.. Wilkins" she called softly.
middle aged man with an ecru
mustache presented himself at the
door
Are you wOrse?" he inquired aMk-
wardIy. "Shall l call your sisters?"
oh, no. please don't, Mr. Wilkins"
Miss Lila rejoined ferventIy.
VIII you do me Il favor Mr.. Will
kins?"
"Yes'm. certainly" Mr.. wilkins mur-
murel. aud Miss Lii hurried on:
IL should be so mt II obliged if you
would mali this for me can't ask
my sisters. for / don't want them to
know about it. and | haven't auy
stamps, ana / think it will take f0ul.
two inside and two out. and | haven {
any change now. but / won't forget
it,"
Mr.. Wilkins produced stamp book.
extracted a neat row of stamps and
solemnly applied them to the bulky
envelope.
And two inside?" he questioned.
Yes, please" Miss Lila said gayly.
Mr.. wilkins looked at her with won
der and alarm in his eyes, and before
she knew it Miss Lila had broken her
resolution to be reserved and was in
the middle of the explanation that the
seven other dodgers already knew. In
the usual order she revealed to him
her secret to write. her spasmOdic at
tempts at composition during the busy
years of public school teaching and
her constant efforts ut literary produc-
tiOn since she had been laid low by
stricken knee.
The recital had hitherto ended there.
leaving her success to be inferred. but
something in Mr.. wilkins grave at
tention led her to add in a voice that
was intended to be Indifferent, but
sounded discouraged:
But I've never had thing accept
ed Every, hing comes backr'
oh, well you can't expect to make
it 20 right off," Mr. Wilkins assured
her
How do stories sell?" he inquired.
'D0 they pay pretty well?"
oh, yes. if you can sell them." Miss
Lila replied wistfully. why, story
of that length ought to get $25, but, of
course, it makes a difference who
writes it,"
There suddenly seemed to be moth
ing to say, and Mr.. wilkins left before
Miss Lila could elaborate her thanks.
Left alone, she turned her face to
the wall in Il kind Of spasm Of shame.
Now there was not a lodger she could
look in the face-and she owed forty
two stamps Then the usual reaction
came. She reflected that this was no
time for scruples. The simplest cal
culatiOn showed her that her sisters
were running behind in the household
expenses. aud from ordinary observa-
tion she knew that they were starving
themselves.
just then Miss Louisa brought her
an eggnOg. and she fancied Miss Louise
looked at her hungrily.
\ week later, when Mr. wilkins hur-
ried up the stairs one night he was
greeted by shout from Miss Lila.
Come herei" she called joyfully
MIR. Wilkins found her propped up
among her pillows, as usual, but her
n face was pink with excitement her
eyes glistened, and the pink ribbons
were in disarray
Look at thisw she commanded, and
she thrust under his eyes a letter. ~
was brief statement that her story
"A Paltry Ring" had been accepted
with thanks and that she would find
tnclosed check for $50.
Mr.. Wilkins sought for words, and
Miss Lila ughed merriy.
Il don't wonder you're surprised" F"
she said. ''but you should have seen us
when that letter came" Then fol
lowed a detailed account Of the rap
turous day.
"Oh, 1t has encouraged me sol" Miss
Lila concluded. ~ am Just full O.
plans. I'm going to begin another sto-
ry tomorrow about the French reyolu-
ton. | always loved that period of
history"
The next day found Miss LILA writ