The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-08
William Acquires
Wisdom
By STACY L RAKER.
Copyright 1911, by Associated
Literary Press

Although William Gaylord had "a
penchaut for producing none too clcv-
ar short Stories and halt and lame
verse, no one in Toddytown knew
this except pretty Mamie Montclair.
s. girl whe Won secrets from eonhden-
tlal admirers only TO give them free
~ 10 the world
GayloEa,-t}e seriouR, angular.
apectarlcd Wu4am-hsd long trav-
eted coosp!cuously In the train OF
Nantes admirers. and although she
deiened fam barely more than curt
nod and pleasant saiutation on any
occasion. there were those who aver
rea that she cared more for him than
for an the others.
The MaH5eia4r dsrsel was thorn
Ia the sides OF the envious feminine
contingent as the town. When MamiA
q ga~ky girl IL psgtails, had been
thrust upon train and sent TO Mrs
Cientry's finishing school at Savan-
nah there Vas Nc enc to prophesy the
mighty change that was Ia take place
sa her during her TWO seasons with
TIE famous southern beauty maker.
Mrs Gentry aeplored MRmies dt-
1uinuuveness hut she rnarveiad much
over the maids complexion. and
astutcly saw great possibilities la her
dark but clumsy braids.
There had been no bevfes of men
admirers ia those days. Willie Gay
lord had peered mistlly at the de-
parting one through thick and ugly
sslasa-s-and he had been ail His
hand had grirped hers in a tight
alas.a-- and after several 4tterlpts he
had conVulsively spoken q formal
goodby and hurried away. Mamie
was young. but she had understood.
Now II was different Willie was
only an hurnbl one in the group Of
fluttering malc moths around the
flame of Maznies personality. Al
least. this seemed 10 be the existing
condition to the denser brains of the
men who watched, With the woman
81 was different They could see the
trend OF Mante's thought
Much II tina Montclajr currency--
the family Golfers were kept replen~
sshed from TIE profits Of factory
manufacturing popular hand SOAP
was spert upon Mamie She. WAS given
trips abroad. seasons in the rnetropo-
lis; yachts and automo hiies we're at
N.r disposal. ard. In fact anything
for which she wished was laid at her
little feet She ran the gaInut of in
ucceut pteasures She sounded tho
depths OF every mans aTection-that
f.. every man except the slim, mar
Tow-chested William. Sereney he
watched her tr1umphs, but his lips re-
manned mute.
In these days William had begun to
destroy much good White paper and
with two fingers he Uas iaboriously,
painfully learning the intriGacies of
tie typewriter.
His attempts at fiction were crude,
his unskilled pencil generally build
ing a stick for "A hero and trump
for heroine. His stuff was unreal.
lfeless His illusions hasten I'd
promptly back when submitted to the
magazines
II was we'll that the Gaylord for
fune Was larRe---aiIpIe enough to al
low the attenuated youth to favor his
proftless fad. There was no money
IN the production of fiction for WIZ
liam.
Just before Mamie had taken leave
Of Toddytown on another sudden
sehomed. 4nother-chaperoned trip
across tire seas SHE had given the
youth a whole afternoon.
William had not wholly improved
his opportunities. He had not spoken
"a word % love.
ffe had. however, broken into The
bit}cus secret before her.
Mamie Mnntciair had listened Sc
rAn.s4l-. ~ i{s- t.t.tt1sstss ge.ats.S- G.
Have you sold any OF your sto-
ries 2" she asked, deity arranging a
dark curl.
Not vet acknowledged William
hrsveiy; "hut / have received two let
tors from editors outside Of tho reg
ular run u refusstl slips, YOU know
ASKING me 10 submit more Of nay
work
Keep Il w." encouraged the girl.
only you viii believe In yourself Y ou
haven't enough seif-coniidenco. She
bushed at some subtle thought not
was nov watching her u lth a14nir4ng
eyes.
II believe I can do much you
want mo 10 ne said simply and this
was as near sentiment AS he APP
though te forelock of opportunity
dangied temptIngiy time and again
before his fingers.
After Mamie had been Rona for
some time there came back 10 Gay
lord letter bearing a foreign stamp.
willie recognized the handwriting
prom hrr," ne fnurmHred and as
-here ws4 no one there To see he
pressed his lips 10 the envelope.
Mamie, u seemed, WAS Interested IN
willie ambition TO become one Of
thu producers IF popular fiction. She
lshed 80 k"cp ia touch with him, 10
learn IT mis- tr1umphs, 10 condofe with