Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-11-10
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HIS ATTITUDE
By ANNIE H%ENRICHSEN


You nave written a book? did
not know you had literary aspira.
tons
Il have always wanted to do some
thing that would stand as proof thai
l was not merely an idle, happy girl.
I began to write stories while | was
still in school,. For years nave writ
ten constantly and without the least
encouragement or success. | have
e. told my family or my friends.
Editors nave been ~bombarded with
my unfavorable manuscripts. | have
had a long, long time of bitter disap-
pointment and encouragement and
heartache. At last the first success
a come. Behind 1t there is a tragedy
of many failures. Perhaps that is
why, now that it has come, 1t is very
preclous; 1t has cost a great price"
What sort Of story is 1t?"
1T is the simple little story OF the
childhood good times of myself and
some of my friends. l wrote Of the
things that as a little girl l loved"
"A Juvenile book?" There was dis.
tinct disappointment In his voice. Il
supposed you had written a novel,"
A surprised, startled look came into
her eyes. What difference does 1t
make what sort Of book it Isl" she
asked. THE wonderful thing is that
| have done something sufficiently
good to win the approval OF a critical
editor"
Literature is an interesting voca-
tion." he said, patronizingly. II am
glad you have taken it up. l intend
to write a novel when l have time.
| may do it e. summer during my
vacation"
After he had gone she sat for a long
time before the fire. There was no
joy in her eyes, and her face was
white and tired.
A clear, trilling whistle called her
from her %reverie. She went into the
hall and opened the front door.
Come in, Rob-"
Il saw you sitting alone as l came
up the street and | saluted you. 1
didn't expect such good luck as an in
v~itation in. Why, Jean," he exclaimed.
as the light in the library showed the
change in her face, what is the mat
ter? There is something wrong"
There is not. Rob, / have had a
book accepted"
What? A book? You nave writ
ten a book"
% And an editor has accepted it."
"Of course he has. Any editor that
you would honor with a manuscript
would accept it. Jean, I'm so glad.
| can't tell you how glad. I'll wager
it's the very best pool that has ever
been written. But how hard you must
have worked. You are such a con
scientious person that you put you
whole soul into everything you do,
and this book must represent long
hours of work, the careful expression
of your personality and the realization
of a dream"
The joy, greater than before, had
come back to her eyes. Rob" she
said solemnly, you are the most IN
Outstanding person | have ever seem
The understanding person looked
slightly bewildered. Il want to see
the book Immediately. | can't wait
till it is published. Let me see the
manuscript"
1T is only a simple, little tale of
my own childhood"
Then it is the story OF a most
adorable little girl who became an
adorable, thoughtful, ambitious WON
an. OF course Halstead is immensely
pleased and proud"
He is not. He does not realize
what my accepted book means to me.
He does not understand, as you do,
that a woman has ambitions as real
as a mans, n that for them she is
willing to work and to suffer as a man
does. He is $3.50 interested in him
self and so proud OF himself. Rob, a
mans attitude toward a woman's dear
est interest may decide her regard for
him" She laid her hands on his q
shoulders and looked steadily into the
eyes in which she saw the reflection
Of her own rapture and eXaItation.
Your attitude, Rob, toward my lit
tie dream. o understand the dream.
Don't o understand something else
Rob, dear?"