The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-09-21


contents of her portfolio upon the af-
CHAN and searched among the loose
leaves and envelopes. Not stamp to
be foundI
The search was a mere formality,
for she could account for every one OF
the dozen stamps she had borrowed
a week ago. With compressed lips
she looked for inspiration around the
room and out in the hall. Mr.. Wilkins
was 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 to her to feel self respecting in
regard to one of the dodgers, and she
had told herself that it was not mere
" because he had never put himself
In the way of her solicitations. But
now-why cling to such a small rem
nant of pride!
mfr. Wilkins" she called softly.
A middle aged man with an ecru
mustache presented himself at the
door.
Are you-worseY' he inquired awk-
wardly. "Shall 1 call your sistersP
ooh, no; please don't, Mr.. wilkins"
Miss Lila rejoined fervently.
'Will you do me a favor. Mr.. Will
kins?"
''Yes'm, certainly" Mr.. wilkins muir
INJURED, and Miss Lila hurried on:
81 should be SO much obliged If you
would mail this for me. / can't ask
my sisters, for don't want them to
know about it, and l haven't any
stamps. and think it will take four.
two inside and two out, and haven't
any change now. but 1 won't forget
it."
Mr. Wilkins produced a stamp book,
extracted a neat row Of stamps and
solemnly applied them to the bulky
envelope.
"And two inside?' he questioned.
eyes, 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 at literary produc-
ton since she had been laid low by a
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 voice that
was intended to be Indifferent, but
sounded discouraged:
But I've never had thing accept
ed Everything comes back?'
"Oh, well, you can't expect to make
it go right off," Mr. Wilkins assured
her.
How do stories sellT' he inquired.
do they pay pretty wellT"
"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 a kind of spasm of shame.
Now there was not ledger 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, and from ordinary observa-
ton she knew that they were starving
themselves.
Just then Miss Louisa brought her
an eggnog. and she fancied Miss Louise
looked at her hungrily.
A week later, when Mr. Wilkins hur-
ried up the stairs one night, he was
greeted by shout from Miss Lila.
Come herew she called joyfully.
Mr.. wilkins found her propped up
among her pillows, as usual, but her
face was pink with excitement, her
eyes glistened, and the pink ribbons
were in disarray.
"Look at thisp' she commanded, and
she thrust under his eyes letter. 1t
was a brief statement that her story,
"a Paltry Ring" had been accepted
with thanks and that she would find
inclosed a check for $50.
Mr.. Wilkins sought for words, and
Miss Lila laughed merrily.
81 don't wonder you're surprised"
she said, "but you should have seen us
when that letter came" Then fol
lowed a detailed account Of the rap
turous day.
'Oh, it has encouraged me sog' Miss
Lila concluded. 81 am just full Of
plans. I'm going to begin another sto-
nv tomorrow about the French revolu-
ton. l always loved that period Of
history"
The next day found Miss Lila writ
ing feverishly except during the inter
walls when she summoned dodgers and
returned their stamps. A few days
Later she waylaid Mr.. wilkins again
and intrusted to him the mailing Of
"For Love Of Francois" proudly fur
nishing the stamps herself.
81 ask you because think you are a
good mascot" she said girlishly. '"This
is quite a little longer than the other
one. and can't help feeling hopeful"
"It's all in getting start" Mr.. Will
kins said, and Miss Lila nodded.
The second acceptance was almost a
matter of course. 1t came ten days
later, accompanied by check for $35.
and Miss Lila showed gain in poise.
1t does not take long to become accus-
toned to success.
'T'm getting only accepted with
thanks now" she said happily to Mr..
wilkins, and he realized that she
had got started. There was manu-
script all ready to be mailed which
she consigned to Mr.. wilkins.
81 wouldn't let any one else mail it
for the world" she said, and Mr..
wilkins blushed deeply.
Exactly a week later Miss Louisa
painted up the stairs with the letter
for Miss Lila, and Miss Luella fol-
lowed after Miss Lila received 1t
almost nonchalantly, but a little shrek
escaped her as a blue slip fell out.
ITS for $15," she announced. ut
was a short one, you know" Then she
read the letter aloud in a tone that
tried to be businesslike.
"Your story. The Love Of Life is
accepted with thanks"
AS she finished reading &c. Burton.
treasurer" she suddenly turned pale,
gasped and thrust the letter under her
pillow.
Eighty dollars in less than a
month"; Miss Luella was saying.
u