The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-29
The REJECTED STORY
BY MAUD MACMILLAN.

lSSPSAt0AsS>~s NSSst ~ :.
Press.
Some young ladies decide to become
literary only after having given the
matter as much as half a day. serious
thought. but Miss Mini Harper saved
eleven and a 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
a story, and before sunset on the same
day it was finished and sent off to the
waiting editor Of magazine.
Like Ouida. Miss Nina didn't start
out to write for money. Her widowed
mother had been left fair compe-
tence. Like Ouida. she 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 and
profit by them.
This. in way. was praiseworthy In
a girl of twenty who had half dozen
admirers and nothing to dc but TO be
entertaining and 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 chu"kled
over the idea that Ec hid nipped q
literary career in he hiid by sending
back that manusc!ip ipt he was very
much mistaken. Some young ladies
would have stopped right there and
turned to cro"h"t work. hut Miss Nina
didn't belong u that bunch. She shut
her lips tightly and determined not to
be killed off. At the same time she
determined 70 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 II had been chucked back at her
as If it had been copy for family
almanac. F-ed WAS liSpar in his
speech. hut that only made his voice
more tender as be said:
Miss Harper. take my word for 1t
that you have gone beyond Ouida even
in your first attempt. 1t is glorious!
It Is grand, 1t Is ennobling! ] feel
the better man for having heard it
read"
"But they didn't publish it" pro.
tested the girl.
81 see. but it 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.. Waterman's
generous offer to call on and punch
the head of the first editor was de-
clined on the ground that the said edi-
tor might already have regretted his
haste in returning the manuscript
The story came back from the Sec
ond publication just as request for
charity would have been returned
mot just what we are looking for.
It hurt and humiliated. but it 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 laiu it 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 it is too
gemmy. The modem magazine editor
is not up to it. It is as far beyond
him as Shakespeare is beyond the av-
erage farmers hired man. For nc
other reason was Il returned to you.
What! A gem ike this crowded
among the mawkish love stories in
which the heroineS cannot talk ten
words without making Il grammatical
b!under! Heaven Forbid
But if the won't publish it how
can get it before the peorle?" asked
the author. with anxiety in her tones.
81 could call on those editors and
call them ignC:amuScS and Scuundrels,
] 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.
titudc plainly betokened that he was
out Of 1t.
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 1t. In
due time. which was about week. il
came back for the third time. There
Was q cold blooded type written notice
inclosed to the effect that its rejection
Gin In.l- ,r litnrp