Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-09-18

felt as IL had been begging. instead
Of Offering to do honorable work
did not take a car, but walked slowly
uptown. Il can't stand this kind Of
thing any longer!" ] muttered over
and over.
! repeated the declaration to Win
Mason when he called on me that eve
ming. Il would rather take in wash
ing than hawk manuscripts around!"
said
He shook his head, although there
was CLEAN of sympathy in his eyes.
Don't talk like that. he protested.
You couldn't wash a pocket handker-
chief properly! You're up against IL
all right. but you'll have to play the
game out, child. I'll help all can
by standing on the side lines and
cheering"
He did. 1t was he who told me that
| needed self-confidence, that / should
seem brave even IL l wasn't. After
that tried to be brave, and was,
suppose, for things began to grow
brighter
An editor offered me hundred dol
lars for short story / had written.
A hundred dollars! And / did need
the money so badly! | was so much
excited over this piece OF good fortune
that called VIII Mason up at his Of
flee and told him of 1t. He seemed as
much pleased as was and suggested
that | meet him that evening and
dine with him In celebration of the
event. Perhaps 1t was unconvention-
al, for VIII is married man, but
did not stop to think of that, and
accepted. Win was kind to me, and
had great bunch of violets at my
place at dinner We had little table
away off in a secluded corner of the
downtown hotel and had a rl1Try time.
A week later woman whom / knew
came to see me and told me that Mrs.
Mason had heard that had dined with
her husband and was angry. That
evening Will came to call and told
him frankly what had heard.
please explain the matter to your
wife," / urged.
He shrugged his shoulders and
laughed. why should /? She re-
sents the fact that / took you out to
dinner. saw friend Of hers in the
restaurant that evening. Had I seen
her earlier, we would have gone some
where else"
"But--why?" / asked There was
no harm in my dining with you, an old
friend"
"of course not But people don't
want to believe the best, but the
worst. And II there had been any
harm In it, whose business would II
have been anyway"
Your wife's and minel" flashed
out holly.
He rose to his feet with a forced
laugh. 'Your ideas are as narrow as
Mrs. Mason's," he said CURLY. Il sup
posed you were a more sensible WON
an. Good night"
I was alone once more. / was tired
and my head ached. My little parloI
was deadly dull. Was this all there
was to be In my life? A pleasant
friendship was spoiled. And yet what
could / have done to keep it and my
self-respect at the same timer But
was horribly lonely Not only did
have nobody to love me, but, worse
still, had nobody to love. | had Civ
en- my husband my all, and now my
heart was turned back upon itself
But had my work, ] remembered
and after this wrought at it with
feverish intensity. l took my next ar
ticle to an editor whom l had met
several times, and he ordered some
other work from me. He wanted tc
talk 1t over with me. he said Would
go out and lunch with him, and We
could discuss 1t while we were eating
and drinking7
flushed uncomfortably. for I knew
he had wife, He laughed merrily as
l tried, stammeringly, to wonder if 4
was all right
"It's only business, you know" he
said. Il often ask some woman writ
er to lunch with me while we tall
magazine work. MY wife likes me tC
do SO, for then eat decent meal in
stead Of boiling sandwich and coffee
at quick-indigestion lunch counter
breathed freely and murmured
Thank you" Then, and often since
| NA1AAt 4 ndb6 MDnuClGN why nSaEl9 al
the nice men are married For they
are. l thought SO at that time.
knew 1t later when a young fellow
| whom / had met at friends house
on one of the rare calls made dur
ing my lonely life. and who often cams
to see me. told me that he was goinf
abroad that summer. / spoke out the
thought that arose Immediately to mi
mind.
How lovely for you! But how
shall miss youl"
Miss me?" he asked, In some sur
prise
! Yes" declared. Il shall miss you
and all the kind things you have done
for me. It has been nice to have
someone TO bring me the newest nov
Ell. or box of candy, or some one Of
the many things that women like
and which Of late | have had to dc
without
/ was tired and as spoke one OF
the waves of cruel remembrance. such
as all bereaved persons know, swept
J over me. ! suppose there were tears
in my eyes. for had for the moment
forgotten the lad who stood near me
L WAS recalled to the present by hand
on my shoulder.
i am sorry" the young fellow was
saying. for making you feel like this