The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-07-09

would not find a publisher for 1t
For the first time in his life the latter
doubted his chum's opinion on a prac-
teal matter. He sent the work to pub
fishers. who kept it each an average of
two months and at 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
knew that?" Thriftleigh didn't try to
explain how be knew it.
Thriftleieh about that time took a
position in a 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 ence 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 it for four mouths. 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. II
was twelve years before he saw either
Of them again. He found making q
living very difficult-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 I'll
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 pile Of new
books he was reviewing. The man
aging editor tossed novel at him. say
ing: There's story that's been on, the
market some time Recently it has
been pronounced work Of genius by
Howard Pugsley, the great literary crit
ic, and it's beginning to be talked
about. Write it up on those lines"
Bonnycastle took it up and looked
at the title page, then began to read it
The first few paragraphs seemed ia
miliar, and before he had read three
pages he recognized it as the novel be
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
wonder If he could have really been
the author, so far above what he sup
posed he could do was the work be
read. When he had finished he was
repaid for all he had suffered in the
degradation Of an unrecognized genius
All the world was talking about the
new novel written by 20" the only
name given on the title page. The lost
manuscript had turned up in the pub
fishing house where it had been offer
ed, and, since no owner could be found
and the authors name was not on 1t
some one was designated to look II
over. A favorable report was made Of
1t, and the concern decided to publish
it and pay the author his royalty If he
ever turned up. He did turn up even
tually; but, since there were severa
claimants for the authorship and BIZ
could not prove his case, he got moth
ing.
Hearing that his old friend Thrift
leigh had gone into business for him
self. was getting rich and had married
Bonnycastle looked him up. Thrift
leigh, though 1t was after o'clock II
the evening, was still at business. bui
Mrs. Thriftleigh received the visitor
She was a skinny woman. much over
dressed. her fine clothes failing tt
make commonplace person look Ell
Their comedy or refined.
my name Is Bonnycastle, Mrs
Thriftleigh. knew your husband vel
some twelve or fourteen years ago"
II remember you very well, Mr.. Bon
nycastle. Pm Evelyn Forbes. Where
have you been all this timer
Bonnycastle looked at her In aston
Ishment, if not with horror She was
his love and the heroine of his work Of
genius