The newspaper., 1909-10-08

IlaI " ds thSdSNh "
Genevieve Sterrett long before he
graduated from the village school.
She was only fourteen, slender. Keen
eyed and freckled-faced.
Her graduation day was to have
been the one great event in her life:
but Jack ruined that day for her by
calmly announcing to her that he
had that day chosen between her
and his ambition, that he was going
to leave her.
81 feel the call in my soul to be-
GENE great writer" he had told
her, "and am going away to i'm
prove my talents" That had been
years ago but that was the last mes
sage he had sent her. lie felt no
pricking of his conscience, but some
how he feared trouble from her. he
hardly knew why, unless 1t was that
she was so full of energy, determina-
ton, soul and enthusiasm.
But he had worked hard for his
ambition. He had become college
graduate, had learned three lang
uages, had served time as news re-
porter, but try as he might, he never
seemed to be able to get his stories
ines print I'm any OF the good maga-
Zines.
Now, that had become the one
great desire of his soul. to be a we'll
known, successful short story writer.
BY living very economically he had
managed to save about six hundred
dollars, when he decided one day to
give up his work as "A reporter and
devote his whole time and attention
70 writing short stories. by taking
cheaper quarters and living frugally
he planned that this sum should last
him for at least six months. or even
longer.
Through the morning he walked
the slums of the city studying phys
iogonomy and phrenology-the ex-
pressions of countcnances and the
shapes Of the heads-noting their re-
lation To the characters and abilities
OF the people.
In the afternoons he walked the
streets. haunted the lobbIes OF the
best hotels and frequented club
rooms Of the upper classes. studying.
always studying. the expressions Of
the people and their conversations
Later in the evenings. in his quiet
den. he wrote breezy. snappy stories.
picturing life-real modern life-at
first hand. sending his stories imme-
diatoly to the best magazines. After
several days. however. they would
always come back. ench bearing a
neatly printed rejection slip.
That there was some merit In his
stories he knew. but he did not un-
derstand the fine points. the tricks.
of the trade. Slowly the glamour
was wearing off. his spirit tagged.
For whole days together he forced
himself mechanically to his duties.
dragging through the tedium of II.
He begun to- wonder. vaguely, how
long this might continue before he
lost all ambition and all hope to-
gether. Would success crown his
eUoTlN DtlOrt uir llobtN EaN' Vbe
and failure stared him In the face?
Perhaps. he was getting tired OF
his lonely quarters. he thought.
Well. he would take one dinner oc.
casionally at his old hotel "Homc.'
where he had lived so long.
He went straightway to dine; and
while he sat lowering at the pepper
box, confiding his troubles to his
dream children, n gentleman and
lady seated themselves beside him.
He glanced carelessly across the
table. All. How his heart leaped.
and his blood went racing over his
face and forehead. There before him
sat n real, live, literary magnate
who held the golden key to his
dreamland, where he held only an
improved claim-a birthright that
was denied entrance. He rejoiced
that he had speaking acquaintance
with him.
The man across the table nodded
pleasantly, and oh, how happy he
was! He felt almost foolish that he
should care so much for such slight
recognition from this lord OF his fam
-, haux.on