Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-18

he was more in love with his heroine
than ever and more In love with his
novel-for a brief seaSon-than with
the real Evelyn. This is not surpris-
ing. He was not in love with the flesh
and blood except as a thing OF beauty,
but with the product of his imagina-
ton. Therefore IL was natural that
after the full development Of his imag-
mary heroine whom he was many
months in building. he should he more
in love with her than with the original.
But the original had the great advan-
tage. while the imaginary development
would begin to fade from the author
as soon as finished. Evelyn, with her
golden hair. smiling lips and round
neck and shoulders. remained the same.
Bonnycastle's novel was a work of
genius. At any rate, there was enough
feeling in it for half a dozen novels.
He asked Thriftleigh to read the manu-
script He did so. pronounced 1t very
fine" but predicted that Bonnycastle
would not find n publisher for IL.
For the first time in his life the latter
doubted his chum's opinion on prac-
teal matter. He sent the work to pub
fishers. who kept it each an average Of
two months, and ut the end of year
it had been declined by six publishers.
Then the author gave up trying TO Sc
cure its publication and asked his
friend the old question, How did you
know that?" ThriftleiSh didn't try to
explain how he knew il.
ThriftleiGh about that time took a
position in Il publishing house. not on
account of his critical or literary at
tainmentS, for he had no such attain
ments, but because he was willing TO
work for so much a week. Bonny-
castle at once jumped TO the conclu-
sion that his friend had influence with
the concern TO get his novel published.
Thriftleigh handed 1t in. No word
came from 1t for four months, when
Bonnycastle called on his friend to get
a decision. 1t was then discovered that
the manuscript had been mislaid. In
other words, it had been lost.
Bonnycastle by this time had secured
a position as reporter on a newspaper
and drifted away from his friend
Thriftleigh and his love Evelyn. 1t
of them again. He found making a
living very dificult-indeed it was
all he could do TO keep body and soul
together He was the most pitiable
creature on the face of the earth-an
unrecOgnized genius.
Owing largely to his sensitiveness
he ceased to communicate with his
friend Thriftleigh. and. as for Evelyn,
since he couldn't marry her, he accept
ed the inevitable and forgot her. There
was nothing to forget except her beau
ty and the soul he had created to fit
her body He did not see the former.
and the latter must necessarily fade
away in time.
One day Bonnycastle, who at this
time did odd jobs about newspaper
Office. was sitting before a pile Of new
books be was reviewing. The man.
aging editor tossed Il novel at him. say
ing: There's a story that's been on the
market some time. Recently it has
been pronounced work of genius by
Howard Pugsley the great literary crit.
&c, and it's beginning Ito be talked
about. Write it up on those lines"
Bonnycastle took 1t up aud looked
at the title page, then began 10 read IL
The first few paragraphs seemed IA
miliar. and before he had read three
/ pages he recognized it rs the novel he
had written more than a dozen years
! before. the manuscript Of which had
been lost He read on. and as chapter
/ after chapter was turned he began to
I hn huR
/ the author, SO far above what he sup
/ posed he could do was the work he
/ read When he had finished he was
/ repaid for all lie had suffered in the
degradation of an unrecogniZed genius.
! All the world was talking about the
! new move. written by %" the only
/ name given on the title page. The lost
/ manuscript had turned mp in the pub
| fishing house where II had been offer
ed, and. since no owner could be found
and the authors name was not on =.
some one was designated TO look it
over 4 favorable report was made OF
! it, and the concern decided 10 publish
! 1t and Say the author his royalty If he
ever turned up.
Hearing that his old friend Thrift
/ leigh had gone into business for him
self was getting rich and had married.
RonnycastIe looked bin up. Thrift
leigh. though it was after 5 O'Clock in
the evening. was still at business. but
Mrs. Thriftleigh received the visitor.
She was n skinny woman. much over
! dressed. her fine clothes failing to
make "A commonplace person look ell
Their cOmely or refined.
My name is Bonnycastle. Mrs.
ThriftIeigh. knew your husband vel
some twelve or fourteen years ago"
II remember you very well. Mr Bon
nycastle. I'm Evelyn Forbes Where
have you been ali this time"
Bonnycastle looked at her In aston
ishment. II not with horror She was
bis love and the heroine Of his work OF
genius.
I