Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-10-12

| MISS i<ilid IlUUdTu Opcutu uci
stamp box and looked despairingly al
Its emptiness. Then she turned tht
contents Of her portfolio upon the af
CHAN and searched among the loose
leaves and envelopes. Not stamp te
be found.
The search was mere fOrmality
for she could account for every one OF
the dozen stamps she had borrowed
la 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 lodgers. and she
had told herself that il was not mere
ly because he had never put himself
In the way of her solicitations. But
now-why cling to such small rem.
nant of pride.
"Mr. Wilkins" she called softly.
A middle aged man with an ecrll
mustache 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.
"Will you do me favor. Mr.. viii.
kins:"
"Yes'm. certainly" Mr.. Wilkins mur.
INJURED. and Miss Lila hurried on:
Il should be 50 much Obliged If you
would mail this for me. | can't ask
my sisters. for | don't want them to
know about it. and haven't any
stamps. and think It will take four
two inside and two out. and haven't
any change now. but | won't forget
It,"
| Mr.. Wilkins produced stamp book.
extracted neat row Of stamps and
solemnly applied them to the bulky
envelope.
"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
she knew it Miss Lila had broken her
resolution to be reserved and was In
the middle of the explanation that the
seven other lodgers already knew. In
the usual order she revealed to him
her secret to write. her spasmOdic at
tempts ut composition during the busy
years of public school teaching and
her constant efforts at literary produc-
tion since she had been laid low by n
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 Il 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 so right on" Mr.. wilkins assured
her.
/
do they pay pretty well?"
"Oh. yes. if you eau sell them." Miss
Lila replied wistfully. why. story
of that length ought to get $50. but. Of
course, ii makes difference who
writes i"
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 kind Of spasm Of shame.
Now there was not a lOdger she could
look in the face-aud 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 obserya-
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 here" 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 this" 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 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 SO" Miss
Lila concluded. 81 am just full OF
plans. I'm going to begin another sto'
ry tomorrow about the French revOlu
tion. always loved that period of
history"
The next day found Miss Lila writ,
ing feverishly except during the inter,
vals when she summoned lOdgers 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.
"I ask you because think you are a
good mascot" she said girlishly. 'This
Is quite little longer than the othel
one. and l can't helD feeling hopeful"
ats all In getting start" Mr.. VII
kins said, ard Miss Lila nodded.
The second acceptance was almost
matter of course. 1t came ten days
later. accompanied by check for $35
and Miss Lila showed gain in poise
II does not take long to become accus
toned to success.
I'm getting only accepted with
thanks now." she said happily to Mr.
wilkins. and he realized that she
had got started. There was a manu-
script all ready to be mailed which
she consigned to Mr.. wilkins.
81 wouldn't let any one else mall l,
for the world" she said, and Mr.
Wilkins blushed deeply.
Exactly week later Miss Louiss
painted up the stairs with the letter
for Miss Lila, and Miss Luella fol
lowed after. Miss Lila received Il
almost nonchalantly. but little shriel