The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-05-28
THE REJECTED STORY
BY MAUD MACMILLAN.


Press.l
Some young ladies decide to become
literary only after having given tho
matter as mucn ms half days serious
thought. but Miss Nina Harper saved
eleven and half hours by deciding
within thirty minutes after reading a
certain sketch of Ouida's
AS soon as pen and Ink and paper
could be procured she began work on
story. and before sunset on the same
day II was finished and sent off to the
waiting editor Of a magazine.
Like Ouida Miss Nina didn't start
out to write for money Her widowed
mother had been left fair compe.
tence Like Ouida. SHIT had sudden
desire to uplift sentiment and improve
the social status of the world around
her Like Ouida again. she had
thoughts and she wanted the millions
to share those thoughts with her ana
profit by them
This. In way. was praiseworthy In
girl Of twenty who had half dozen
admirers and nothing to do but to be
entertaining ard handsome and wait
for the right man to touch her heart
Unfortunately for her. the various pub
fishers didn't share In her object or
enthusiasm They were out for the
dollar instead Of sentiment. or for the
sentiment that brought in the dollars
The literary effort was returned with
thanks.
If that greedy publisher chuckled
over the Idea that he had nipped
literary career In the bud by sending
back that manuscript he was very
much mistaken Some young ladies
would have stopped right there and
turned to crochet work. but Miss Nina
didn't belong to that bunch. She shut
her lips tightly and determined not to
be killed of. AT the same time she
determined to kill that editor if ever
opportunity offered
In this determination she was backed
and encouraged by Fred Waterman.
one of her admirers. to whom she
showed the manuscript and related
how it had been chucked back at her
as If it had been copy for a family
almanac. Fred was lisper In his
speech, but that only made his voice
more tender as he said:
Miss Harper. take my word for It
that you have gone beyond Ouida even
In your first attempt. 1t is glorious!
1t Is grand! 1t is ENROLLING! feel
the better man for having heard it
read"
But they didn't publish it!' pro-
tested the girl.
81 see. but 1t was too high class.
don't you know It's beyond the edi.
tor He isn't up to the sentiment of
it,"
This declaration Modified Miss Nina
and she selected another publication
and another editor Mr.. Watermans
generous offer to call on and punch
the head Of the first editor was de.
clined on the ground that the said edi-
tor mich already have regretted his
haste in returning the manuscript.
The story came back from the sec.
ond publication just as a request for
charity would have been returned
mot just what we are looking for"
1t hurt and Inundated. but 1t did not
quench Ouida's first delicious little
sketches went begging. Miss Nina
shed one tear. doubled up her fists and
consulted Mr. Horace Elkins.
Mr.. Elkins was another admirer
though he didn't lisp He had on
many occasions written the menu
cards for entertainments and there
fore was admired as literary man
He read the manuscript with the ut.
most care. looked at the back of each
page as he laid II down and then an
nounced his solemn verdict
"My dear Miss Harper, it is grand
IT Is gem! Indeed, the only fault
possible to be found is that 1t is too
gemmy, 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 1t returned to you
What! A gem like this crowded
among the mawkish love stories in
which the herolnes cannot talk ten
words without making a grammatical
blunder! Heaven forbid"
But II they won't publish II how
can get 1t before the people?" asked
the author, with anxiety In her tones
Il could call on those editors and
call them ignoramuses and scoundrels
] could prove to them that they were
suppresslng 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