The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-17
The HOUSE ON THE HILL
BY EARL sILvERs.

and sorrowfully at the little white
house on the hill.
If you'd only stop your foolish at
tempts to write short Stories" she
said to her worshiping husband, "you
could make enough money at your
business TO buy that home in a few
months"
But perhaps I'll sell a story or
two" Mr.. Jack answered, "and then
We can buy it anyway"
fouH never sell story" Her
ssch was brutality frank. "It isn't |
in YOU"
Mrs. Jacks tone betrayed long suf- |
fering. She had been married for six |
months, and during that time Mr.. Jack |
: had received IL rejection slips. He |
was obsessed with the idea that he
: could write, but neither his wife nor
his friends gave him any encourage
: ment.
He drew his reluctant wife away
from her dreamy contemplation of the
much-desired white cottage, and chat
| w oDVul OuC AluuuTtu anu
> things until they reached their apart
ment. In the mail box, he found q thick
: envelope.
, ''What is it," Mrs Jack spoke with
!. out enthusiasm. She had seen similar
misslves before.
n "'The Final Payment has come
a back" he announced. 'Tll send 1t out
!. again tonight"
= Il wouldn't II 1 were you" She
d spoke with a touch of sarcasm. "Its
n only waste of postage"
81 Mr.. Jack wisely refrained from re-
n plying, but made his way to the den,
,. where he idly picked up a current
q magazine. On the title page, the an
N nouncement Of prize short-story con-
test stared at him.
II zone thousand dollars" he read,
a will be given for the best short story
n submitted"
Without saying word to anyone, he
h inserted "The Final Payment" IN an
a. envelope and sent 1t to the magazine
Ia conducting the contest. Then he await
ed results.
n. Meanwhile he maintained q discreet
an silence. He applied himself fndustri
ID ously to his law business.shd managed
ar to secure one OF two big cases, which
mr. promised to turn out extremely well.
ar II told you that you were nevel
et meant for a writer" Mrs. Jack remind
NV ed him one evening about two months
after his prize story had been submit
w ted. 'Look at the way you are pro
oo crossing. We ought to save a THOUSAND
of dollars easily within the next tw
years. If you had kept on trying t
ba write, we'd be worse off than ever"
IN Mr.. Jack smiled, and went on hi
III. way. Then, one afternoon, his ofiic
A. mail brought an envelope stampe
with the name Of a certain magazine
al 1t wasn't a long, thick envelope, bug,
wo short thin one, and 1t contained SOM
,ut thing which made his heart beat fur
ously.
ina That night, at the supper table, !
broached the subject to his wife.
-, 'Do you remember that Final Pa
noe ment' storyf" he asked.
eyes" She showed lie interest.
ort UWell, I sent 1t to a magazine abo'
two months ago."
10 "You didT
,,w Eyes, and heard from them today
bod "They kept 1t a little longer thi
ali usual" She changed the subject.
went by the house this afternoon"
Mr.. Jack frowned. 1t seemed to hi
uo that his wife still had little faith
No his literary powers. Which was true
"And someone was looking at I
can Mrs. Jack continued. II went to {
agent and he said he had fine chan
to sell It."
"Well," Mr.. Jack arose from
be- table. 81 think I'll go down to the cl
ares for while. I'll be back before nine
ars' In an hour or so he returned, smill
eye broadly.
able When he came home the next e
iece ming Mrs. Jack met him with te
Of s,rnn,oA evaa
dol "oh. jack" she cried, ''the lii
ana house is sold"
on "Who bought itT There was haT
iucI' light in his eyes.
"The agent wouldn't tell me.
II the person deposited the money ]
owes night, and now we've lost 1t for goo
ecial "Wsll, that's too bad" He was
and parently Indifferent. SIN going
and write some more tonight"
eaus. "Ohp She turned away angrily
inter- hate your old writings. II you had
the tended to your business, we could h
EN-. had enough money to buy the no
ourselves"
, but I'm sorry, dear" Touched by
and keen disappointment in her voice.
must led her to the wicker couch. do
mind know who bought the house%
~ OF 81 told you didn't" She was
Obs angry.
@Well" He paused moment
effect. "It was Mr.. Jack Winter !!
and "Whatw She looked at him
amazement
uired ayes" he continued, yesterday
ceived n check for one thousand
e2" lars for my story, The Final Paym
other If won frst prize in the magazine
place test"
an They didn't bother about supper
here evening, but walked together to TN