Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-19

possible to be found is. that it is too |
cem.ny. The modern magazine editor |
is not up to it. 1t is as far beyond |
him as Shakespeare is beyond the av-
erage farmers hired man. For no
other reason was it returned to you
What. A gem like this crowded
among the mawkish love stories in
words without making Il grammatical
blunder! Heaven forbid.''
''Eut IL they won't publish it how
can get 1t before the pecple?" asked
the author. with anxiety in her tones.
II could call on those editors and
call them fgnora and scOundrels.
could prove to them that they were
suppressing the brightest and most
charming thoughts Of the century,"
But that would anger them"
Mr.. Elkins picked up the manuscript
and carefully studied the backs of the
pages again and then sighed and
raised his eyes to heaven. He didn't
say so in SO many words. but his at
ti.ude plainly betokened that he was
out of it.
Two days elapsed. and then the story
was sent away again. There surely
must be one editor in the country who
could rise to the. sentiment Of it. In
due time. which was about a week. it
came back for the third time. There
was a cold blooded type written notice
i.lcloscd to the effect that its rejection
did not signify any lack of literary
merit. but there was no consolation in
this. Indeed if it did not lack literary
RIerit why not publish it?
This question was asked of young
Sanger. a third caller and admirer.
| and he promptly replied:
Because it is Ouida over again. and
| yCu know the jealousy against Ouida.
| All these ma gaZine editors are a trust.
| They won't permit n new writer to en-
| ter the field ana make n reputation
| Why. Miss Harper. | once wrote a
story and sent 1t away and had 1t come
back on me twenty-four times. But
! for this jealousy | might have been a
| Wilkie Collins In time. Have got the
name right? Was it Wilkie or Tom
Collins? Have you spoken to Mr..
Granger on the matter of the story?'
! why. no! And that's funny, be-
cause I've heard that he was u literary
man. He hasn't called here for two or
| three weeks. however"
HE is the editor of the very mag
azine that sent it back to you for the
third time
"Then-then-when he calls again.
And Miss Nina's eyes flashed. and
she flushed up and she didn't have tC
finish the sentence to make young
Sanger understand that there would
be something doing.
Mr.. Granger had been an acquaint.
ance and a caller for a year or more
He had maGe Il pleasant Impression al
least. and If he had not talked shop
during his calls and brought in his
literary connections it was a, tribute
to his sense and modeSty.
Nothing more was to be done witt
the story until he called. but Miss Nins
made a, memorandum and kept it be
fore her. 1t read:
Never read another copy of the -
Magazine.
when Mr. Granger calls have 1t ou
, with him. If he cannot rise to you in
tellectuully it will be better If he re
mains away"
In the course of couple OF week!
Mr. Granger dropped in. He arrived
at an opportune moment-that Is. Mis-
Nina was reading her written thought
over again for the hundredth time ant
realizing the loss to the world by thei
not being published.
She had not armed herself with an
{ deadly weapon. A woman doesn'
tered the drawing room with mann
4 script in hand. She made frigid boy
3 and extended cold hand. 1t was a
4 if she were greeting Il man who he'll
: a second mortgage on the mansion.
: OF course Mr. Granger noticed hi
s reception, but not being conscious o
any social dereliction he exerted him
: self TO thaw out the atmosphere. Fl
r had come to believe he was succeeding
= when the manuscript was thrust int
y his hands and an icy voice commanded
t "Sir. read that. If you please"
e Certainly, With the greatest pleas
a ure. I'm, I'm! This seems to be
d story"
at is story
: "Some young lady friend of your
u making a first effort?"
The question was treated with cor
: tempt
l. I'm! I'm! Seems to be comb
: nation of essay and moral lecture
Written by some young lady to rea
at commencement or before clul
i, Two or three beautiful thoughts.
t Continued on Page Eleven)