Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-26
The DdtLp Storu
Edith,s Lob

!
end looked ruefully az the letter he held
In his hand. II was narrow. long,
brown envelope with Miss Edith Webb"
written on It in prim feminine script. II
suppose she's got to know It some time,
though SO I might as well hurry up and
have It over with. There she is now,
watching for me"
The postman went up the steps Of a
shabby-lookng boarding house, the last
house in his route. At the open door
stood slender girl with eager, ex-
pectant eyes
ANY letter for me. Mr.. Estabrooke7'
she asked.
Yes, this belong to you Miss Webb"
Phil held out the long envelope.
The light in the girls face faded.
THANK you" she said, making an evil
dent effort to appear grateful
Excuse me, Miss Webb" began Phil
| hesitatingly, ~ don't mean to pry into
your private affairs-but II is-isn't IT.
! a story?"
The girl nodded, her sensitive face
"I knew II was. I've delivered too
many Of them not to know one when
sec IT,"
oh" exclaimed the girl in surprise,
do other people get them, too7"
well, l guess yes Everybody that
writes gets turned down some times so
l wouldn't take 1t so to heart II was
you. You amt been in the business
long, have your"
only since 1 came here to the city.
six months ago. You see, 1 don't know
very much about writing, and | sup.
pose that's why l get discouraged easy"
How did you happen to take 1t up,
Miss Webb?" Phil slipped the strap of
the mail bag off his shoulder and stood
leisurely tanning himself with his hat.
Last winter when my father died 1
3aVaI I.NN III FfTt.- - -.
trembled, but she went bravely on, land
there wasn't much money. So I had to
do something for living. 1 didn't
know enough to teach and for while
1 couldn't think of anything to do, 1
tell you I got pretty worried in those
days wondering what would become OF
mo Then 1 thought of writing. You
see, there had been woman from the
city boarding at our house summers who
wrote for a living, and that's what made
me think of 1t. Why, sometimes she'd
write story In day or two and sell |
u for as much as S50l Just think of |
that! OF course. 1 didn't think I could |
write them as fast as she did. but l |
thought 1 ought to write at least one a |
month, and that would give me money |
enough to live on. When was in school |
my teachers used to say my compositions |
were the-well, they used TO say nice |
things OF them. So 1 thought l could |
write stories for stories are n kind OF |
composition, you know. But 1 didn't |
know editors kept sending them back.
They never sent any back to her"
Probably they did when she first be-
gan to write" said Phil. 80 you must
keep a stiff upper lip, and some day I'll
bring you an envelope with a check in 1t
that will be worth waiting for"
do you really suppose you WHIP" Tho
pathetic brown eyes of the girl looked ap-
peullngly into Phll's blue ones.
Az the days went by the prophecy OF
the postman was not fulfilled. The long
brown envelopes continued to come back
with unceasing regularity. With sinking
heart Phil saw the hope die out of the
girls face.
At last he begged to see one Of her
stories. She blushed much and demurred.
but he insisted, and finally went away
with The manuscript in his pocket.
The story was a mild little decoctIon
of commonplace, lacking the one great
ESSENTIAL of n story the breadth of life.
Phil, however, reading 1t with the feeling
n devout man would have in going
through the church service pronounced
1t perfect
Phil reflected a minute. Couldn't you
put little more ginger in them?" he
questioned.
"Ginger?" A look OF utter bewllder-
ment shadowed Edith's face.
why. yes; mean make your folks do
Or say something they hadn't ought to.
You might make your men drink or smoke I
in your stories. I've noticed lately that
seems to be mighty popular"
Encouraged and upllfted by Phils en-
a little later Edith evolved a !
plot which, when conided to Phil, he pro- '
bounced a Jlm-dandy. 'If that don't {
AXE" he exclaimed, nothing willr
THAT is surely the best I've done yet."
laid Edith "If that comes back theren
fr Fit,rr aE,a NJ. / y
suppose they really will take 1t. Mr.. Esta- h
,rooke" s
"Of course they WILL" loyalty answered /
Phil. mo editor In the United States !
would turn down story like that"
But one morning, about two weeks p
ater the clerks in the city postoftice C
we're startled to hear something that &
ounded susplclously like an oath come d
rom the lips OF Phil Estabrooke as he v
ssorted his morning mail. G
Then his eyes softened. Dear little v
he said, she's up against II y
his time sure. Wish she'd let me give 4
er a Job. Maybe I wouldn't like to
ave her waiting for me in a cosy little n
ONE of our own when / got back from Z,
~ rounds each day I'd bring her a s
we letter occasionally that would mako a,
le pink come TO her cheeks. and when 4,
YER she felt like writing, she could write N
n answer to It," h
AS ubuhls EulLn was WaltinE at the
Dor. Before she could speak Phil began | -,
Good morning, Miss Webb. Amt this y,
roaster thought Guess the mercury T.,
as been trying to climb out OF the tubel al
ant you take pity on a poor fellow that's h,
zen out in the hot sun all the morning ~
I'd ask him TO come in and rest awhile?"
Phil tried TO speak jestingly, but his =,
me betrayed him. NJ
Edith mechanically led the way into the -
ngy sitting room and closed the door. ~
,, Mr. Estabrooke." she said, catching -
sr breath. ut has come back. hasn't II" n
Phil took the envelope from the bag ~
ID handed 1t to her. not trusting him. "
III to speak,
This settes it!' Edith leaned heavily 81
yainst the door, her face white and set. Ds
There's no use OF my ever trying again." "
le said, speaking quietly but with qulv- u'
ing lips. What can do now7"
You can marry me and then you won't
I'VE to worry any more about a Job"
gan Phil, but he stopped short at the u,
ok on Edith's face. ~
Mr., Estabrooke." she flashed out, "
anding erect don't say another word -
o you think I'd marry a man that asked Fe
Q just out OF pity and to give me 1ob7 -,
3 starve firstl"
Phil. laughed outright f" Why, Miss !"
'ebb, you needn't ever think a mans ~
Inc a. aaIr effrI that ~ dnaev,tk .,-...s