Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-09-22
HER FIRST STORY
BY SUSAN E. cLAcETT.

ihuu WIS TIE only one WHO uOuCeu ~
coming across the grass. Petite In ~
ure, with waving brown hair and eye
that matched, she Cooked like gin
as she seated herself on the lower stepl
In reality she was woman of thirty
or more, and the two were old ac-I
quaintances. He remembered perfect
ly the day she came to his Office,
mere slip of thing.
He thought Of it now as he watched
her listening to the conversation Of
her friends, little smile playing about
her mouth. They were talking about
her and her work, and when one said:
Her stories made a hit from the first;
l do not believe she ever had a manu-
script returned" she threw back her
head and laughed.
Much you know about 1t, Mary. Mr..
Isham"-with nod toward the man
can tell you In dozen words about
my first story. Rejection slips came
more frequently than checks during
those first years, yet to this day
never send Off manuscript but / think
OF the story l carried to Blanks rag
azine with my heart in my throat.
by some good or evil fortune, had
secured an interview with the editor.
AS l entered his Office he turned, and
my hopes went into my shoes. He had
on glasses and was frowning. His
eyes bored right through me. and 1t
required all my courage to hand him
the manuscript.
Almost with despair I watched him
slip page after page between his fin
gers. He glanced at one, looked at
second, third, and handed 1t back
to me.
II am sorry cannot use It, he
answered, and turned to his desk.
"Of course 1 should have gone at
once. / didn't. For the moment ]
couldn't move. 1 suppose there was
something in the silence that made
him turn to me again. There sat
without a handkerchief. the tears
streaming down my face. He handed
me his.
For an hour that busy man listened
to me. was sure he would in the end
accept 1t. but I carried it away with
me-"
"Still do not see what connection
Mr.. Isham had with it," one of the la.
dies remarked.
oh! l thought l had told you he
was the editor who turned me down."
She glanced toward him. "The largest
check / have ever received 1 received
for that story"
He looked at her with amused eyes.
Il never. before credited you with
bearing malice, but now that you have
had your revenge, walk to the gate
with me. Small David is waiting, and
l never disappOint him with his bed
time story"
At the gate they paused. The mock
oranges on either side were a wealth
Of bloom. Gathering the branches into
he; arms, she buried her face in the
white petals. II would not miss THE
for all the world. Mary always asks
me down when they are in bloom, and
no matter how pressed am for time ]
always come" she said.
81 know. That was the real reason
for my buying here when l decided the
country was the best place for that
youngster of mine. wanted our home
to be where you would be happiest."
"Surely-not again. How often must
tell you l do not need a home"
He laughed slightly. Anyway. 1t is
time for my annual proposal. The
habit has grown on me. Three times
a year for more years than I care
to contemplate. should think by now
you would say Yes in self-defense."
She looked at him critically. you
have changed much since my first visit
to your Office. There Is more human
look about you. have often wondered
why you were so unsympathetic."
ut is odd l have never told you"
he replied thoughtfully. II fully In
tended telling you that as you entered
I had just finished reading a letter in
forming me of the death of my brother
and his wife, and that little David
was on his way to me. The thought of
y baby in my small apartment appalled,
me-"
She interrupted him. David not
your child! And 4ll these years
have been Jealous Of his mother" she
finished involuntarily.
"All through these years?"
"All through the years. From the
time / knew there was little David.
I was unhappy, miserably unhappy at
the mere thought you had once cared
for another woman"
"Now that you know you were mis-
taken-whatT
She turned to him and put her hands
on his shoulders. David" she said,
with little nervous laugh. did you
really think so badly of that story as
you would have me believer
He looked upon her as she stood
within the circle Of his arms my
dear Sarah" giving her little shake,
'if you will bark back to that time at
such a moment I must tell you I
bought the story at an exorbitant
price"
Eyes. The price was high, but 1 felt
you owed 1t to me-"
"What!"
"What a dear old Ounce you are,
David. You and were the only two
who knew of that old manuscript.
When you sent your friend to me and
he asked for IL by name, / was per.