Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1913-03-27

him. He save a little start, lifted
the letter with shaking fingers and
read:
MY Dear Mr.. Berringer:
you have handled this subject In
q mastery manner-nothing short OF
1t. We predict big success fer your
book and intend to spend q small for
tune In advertising II. However. we
are somewhat puzzled q bit disap-
pointed over the ending. II seems hazy'
incomplete. We are quite certain that
you can readily remedy this defect
and will willingly do SO under persua-
sion Of the assured sale we foretell
for your work. We accordingly re-
turn the AS. for your correction. In
tho event that you do not wish to be
guided by our counsel In the above
matter, we will consider the matter
closed. Otherwise. kindly communi
cate with us ut your earliest conve.
nience.
"HARDWICK BROTHERS.
Publishers.
"(per G. M.-Ed)"
Berringer read the letter three
times, laic 1t down-picked 1t up and
read II again. What q fool he had
been to throw the manuscript aside
without even opening it. He recalled
wildly the day It came back, his bit
ter disappointment, the blank future
that doomed before him, the thought
of her. Twenty years Of hopelessness
and gloom and sometimes despair!
And now It was too late! Was It?
He sat up suddenly In his chair. His
heart throbbed heavily with excite
ment. The publishing house was an
old and reliable one. The same ed
itor was in the chair. Without even
leaving his seat he drew up pen and
ink and paper and dashed down a
hasty line, enclosed 1t with the bulk
of manuscript, sealed and addressed 1t
to Harwick Brothers, Publishers. New
York.
1t was a weary month OF waiting
and hoping and fearing that followed;
a period OF alternate ecstasy and de-
preston. The long looked for letter
came at last. Berringer opened 1t
dazedly, dreading to look inside. But
he pulled himself together sharply and
unfolded the cracking, typewriter
sheet. The editor remembered the
story distinctly; he was returning 1t
under separate cover with detailed
instructions as to the exact line OF
corrections he wished made, and was
more than ever eager to have the priv
ilege Of putting out such powerful
work Of fiction.
The paper slipped from Berringer's
nerveless fingers. For little while he
felt blinded by the great good news
that had come to him. Then grad
ually the chaos of his mind cleared
and his thoughts began to disentangle
themselves for concerted action.
Alice! The dominant thought was OF
her. for her. A thousand miles lay
between them-and If that were all!
But suppose she had ceased to care,
to believe in him-to wait, as she had
promised? At least he could write and
tell her Of all his triumph-and In
week he would know the worst, or
the best.
Her answer came almost before he
had expected it. He had no difficulty
in recognizing the delicate round
characters on the back Of the en-
velope, and his pulses gave an eager
bound as he glimpsed the dainty gold
monogram on the flap. She was still
Alice Rutledge!
Her gentlewords fluttered to his
heart like doves Of peace.
Dear.
Through all the years that have
come and gone, / have never ceased
to hope and believe. The day that l
have been waiting has come, and /
am waiting now for you.
81 am inexpressibly glad Of your VIC
tory, but infinitely gladder that you
will come to me across the chaSm OF
faith-kept years.
AS always,
ALICE"
copyright, 1913. by the Mcclure News
paper syndicate)