The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-07-01

calling attention eu1tOTldliy " the new
star in the literary armament.
That settled it all. Edna felt that
she was genius-that there was no
field for her In that desolate place.
Once or twice Ezra tried baunderingly
to show her the beauty Of her sur
roundings, where nature has been
more lavish Of gracious gifts than IN
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 60, and
alone. She did not wish to harness her
genius to such plain, ignorant COM
panion as Ezra. No; she must be alone.
and when she had achies-ed success
and realized her ambition she would |
retur,-for a visit.
| Dreams Of honors to lie 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 clungsto her idea.
repeating it always in the same words
and In the same monoronous tone,
with her weak chin uplifted, until now
unavailingly, when Ezra had said:
Every WELL"
Then she went to her reom 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 ficet Of ships
that were sailing in. His friends. the
stars, came out while thetsilver moon
hung low above the horizon and sank
slowly out Of sight. He half sobbed:
Poor little thing. dois.t blame her
She is too bright and clevaf and gifted
for me anyway. I never had no chance
to learn. II she Will be happier-why.
l ought to be too. Poor little mother
less thing.
Then two big tears suddenly sprang
from his eyes, and 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 clum,f.y and raok
a wisp Of it into his broad palm and
lifted it softly to his lips. She consid-
drew her head away. while Ezra said
slowly:
Edna, l want to say this-Ili stay
here on the ranch. and-and IL you
ever want me you have only to send
me word"
For answer she tossed her head. He
continued:
To-day l drawed all the money /
, had banked-a thousand dollars. Here
| it is. If you need more I'll send it
| | when the crops are sold.'
Il shall not need any more. And /
, 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, y
e hazarded Ezra.
2 "Oh, l wish you could learn to
speak English properly" she replied,
angered by his doubt. She had no
doubts.
and" she continued, Il may go to
Europe. have read that The Bread.
winner made a hundred thousand dol.
lars for the author. And II such q
silly book could do SO well mine ought
to do much better. Why. all the peo
pie In that book are just ordinary
folks and don't do anything grand Of
heroic, and-well, know mine Is much
better"
Ezra sighed. but said no more. Edna
took the money.
Neither slept much that night.
4 week later Edna stood in New
York. She began her search for I
publisher. She wrote letters to thu
most prominent publishers, limiting O
the great work she was ready to reat
them, for she determined not to lie
her precious manuscript out Of he
hands She dressed well, arranged he
rooms-rooms then-and waited for th
publishers to come. She hoped the.
would not fight each other. No on
even replied to her letters. But VIII,
tell in detail the story of her long wait
n ing, her cruel disappointments. til
cold refusals-later and worse, the n
ID turn of her books without comlnen
v- or regret: She had learned that sh
,e must trust to the publishers, after all.
ID She learned many hard lesson dul
er ing the next few years. but with th
re superlative obstinacy OF her nature sll
e. persisted In her belief Of her ow
m genius. She wrote hopeful letters I
" her husband and never told Of her d.
lg feat.
s. Her money was all gone. She move
IN to one little attic room and peddle
,h cosmetics for awhile. then addresse
he circulars. living. or. rather. existinl
&C most miserably. Her garments weI
at shabby. her shoes distressful and HI
IT hat disreputable.
th At last even the circulars failed he
She was cold and hungry. Witho'
~ money she had still been hopeful. II
e day would come when she would riG
IT. In her carriage. Did not true geni,
u always suffer? There were six bool
lie awaiting a publisher. all written alor
the same lines.
by But on this day she really did 10