The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-05-13

mar ana punctuation and gave SOM
attention to the photography, but Will
grim smile refrained from changin;
the story itself Then he printed ii
calling attention editorially to the new
star in the literary armament.
That settled 1t all Edna felt thai
she was a genius-that there was nc
field for her in that desolate place
Once or twice Ezra; tried biunderingly
to show her the beauty of her sur
roundings, where nature has beer
more lavish Of gracious gifts than il
any other land, but in all that wonder
she saw nothing worthy the attention
of the great writer she was.
All she lacked was the atmosphere
of a great city. New York was the
center. There she wished to go, and
alone. She did not wish to harness her
genius to such a plain, ignorant com
panion as Ezra. No; she must be alone
and when she had achieved success
and realized her ambition she would
return-for a visit
Dreams of honors to be showered
upon her by the great ones of earth
filled her head. In this lonely place
she was lost, entombed with her gen
ius. She did not say talent, but genius.
Ezra had heard all her complaints
until he knew them By heart Dimly
he felt that she was throwing away
the substance for the shadow, but he
had no words to voice his thoughts.
With all the obstinacy of weak and
foolish woman Edna chung to her idea,
and in the same monotonous tone,
with her weak chin uplifted, until now
unavailingly. when Ezra had said:
Every we'll"
Then she went to her room and be-
gan to pack.
Ezra went up to his comforting ma
drona tree and threw himself down
with his gaze fastened upon the Gold
en- Gate and the little fleet of ships
that were sailing in. His friends, the
stars, came out while the silver moon
hung low above the horizon and sank
slowly out of sight. He half sobbed:
Poor little thingl l don't blame her.
She is too bright and clever and gifted
for me anyway. | never had no chance
to learn. If she will be happier-why,
/ ought to be too. Poor little mother
less thingl'
Then two big tears suddenly sprang
from his eyes, and a heart wrung sob
was in his throat as he pictured to
himself what the ranch would be with
out Edna.
When he went in she had finished
packing and was sitting before the
glass putting her front hair in crimps.
1t was such soft, pretty hair, Ezra
thought He bent clumsily and took
a wisp of 1t into his broad palm and
lifted it softly to his lips. She consid-
cred this almost an impertinence and
drew her head away, while Ezra said
slowly:
Edna, l want to say this-I'll stay
here on the ranch, and-and if you
ever want me you have only to send
me word.'
For answer she tossed her head. He
continued:
'"Today l drawed all the money l
had banked-a thousand dollars. Here
it is. If you need more I'll send it
when the crops are sold"
81 shall not need any more. And l
will return this out of the profits on
my Little VIII O. the Wisp.' l only
borrow it."
Maybe there won't be no profits"
hazarded Ezra.
ooh, l wish you could learn to
speak English properly" she replied,
by his doubt. She had no
doubts.
"And," she continued, 81 may go to
Europe. l have read that The Bread
winner made a hundred thousand dol
ars for the author. And If such a
,illy book could do so well mine ought
o do much better. Why, all the peo-
Die in that book are just ordinary
'olks and don't do anything grand or
heroic, and-well, know mine is much
)etter."
Ezra sighed, but said no more. Edna
ook the money.
Neither slept much that night.
A week later Edna stood in New
York. She began her search for
publisher She wrote letters to the
most prominent publishers, limiting Of
he great work she was ready to read
hem, for she determined not to let
Ter precious manuscript out of her
lands She dressed well, arranged her
then-and waited for the
publishers to come She hoped they
would not fight each other. No one
ven replied to her letters. But why
ell In detail the story of her long wait
ng, her cruel disappointments, the
old refusals-later and worse, the re-
urn Of her books without comment
r regret? She had learned that she
lust trust to the publishers, after all.
She learned many a hard lesson dur
lg the next few years, but with the
operative obstinacy of her nature she
ersisted In her belief of her own I
enius. She wrote hopeful letters to {
err husband and never told of her de- [
TAT
Her money was all gone. She moved
, one little attic room and peddled {