The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-09-14

the little nat. II was his first visit
since the dissolution Of the partner
ship.
How are you getting along?" he
asked abruptly.
II am very busy" she began brave
Are you selling much?r
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, so 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
commented. TRY them on those edi-
tors again. They will buy. You write
we'll"
She shook her head.
Norma, let's go back to our part
ner ship. VIII you? I'm lonesome and
unhappy. 1 can't write alone"
Every big magazine in the country
is buying your work. You don't need
me. You never needed me. But I"
. I'm lonesome and miserable. I do
need you. want a literary partner
and want the other kind of partner.
too. l want a wife, Norma. I love
you, dear, and 1 cant 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 danced over them. Good
SIT 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. "Tbev arc
not Tor publication. 1 wanted to know
something about them, and you have
told me what l wished to know"
Three months later, in response n
a charmingly worded note. Graham
FORD came to Norma's fiat for dinner
The living room had been refurnisb-
eo, ana was harmony Of dull woods
and soft colors. Before the CRATE fire
was small table set for two. Norma
wore over her pretty white gown a
white apron.
1t was a well cooked dinner which
the white-aproned hostess served
Graham Ford ate steadily and appre-
clatlveIy through the courses. When
the meal was finished they carried the
taoie into the tiny kitchen. Graham
looked ABOUT for the cook. but saw
no one.
Norma pushed an easy chair before
the nre. 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 it-my little fat
and my dinner?"
sighed. '' ne
would you like to have it all the
time? You can If you want to-" she
went on as she stared bewildered. Il
refused you literary wife VIII Won
take a domestic one? Sit still while
tell you abiut ii. l was SO spoled
py my literary success that thought
had real talent. / ended our mart
nership. After that I could not sell
story. The only merit nv stories
possessed was the revision Won gave
them. With ii they sold; without II
they were worthless.
AFTER we separated l realized that
that l loved you. When Won asked
me to marry you 1 wanted to- want
ed to with all my heart. But I could
not do 1t. / had nothing to give YOU
in return for all you we're ready TO
give me. / refused you and-and-I
went to school to learn to be a good
home-maker. / learned to cook. TO
arrange rooms, to shop economically.
I've practiced here in my little fiat.
trying to become proficient enough to
to make your home comfortable and
happy. I'm a literary failure. but l
am good cook and now 1 can be
real partner-a useful one-if you
-"
But the rest of the sentence was
left unfinished as the girl and the big
white apron were drawn into the easy
chair.