The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-24
THE EVENING STORY
CBy Annie Hinrichsen.)


81 don't see the reason" objected
the man.
I'VE have been writing together very
successfully for several weeks" she
explained. but we have reached a
point in our work where each can do
better alone. If we stay together our
influence on each other will be real
detriment to success. My work will
take on the quality of yours; yours will
become like mine. Our talents will de-
velop If we work separately
In spite of the hurt in his eyes Ora
ham Ford's lips twitched.
Perhaps seem ungrateful." Norma
Atwood went on. 81 am really your
protege rather than your partner. 1
came to the city with the intention Of
devoting my time to newspaper and
magazine work. All my articles and
I was utterly discouraged. I told you
my difficulties. You read my stuff
showed me how to alter 1t into salable
matter and introduced me to editors
Success came Immediately. am selling
| everything I write. We have been
working together You write your
things and 1 write mine. Every morn
ing you come here to my fiat and we
go over the stories and give each other
advice and suggestions. We have
tcalled ourselves literary partners.
Yesterday the Arcade asked me to
furnish them a daily story. These
stories and my other work will take all
my time and these morning hours to-
gether must be given up
Ford's brows drew together. IT
understand" he said briefly. 'sYou
offer two good reasons you are SO
successful that you haven't time for
me, and we can do better work with
out the assistance of each other"
Two weeks later Norma Atwood
went to the Office Of the Arcade.
| HHfr Mile - Cb IA r. Ia o.
ing editor, you promised TO publish a
story of mine every day for an indefi-
mite period. This morning you sent
back to me a bundle of my stories ac-
companied by letter telling me to
write better ones If l wished the Ar
cade to use them I've come to ask
you what is the matter with them"
The editor was direct man and a
frank one. They lack sCa.s and point.
Your earlier stories were clever; these
are fiat. Write as well as you did a
few weeks ago and no sto-y will be
returned to you"
A few days later another bundle of
stories was returned to her.
One evening Graham Ford came to
the little fiat 1t was his first visit
since the dissolution of the partner
ship.
How are you getting along?" he
asked abruptly
"I am very busy" she began brave
~.
Are you selling much2"
Every writer has periods of fail
ure.'
"what is the Arcade doing with your
stuff?'
Sending it back to me-" After a
moment she added, $50 is every other
editor
"Brutes," he mathematical. LET
me see your stories.''
He went through them, cutting.
transposing and adding whole para
graphs. These are good stories,'' he
tors again. They will buy. You write
we'll"
She shook her head.
Norma, let's go back to our part
nership. Will you? I'm lonesome and
unhappy. can't write alone"
Every big magazine III the country
is buying your work. You don't need
me. You never needed me. But
I'm lonesome and miserable. I do
need you. I want a literary partner
and I want the other kind of partner,
too. want wife, Norma. love you.
dear, and I can't go on without you"
You will have to. 1 shall neither
marry you nor resume our literary
partnership
The next day she took the revised
stories to the editor of the Arcade.
He glanced over them. Good
stuff he announced. You've touch
ed up these stories and put the real
substance into them. I'll publish these
and all others as good"
She gathered them up. They are
not for publication. I wanted to know
something about them. and you have
told me what I wanted to know"
Three months later, in response to a
charmingly worded note. Graham Ford
came to Normas fat for dinner.
The living room had BEEN refurnish-
ed and was a harmony Of dull woods
and soft colors. Before the CRATE fire
was small table set for two. Norma
wore over her pretty. light gown a
white apron.
It was a well-cooked elmer which
the white-aproned hostess served.
Graham Ford ate steadily and apprecl-
atively through the courses. When
the meal was finished they carried the
table into the tiny kitchen. Graham
looked about for the cook, but saw no
Norma pushed an easy chair before
the fire. He dropped into it and light
ed a cigar. Norma, still wearing her
apron, sat on a small chair drawn close
to his.
Graham she said In a low voice.
how do you like tiny little fat and
TT was a domestic paradise he
sighed.
would you like to have it all the
time? You can II you want to-" she
went on as he stared bewildered. IT
refused you a literary wife. viii you
take a domestic one? SIT still while I
tell you about it. I was so spoiled by
my literary success thar 7 thought I
had real talent. I ended our partner
ship. After that I could not sell a
story The only merit ny stories pos
sessed was the revision YOU gave them
with IL they soId-Without It they were
worthless.
AFTER we separated 1 realized that
that I loved you. When you asked
line to marry you wanted to- want
ed to with all my heart But could
mot DO it. I had nothing to give you