The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1915-10-21
THE MYTHICAL
MANUSCRIPT.
Tale Of Love, Deception and
Literature.

! began my literary career as an au
thor and soon after became an editor
When friend once asked me the diff
ference between the two | replied
The author Is the person who sends
things in. and the editor is the person
who sends them back. After finding
that could not make living by
scribbling l secured a position at a
small salary to pass" on what other
people wrote. supposed that my ap-
pointment came on account OF my
literary taste. but my employer told
me that was wanted to get rid OF per
SONS whose manuscripts the concern
didn't want without offending them.
He had noticed that / had pleasant.
plausible way with me and had en-
gagged me on that account. was in
this view of the case very successful.
One morning young girl called with
story. and l went into the anteroom
to see her. We never admitted callers
into the sancturn. not that we were
very busy. but because it was more
impressive to make them think we
Rere. We wished them to fancy doz-
ems Of intellectual looking readers por-
ing over manuscripts hunting for some
thing worthy of our magazine. l ad-
vanced with my usual smile to meet a
girl whose smile was anything but
usual 1t was unusually sweet. She
handed me the manuscript of story.
apologized for its not being typewrit
ten on the ground that inspiration did
not come mingled with mechanical
means. and she never worked with "A
typewriter In'my own heart-my au-
thor heart. not my editorial heart-I
felt the truth OF her words. l was in
terested in her pretty face and thought
1t possible might find a gem in her
story. She secured my promise that !
would read it myself. and told her
would take 1t home for the purpose.
A month passed. had not only
abandoned authorship. but had direct
ed my mother to clear my closet of my
old unavailable" manuscripts and
burn them. One. morning the girl with
the pleasant smile called, and before
going out to see her 1t suddenly Oc-
Cured to me that | had taken her
story home. and it was now doubtless a
part of the oblivion of my own works.
| gathered my wits and. putting on my
SMILE made a special effort-rushed
up to her with outstetched hands.
II have been delighted with your
story" l said, but have missed the
last page, which you must have omit
ted to put in. Besides. some parts
are almost illegible Have you another
copy?"
asked the question with a quaking
heart and was paralyzed when she re-
piled that she had given me the only
copy in existence. Then she hogan to
talk to me about the plot and the char
acters. Did l like Douglas Chichester.
the hero? Was tine climax properly
handled? Row about the love pas.
sages? She kept up FIRE OF questions.
and l, having admitted that ] had read
her story, must needs give opinions on
a work that had never seen While
was doing so | was trying to form
some plan by which to extricate myself
from the perilous position. My very
bread and butter was In her keeping |
determined that l must win her kind
lest feelings. and when confident that
she thought too much Of me TO inform
my employer Of the injury l had done
1er ! would confess all. In order to see
ler more Familiarity than was possible
1t the office. l asked her to come to my
house in few days and would tell
her of some changes that | thought
would add to the beauty Of her other.
wise beautiful story.
She kept the appointment. and l, hav-
ng instructed my mother after a short
stay with US for propriety's sake to
cave US alone. had aNwhole evening
With the girl 10 myself. l made numer-
Jus blunders In discussing situations
md characters l knew nothing about.
out congratulated myself that my mas
-erly retreats from the entangling posi-
ions | fell into were successful. and
when she went away | told her there
we're chapters | must read over before
making final recommendations. She
thanked me again and again for my
kindness" and departed to come again
hat day week.
had now got enough knowledge Of
her plan and familiarity with her char
lcters to talk about them with toler-
lble accuracy. | observed a dOwncast
look about her when her eyes met
nine that encouraged me. I was hope
,ul that when the denouement to my
'wn little story came she would suffer
he wrong l had done her without at
east reporting the matter at the Office.
Well. after basking IN the sunshine
II each others smiles for some months.
{, all the while keeping up my willy de-
,eption, made discOvery-that she
was dear, amiable creature. not very
smart, but just the girl would like
o make pet of for life. determined
o handle the love part--the heart In
crest is the professional term--of my
tory first, and If | was accepted the
complication" would work itself out
n a delightful climax.
My proposal was accepted, but my
Confession seemed to pierce the poor
,irl to the heart. She assured me that
The could forgive such an injury only
o an accepted lover.
Tho dau ~ osYv. xwodHtrO ~,,hn,, 80