El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-08
THE WRONG ENDING
The Herald's Daily
ShertStOry

4 Inlng IN the finale which interested
/ me, and I did read it. And then-then
I decided to alter the ending. I knew
! that Mr. Hobbs was going out of town,
| and that the sub editor, who would
| read the proofs, would not know what
had happened. So II did it. There
wasn't much to do. 1t was only the
last paragraph which required to be
Observation-Disclosures perhaps I shouldn't
have had the skill or the knowledge to
make the alteration"
There was a pause. She sat rigid in
| her chair, with her large, pleading
eyes fixed full upon Mallory
GO on" he said quietly, wondering
! dimly why all his rage had evapOrated-
You have not yet told me why you
did this thing"
You shall know that, too. VIII
you come with me into the next room?
Mallory rose and followed the girl
| The door of the adjoining room was
! open.
"LookT she said in whisper.
The swift eyes Of the author took in
all that there was to see. He saw
girl stretched upon a sofa, and beside
her there was a copy of the magazine
a table close at hand there stood med
icine bottles. The girl was asleep. So
thin, SO faded was her face that it
seemed to Mallory that perchance she
might never wake again.
His companion closed the door soft
", and they returned to the little sit
ting room.
That is my sister" said the girl in
a husky voice, and she-she is dying
of consumption. The girl in your story
was just the same. Now the doctor has
told me over and over again that Jes-
sic may live for many months yet
even perhaps for years-if only she can
be brought to believe that there is a
chance for her to live. You under
stand2"
He bowed his head solemnly.
Yes; understand"
Mr. Mallory, if my sister had read
that tale of yours as you wrote it, 1
believe that it would have made a ter
rible impression on her. The magazine
is her favorite-sshe insists on reading
it the day it is published; and if I had
tried to keep it from her. she would
have managed to get it somehow, and
then things would have been worse
than ever. Oh, don't you see-don't
You see? II had to do something.
Mallory nodded.
The name of the girl in my story
was Jessie, too" he murmured.
Yes. And she would have lain for
hours thinking of the story. telling
soon, just like the Jessie of the story.
And so 1 altered the tale. 1 made the
girl live. It was for her sake, Mr.. NAL
lory, that I tempered with your tale,
and-and, that's ALI"
She broke down and sobbed.
Authors see deep into the soul of
things. That is their business. And
so Mallory saw the truth now, he
sat and looked at the sweet face across
the table. In that face he saw nobili-
", faith, and all that goes to the max
ing OF a good woman He felt ashamed.
What was his puny talent compared
with such love as this?
be rose and went towards, her, TAX
ing her hand in his own. The little
hand lay cold and trembling upon his
'Tou-you did quite right he said
at length, and his voice was very hus-
ky. And I am glad
When she was a little calmer, he
spoke of more commonplace things
I shall see Hobbs at once, and in
sist on his taking you back" he said.
She smiled.
there is no need I can easily get
work In fact, 1 am going back to my
ola firm, where I was employed before
1 went to the magazine"
Then there is nothing I can do for
your he asked, as he slowly took up
his hat and went towards the door
Nothing, nothing-except to Say
that you forgive me-"
Forgive youi II honor you for
what you have done-and I hope your
sister will get well"
She shook her head.
No; that viii never be. The day
viii come when I shall be alone, but 1
want TO put it off as long as possible.
Goodbye"
She held out her hand.
sudden impulse rose in the young
mans heart urging him to speak.
NO; not goodbye" he said You
you will let me come and see you
again?"
IF you wish it, yes"
SO it came to pass that in the weeks |
and months that followed, Mallory was
very often at the little house. Some /
times he would bring witk him little |
gifts of flowers and fruit and books
for the invalid, and sometimes, when
Jessie lay asleep in the adjoining room,
he and Phyllis would sit together in |
the little parlor and talk of many
things.
But there came day at length when |
the blinds of the house were drawn, !
and Mallory, meeting her on the TIRES |
hold, saw that her eyes were wet.
i am all alone, now" she said.
He took her in his arms. She did |
not move.
You need never be alone any more"
he whispered. Never any more. my I
darling"
A few months later, Mallory met the 1
editor of The Magazine" in the |
Strand.
"Hallor' cried Mr.. Hobbs. How are
you? Haven't seen you, think, since |
that mysterious affair Ever get to !
the bottom of it? Wonder what's be- /
come of the girl?''
Mallory smiled gravely.
Tomorrow, Mr.. Hobbs he said qui- 1
city, tomorrow she becomes my wife" /