Charlevoix county herald., 1911-03-04


incest climate-best flshing-nicest
girls. Why. you'll own the whole show
in week. All you've got to do Is to
steal an editorial or two on our rela-
tions with Japan, and the boys will do
the rest"
There was further protesting and
arguing, but In the end the Eagle
man carried his point, and that was
how Mr.. Clarence Thorpe, author and
journalist. came to be occupying the
editorial chair of the village paper
when Miss Nellie Lees poem ap-
,peared.
The poem was first read with sur
prise, then with ridicule, then with
indignation. 1t was an insult to send
parrot obituary to the Eagle" Mr..
Thorpe was about to return 1t to the
major with some caustic observations
when Fate stayed his hand. AL
though Miss Nellie's name did not ap-
pear as the author, her father had
given her credit in his letter. She
might be one of the nice girls the
editor had mentioned. The poem
would not bear publication. even as
burlesque, but why hurt nice girls
| feelings?
Mr. Thorpe laid aside the manu-
script and took walk. A boy told
him in which direction to walk to
pass Major Lees residence. He didn't
know exactly why he wanted to pass
it, but he walked on. The major was
| SITTING IN tho ,,aropda with hic cigar
and Providence ordained that a sum-
mer shower should begin to fall at
that moment.
Come in, sir-come under shelter
| till it's overt" called the old soldier.
and the invitation was taken advan-
tage of.
The two discussed politics and
! other things and exchanged names.
The major received the impression
that MIR. Thorpe had selected the vii
| lage In which to pass month or so.
and perhaps gather material for an.
other book. This gave him an open.
1 ing to relate the death of the parrot
and the construction of the poem, and
to add in his blunt way:
lSos the pOclu W Oul paper
last night. I've been told that the edi-
tor is an ass, but perhaps he'll see the
beauties in these verses If he doesn't
III call at his Office and make it my
business to find out why he isn't run.
ming n sawmill."
! The Eagle" was to be issued In
three days. If the poem did not go In
the major would keep his word. But
Mr.. Thorpe was determined that it
shouldn't go in. He would dodge the
major. He would even bribe the Office
boy to lie.
On the day the paper was to be is.
| sued, he encountered the man of war
on the street and was taken home
with him for another talk on the YER
anda. On this occasion he was intro
duced to Mrs. Lee and daughter, and
two hours had passed very pleasantly
when a boy brought a copy of the
Eagle" 1t was hurriedly opened by
the major. No poem!
Nellie, my hat and camel" he shout
ed. I'm going down there and call
that editor fool,'
| away Hc went Spt-e Ot
tions, and after he was outside the
gate, Miss Nellie said:
"Oh, l do SO hope he won't find the
editor in! 1t was an awful foolish
thing TO send such poem as that.
Mr.. Thorpe, can't you help me to get
1t back? l want TO get 1t without
father knowing it,
Mr.. Thorpe promised to see what
could be done. The major found the
editor out, and that lie brought the
office boy so cents. The next day II
was so cents more, and the next and
the next. Then the major gave up the
quest. His emotions over the death
of Poll had begun to wane.
Every two or three days Mr. Thorpe
occupied seat on the veranda for a
time, and then he began to be invited
to dinner The editor returned from
California, but still Mr.. Thorpe lin.
gered 1t was at the enc of three
months, with trip now and then to
the city, that he major said 10 him.
''Yes, go in and win her if you can.
Hang you, you rascal, l found out
that you suppressed that poem On me-
but l haven't laid it up against you. -