Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-01-20

| better stay so. He's safer in the great
beyond than he would be here. Writ
Ing poems TO my sister what do you
think of thatg
Upon this the man with n fierce TEN
per strobe out OF the room fuming.
Bert is furious because Mr.. McLane
sent me bit OF verse the last day he
WAS here" said Marie.
She put into Tenncy's hands two
half sheets OF his own best note paper.
upon which appeared. In stephen Nc
Lanes quaint laborcd hand. about
| forty lines Of verse which fairly stag
gcrcd Tenney. first. by the seemingly
prophetic nature OF the matter and.
secondly. by the extraordinary merit OF
| the piece ms work OF art
In form il was n pictorial fragment.
the description OF the loss Of vessel
quite clearly indicated as the Cassan-
drain snowstorm or the open sea.
Are you not awed?' asked Marie
DO you not recognize something more
than natural IN this? He has predict
ed his own death"
This Is very remarkable" said he.
ut should certainly be published. I'm
doubtedy 1t Is the very best thing
that McTane ever did. the only thing
really worthy OF him Do you suppose
he has ever offered IL anywhereg"
"Oh. no. she exclaimed. 1T was
written for me. He says so in little
note accompanying the poem. II was
| for me alone.
| "A little NOTE" quoth he. and the
| janItor had paid cents postage on II!
| Tenney perceived very clearly that the
ocean had engulfed formidable rival.
| but he must not show his knowledge.
| MY idea" said he. would be 10
give this to newspaper. ] am an
advocate of ide circulation. II the
thing is 8 ,od. let the public have II.
There should be Il little introduction
stating the circumstances
oh" she cried. In a fiutter. with
my name: No. no: have no right to
shine in the light OF his fame
u think you will he wise TO remain
| anonymous for the present" said he.
This will make a great stir. The re-
porters would come running after your
| pictures and all that. We will say sim
ply that the poem was Enclosed In
letter to friend"
| \ shade OF disappointment was Wis
| ible on her face.
| In accordance with this decision the
poem was printed In Il newspaper. and
| the prophetic element was played up
| for all IL was worth. Upon the publ
cation OF the poem Lowell came TO Ten
| ney's rooms and raycd like mailman.
| This explosion. however. was mild
| compared with another which occurred
| two days later. About $ o'clock in the
morning Lowell came ramping and
| roaring into Tenney's apartment and
displayed copy OF that same newspa-
per which had printed the poem and
which now announced In bold black
| type the name OF the young lady to
| whom Mcl.ane's miraculous compost
| ton had been addressed. Her portrait.
| admirably reproduced. adorned the
| first page She was indeed n very
beautiful girl. and her name was Alicia
Hollcy.
II appeared that she was n niece of
Dave Holley. wealthy contractor and
powerful politician in Brooklyn. There
was an interview with Miss Holley. In
which she "blushingly denied that
there had been an engagement OF mar
riagc between herself and the young
| genius now SO widely mourned."
HAS Marie seen thisT demanded
| Tenney. ''She has? What did she
dog
"She laughed" replied Lowell. chok-
ing with wrath Girls are idiots. She
doesn't realize what this will be when
II all comes out. as II certainly will"
Intent ON consolation Tenney went to
see Marie. but she laughed at him also
and protested that she was sorry only
| for Miss HolIey. who seemed TO have
taken McI.ane very seriously.
Il wish you would go TO see her.
said Marie. and tell me what kind OF
a girl she is
From variety Of motives. Tenney
followed this suggestion. In the home
OF the Holeys he encountered first the
famous Dave" whom he found TO be
q dynamite bomb Of somewhat dif-
ferent type from Bert Lowell. but
equally dangerous.
"a poet" he cried. in infinite scorn.
without cent 10 his manner
However. Tenney was permitted TO
see Miss IIoley. ~ whom he had no
great hopes. after his view OF her
uncle. But who can see nn inch be-
yond the veil that shronds the future?
Tenney beheld Alicia Holley and was
stricken through and through
Here was writer OF romances
whose books had sold by the hundreds
| nf thnnsnnds and he had never known