Smyrna times., 1911-04-12
Her First ~
~ Short Story

ga visitor, Miss Carey. Her
name is Evelyn Lee, and she wishes
if it is at all possible, to see you
for few minutes
Evelyn Lee" repeated Miss
Carey. 81 do not know her, but l
like her name. Show her in.
A slender, sweet-faced girl en-
tered the room and her face flushed
little as she advanced toward Miss
Carey.
care you the short-story editor of
the Home Friend?" she asked timid-
ly.
81 am," replied Miss Carey, and
she smiled kindly.
There was a pause.
81 know it is a great deal to ask,
especially on your holiday" began
the girl hesitatingly; "but can you
find time to read this story? 1t is
the best one have ever written and
l should like to know if you think it
shows talent enough to warrant my
taking up writing as professor. l
would Willingly put in years and
years of hard work. she added
hastily. tOh, l would work so
hard" My ambitions are a joke
with my family and-and-a very
dear friend. Such dear friend !'
she repeated in half whisper.
"Do you think that all those
weary years of work you speak of
would compensate you for-for some
other things?' asked Miss Carey.
"Yes, oh, yes! If there is any
chance for me. Your decision means
so much to me-more than you
know, but whatever it is l shall
abide by it,
As Miss Carey glanced at the
girls face so full of hope and sus-
. pense her own youthful struggles
were recalled like a half forgotten
dream. She was not very old now
only 28-but sometimes she felt
old-so old.
She picked up the manuscript and
smiled a little even as she sighed
when she glanced at the title, "The
Old. Old Story"
She read attentively for a few
minutes, then laid the story down
with a gesture full of pity.
utterly hopeless!' she said tc
herself.
To the girl she said, ''I am sorry,
but your story is unavailable, it,
y The girls tense voice interrupted
: her. "Would / ever make a writer
i if | worked very, very hard?
e want your honest opinion.
e "Do you really mean that" asked
$ Miss Carey, sharply. $50 many say
q that, and then resent the criticism
d that follows. 1t is always harsh.
i "But l mean it,
9 Miss Carey hesitated. The gir
e was so young and inexperienced.
she did not disillusion her, perhap
no one would. Then, too, she re
}. called the girls flushed face whel
! she half whispered, "Such a dea
ID friend Perhaps if she had ha
y some one to point out to her the wa
" to help her to listen and to hee
Il. her wonan's heart cry, which sh
had blindly stiffled, she might hav
been far happier. She had certai
lie amount of talent, at least to com
pensate her for the sacrifices, bu
thi girl might go on striving vair
ly all her life and miss both succes
Il. and love. She leaned forward an
o picked up the manuscript again.
= Judging from this, writing
not your forte,' she said. 'Yor
story is lifeless and unreal. 1t hs
" plot and grammar, but it is not
genuine Interpretation of life. I'll
incidents are inconsequential. SUE
stories waste the time of both writ,
and reader"
Z The girl flinched. She could NJ
speak. She had asked for this, b,
did the cold, heartless editor WI
e sat before her in judgment reali
that every word was a knife thru
in her life's ambition?'f
. "Dear GIRL" said Miss Care
7 "do not waste your time on writin
The road to fame is long and We
: hard. 1t is a profession to viii
y. many are called but few are chose
There is so much that is dearer
life. The glamour of success so
eI. wears off, but friendship and 10
are lasting"
The girl glanced at the speaI
curiously. This seemingly cold pc
son was a woman after all. S
Sk was only telling her what her FAM
II and lover had told her many tim
I before. She had thought that tn
l:J oo+ .,rdarafapd bap. h,e 81