Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-22
Evening Story
HIRAM AND HANNAH.
BY Catherine Coope.

BY Catherine Coopo.
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
Had Hiram Wood spent less time
scribbing and more time learning tc
make living he would no doubt have
been benedict and Hannah Dane a
matron. AS it was, and since there
were no funds with which to build a
dove cote, Hannah decided to leave the
village of her birth and seek Nveli-
hood 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
were clever. The girl realized that
her country beau had more than a
little of the intellect that promises
we'll for the success of writer. She
herself was unimaginative, yet he1
Judgment was good and she could
turn out mechanical work with light
ming rapidity.
Il will Interview all the editors
Hiram" she said at parting; the
personal talk goes so much further
than letters. | know they will be
sending you checks within a few
months and them" A soft blush
finished her thought.
1T will mean 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 away from him.
The girl dashed handkerchief
across deep violet eyes and sighed
The boy was very dear to her.
II will just make the magazine edi
tors buy his Stories" she determined
and patted the small box that was
filled to the brim with fiction by
Hiram David Wood.
It 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 hel
newspaper associates and the path be
gan to grow roses even as the country
gardens had.
When she had replenished her ward
robe and selected suit of brown anC
a natty little hat to go with it, Hannah
felt ready to see the editors in the sky
scraper offices.
"One should always make a gooc
appearance" she decided with little
smile of thankfulness that she was
good to look upon. Her personality
was one Of those rare ones given tt
the most blessed. She had smile
and an air of friendliness for all who
came within the range of her vision
magnetism.
You have everything" he hat
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 ap
preached with the best of Hiram's
! stories received the shock Of tha
smile when he was sitting at his grea
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 re
turned her smile. The sub-editol
across the table realized that he, too
had smiled inwardly If not outwardly
Hannah was pleasure to look upon
II have some very good stories,
she said quickly.
Your own?" queried the editor.
"No. My-a very dear friend-has
written them" Hannah felt the blush
That both men admired and continued
| hurriedly II want very much to have
you read them-for him." She pu
the manuscripts into the hand he ex
tended.
After quick glance over the pages
! the editor put them aside and looked
again at Hannah.
They seem promising. I will reae
them and let you hear from me-"
Shall call for them, or will 20,
send them?" Another smile hoveret
over the editorial ofice-a pause
subtle and pregnant, fingered for thu
space of a second.
! You may call-Friday-I-I nigh
want to talk with you about them.
The editors words we're hurried ant
| he did not glance at the sub-edito
Come about H." He followed Han
nah to the door, and when she hat
gone went back to his desk.
A moment of silence followed, thel
the sub.editor grinned.
"Peach-isn't she?" he commented
Rose is more like it," was tn
answer. II hope for her sake Hiram
David Woods stories are good. Sh
seems anxious" A very slight irr
tation was evident In John Danver'