The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-11
THE EVENING STORY
Hiram and Hannah.
(By Catherine Coope.

been a benedict and Hannah Dane q
matron. AS it was. and since there
were no funds with which to build q
dove COTE Hannah decided to leave
the village of her birth and seek
livelihood in the city.
She was more than sorry to leave
Hiram and equally sorry to leave the
little village newspaper for which she
had written society columns during
the last two years. But Hannah had
been offered much better position
on one of the city papers, The salary
was splendid and the prospects even
more so.
The strange part of the situation was
that both Hiram and Hannah We're
clever. The girl realized that her
country beau had more than little or
the intellect that promises well for the
success of a writer. She herself was
unima ginative, yet her judgment was
good and she could turn out mechan1-
cal work with lightning rapidly.
"I will interview all the editors,
Hiram she said at parting; the per-
sonal talk goes so much further than
letters L know they will be sending
you checks within few months and
then" A soft blush finished her
thought.
ut will r-ean more to me than you
can think of, dear" Hiram told her,
and felt that the whole world was
leaving him when the train puffed out
of the village station, carrying Hannah
The girl dashed a handkerchief
across deep violet eyes and sighed.
The boy was very dear to her.
81 will just make the magazine edi-
and patted the small box that was
filled to the brim with fiction by
Hiram David Wood.
1t did not take her long to wedge
her way into one of the many grooves
open to clever journalists. The first
few weeks were more or less trying,
but the fresh, healthy girl from the
country soon won the hearts of her
newspaper associates and the path be-
gan to grow roses even as the country
gardens had.
When she had replenished her
wardrobe and selected a suit of
brown and natty little hat to go with
it, Hannah felt ready to see the edi-
tors in the skyScraper offices.
Zone should always make a good
appearance" she decided with a little
smile of thankfulness that she was
good to look upon. Her personality
the most blessed. She had a smile
and an air of friendliness for all who
came within the range of her vision.
Hiram had often been jealous of her
magnetism.
you have everything" he had
often said to her.
You possess a great BRAIN" she
had always consoled him; your work
will live long after my smile
The first editor whom she APP
preached with the best Of Hiram
stories received the shock of that
smile when he was sitting at his great
desk editing one of the manuscripts
that had passed through the literary
door.
He looked at Hannah from beneath
the green shade over his eyes and
returned her smile. The subeditor
across the table realized that he too
L., ID
ly. Hannah was pleasure to look
upon.
IT have some very good stories,"
she said quickly.
Your own?" queried the editor.
mo. My-a very dear friend-has
written them Hannah felt the blush
that both men admired and continued
hurriedly, Il want very much to have
the manuscripts into the hand he ex-
tended.
After a quick glance over the pages
the editor put them aside and looked
again at Hannah.
They seem promising. 1 will read
them and let you hear from me-"
"Shall 1 call for them, or will you
send them? Another smile lowered
over the editorial office-a pause,
subtle and pregnant, fingered for the
space of a second.
You may -F'rfday-I-might
want to talk with you about them.
The editor s words were hurried ana
he did not glance at the subeditor.
Come about H." He followed Han
nah to the door, and when she had
gone went back to his desk.
A moment of silence followed, then
the subeditor grinned.
"Peach-isn't she ?" he commented.
Rose is more like it," was the
answer. II hope for her sake Hiram
David Woods stories are good. She
seems anxious A very slight irri-
tation was evident in John Danver's
voice. For a base second he knew
that by refusing the stories the we'd
ding of the girl would at least be
held back The thought was ridicu-
lous as it was sudden. He picked up
able.
During six months following checks,
steadily augmenting in value, found
their way from the cashiers of num-
erous magazines to Hiram Wood. His
stories thanks to Hannah, had found
had all but disgorged it's contents.
Also Hiram had sent on many more,
and new softness and beauty of
touch marked them.
Hannah was delighted with her
work and had made a conquest of
more than one editor. Often she had
lunched or had tea with them, and
nation for her. She began to fear her
return to her native village, and, more
than all, she feared to tell Hiram that
she was in no way certain of her love
for him. She could no longer deny
that Hiram was not the man to make
she desired to marry. Hannah blush
ed, and a little wistfu1 smile played
across her features. 1t was seldom
she allowed herself to picture the