The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-03
THE EVENING STORY
Accepted with THANKS.
(By Laura Mary Rogersl


emptiness; then she turned the con-
tents Of her portfolio upon the afghan
and searched among the loose leaves
and envelopes. Not a stamp to be
found!
The search was a mere formality. for
she could account for every one of the
dozen stamps she had borrowed q week
ago. With compressed lips she looked
for inspiration around the room and
out in the hail. Mr.. Wilkins was com :
ing down the stairs.
Miss Lila caught her breath. He waz
the only lodger to whom she did not owe
stamps. 1t had been a comfort to her
to feel self-respecting In regard to one
Of the dodgers. and she had told herself
that 1T was not merely because he had
never put himself in the way of her
solicitations. But now-why cling t,
such small remnant of pride!
Mr.. Wilkins!' shescalled softly.
A middle-aged man with an ecru
moustache presented himself at the
door.
Are you-worse?" he inquired awk-
wardly: Shall call your sisters?"
"Oh. no; please don't. Mr.. wilkins"
Miss Lila rejoined fervently.
viii you do me a favor, Mr.. VIII
kins?''
INJURED, and Miss Lila hurried on.
Il would be 50 much obliged If 20 4
would mail this for me-. I can't asl.
my. sisters, for I don't want them to
Z, L
stamps. and think it will take four,
two inside and two out, and I haven't
any change now, but won't forget it."
Mr.. Wilkins produced a stamp book
extracted neat row of stamps and
solemnly applied them to the bulky en-
velope.
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
a Aol 4.
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 attempts
at composition during the busy years
of public school teaching, and her con-
slant efforts at literary production
since she had been laid low by a strick-
en- knee.
The recital had hitherto ended there.
leaving her success to be inferred, but
something in Mr.. wilkins grave atten-
ton led her to add, in a voice that was
intended to be Indifferent, but sounded
discouraged:
Everything comes back"
"Oh, we'll you can't expect to make
it go right off," Mr.. Wilkins assured
her.
"How do stories sell?" he inquired
DO they pay pretty well?'
"Oh, yes, If you can sell them" Miss
Lila replied wistfuily. why, a story
of that length ought to get $25-but,
Of course. it makes q difference who
writes it,
There suddenly seemed to be nothing
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 a lodger she could look
II. the face-and she owed AZ stamps!
Then the usual reaction came; she re-
dected that this was no time for scru-
Pies. The simplest calculation showed
her that her sisters were running be-
lind in the household expenses, and
from ordinary observation she knew
hat they were starving themselves.
Just Their Miss Louisa brought her
Louisa looked at her hungrily.
A week later. when Mr.. wilkins hur-
led up the stairs one night, he was
greeted by shout from Miss Lila.
Come here!" she called, joyfully.
Mr.. wilkins found her propped up
among her pillows. as usual, but her
ace was pink with excitement her eyes
slistened, and the pink ribbons were
n disarray.
Look a. thisl" she commanded, and
vas brief statement that her story
"A Paltry Ring had been accepted
With thanks, and that she would find
nclcsed check for $50.
Hiss Lila laughed merrily.
81 don't wonder you're surpris d.
he said. but you should have seen us
When that letter camel" Then followed |
detailed account Of the rapturous |
"Oh, it has encouraged me soi'' Miss |
lila concluded. II am just full of |
lans. I'm going to begin another story |
about the French revolution; |
always loved that period of history" |
p
g feverishly, except during the inter-
ais when she summoned dodgers and |
eturned their stamps. A few days la
er she waylaid Mr.. Wilkins again and
ltrusted to him the mailing of For
owe of Francois" proudly furnishing
ne stamps herself.
ct ask you because think you are 1,
good mascot" she said girlishly. Il
This is quite little longer than the |.
Their one. and I can't help feeling hope
H."
'1t's all in getting a start Mr..
Wilkins said, and Miss Lila nodded.
The second acceptance was almost
matter of course. 1t came ten days
alter, accompanied by a check for
IS, and Miss Lila showed gain in
oise; it does not take long to be-
ONE accustomed to success.
I'm getting only accepted with /,
and he remarked that she
ad got started. There was a manu-
cript all ready to be mailed which :
he consigned to Mr.. Wilkins. {
81 wouldn't let any one else mail it {
Or the world" she said, and Mr..
Wilkins blushed deeply Is
Exactly a week later Miss Louisa
anted up the stairs with the letter
DR. Miss Lila and Miss Luella fol-
owed after. Miss Lila received 1t al 1
lost nonchalantly, but little shrek
scaped her as a blue slip fell out
ITS for $15." she announced. "It
vas short one, you know" Then ,
he read the letter aloud, in a tone
nat tried to be business like. {
"Your story, The Love of a Life {
, accented with thanks