Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-30

wrote to say that publishing the story
| had been n mistake-that shouldn't hap
pen again.
John Paul was hurt and angry, but
| steadfast in his resolution TO be honest
| with himself and with his art. 1t was
| impossible for him to understand why
his readers should abuse him, IL was
| equally impossible for him not to be thor
oughly unhappy about 1t.
OF the many letters he received there
was one which hurt him peculiarly, and
which, for some unknown reason, he did
not at once destroy.
For years I have had strength and
courage from the sweetness and purity
and the belief in peoples goodness and
| honesty that shine like diamonds in all
| your stories. But now-1 have just fin
ished The Other Day and l am culver
ing with disgust To think that you, too,
now that cheap sensationalism Is the
| thing, should go back on your high ideals
and turn prostitute.
The letter wasn't signed. But there
/ was familiar look to the writing, which
worried and puzzled John Paul, until one
day he searched through a barrel of old
| papers and found signed letter In the
| very same writing.
Forthwith he was overwhelmed with
| laughter and rolled delirlously upon the
| attic floor. Mrs. Paul came running up
| to investigate. John PAU pulled himself
together and wiped the tears from his
| eyes
you know that anonymous letter that
made me so mad?"
She nodded
1T was written by a girl named Eva
Southworth. One night she spoke to mo
on the streets, and cried and said that
she wanted to reform and be good. l
gave her all the money I had. e"
what did she look like" asked Mrs.
Paul, with coldncss.
"Oh, rats" said John Paul. THE point
Is that she did reform. And this letter
this old signed letter-tells me of her
| marriage and happiness. Ahd
now, instead Of congratulating me on
turning honest, Just as she did she
abuses me: says that l have made her
'quiver with disgust and accuses me
of having turned literary street-walker.
It's really too good to be true.
Oh, the fools, the pitiful, prurient fools
messed all over this poor old footstool."
But John Pauls editors and admirers
would not let him complete his reform
Furthermore, the interest on his mort
gage was past due, and the bills accru-
ing from his long rest were beginning tc
clamor. and the brand-new house was
in pressing need of repairs. He laughed
realizing for the first time in his life
that there were such things as dsllu-
sionment and old age, and as he went
| TO MS WOTk-ldDle, llIllltulhlelN dlNti
breakfast, he remarked, with courageous
cheerfulness:
"Well-back to the streets
Now just what" said Mrs. Paul, "li
anything, do you mean by that?"
"I mean" said John Paul. that l an
going to write n charming story about
charming boy who meets Il charming
girl. After u charming courtship, they
are to be charmingly married, and ther
one charming, bright, blue day in tn,
morning they are going to find a charm.
ing baby-in n cabbage patch"
Mrs. Paul sighed.
I'm real life" she said. "one doesn't
think it's rather a pity"
"Oh," cried John Paul. and he flung
himself, with mock beseechingness, al
her feet, don't you turn against me
too"
mo fear!" said she. her hands on his
head. CHis hair was getting little thin
over the temples)
The spirit of mockery went clean out
OF John Paul; he bent swiftly and. just
like one of his own ldlotc lovers tfor
revenue only), kissed his wife's charming
little feet.
THE END.