The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-07-02
CHAPTER XVI
A SUDDEN RESOLVE

build their line into Benson oity ne
lived a peaceful and happy litc'
His salary was increased the Sc
cond year and remained stationary;
the people with whom he boarded
were congenial and made him reel
NJ home and among the townspeo-
ple. whether old residenters OF
new arrivals. he was always popu-
lar. So the years sped on, happily
for him, but he did not write SAM
antha. Somehow he did not deem
IL best to send her message Just
vet He felt there was something
vet in store for him; something he
was worthy of and must attain, be-
fore he wrote her. So he waited.
But he was not idle all these
years as to his life-purpose. soon
after the line was completed ana
the boom was beginning to dimin-
ish. the town settled into a hust-
ling and progressive quiet. He was
left alone more and was to himself
more than in the days when he was
the city's hero. Also, the work at
the Office was not so exacting as IN
the days of the big rush and he had
time to devote to outside work.
This time he spent in the study OF
the English language and the mas
terry of technique. After he de-
cided he had sufficient knowledge,
he began work on his book. AT
first it was very hard. His pen re-
fused to write the right word, the
characters would not form them
selves into tho beings She had
dreamed them, and as he viewed
his task it seemed so formidable
that his heart quailed. Then the
lure Of the story that was in his
heart and the impulse that cried
for expression, called him back to
his work again. Sometimes his
images would dissolve into rosy
visions that were more easily
dreamed than written and he would
have to forego his task while he
basked in the hallowings of fancy;
or again his thoughts would go
huttering away into the distance,
dragging him away from the real,
chasing some butterfly whim o.
mental suggestion. Or again a
thousand other stories than the one
he was writing would crowd upon
him and clamor for utterance. But,
holding tenacuosly to his purpose.
he pushed them all aside until the
theme upon which he was writing
had been dealt with. But his SUI
perfne intellect soon overcame all
difficulties until at last he found
the story flowing smoothly on, with
out ripple or jar, toward a logical
conclusion. 1t was the subject
that lay nearest his heart. Into ii
he wove the glamor and CLEAN of
his dreams and the glowing threads
of his aspirations, till finally it be-
came the mouthpiece of his soul,
the expression of his every desire.
And so, at the end of five years,
he found his manuscript completed.
When he finished the last page and
wrote THE End" at the bottom, he
sighed both from relief and genuine
regret. His book was completed
and he had accomplished something
He tried to picture himself as a
famous author-the reign at the
literary clubs as hero of them all
the pride that would CLEAN in Sam
astha's eyes, the handshakes and
congratulations of old friends-ah,
the hopeful vision! The sunburst
of his success was nigh, the skies
OF his future infinitely blue.
During the next few days he
spent his odd moments in going ov-
er his manuscript, correcting minor
details, supplying words or omit
ing them as seemed necessary, I'M
til it was an object of pride to him.
Within a week 1t was ready to sub
nit to the publisher. Then the
question arose: Would it be bet
ter for him to submit it by mail or
go personally before the publishers
and urge its acceptance? He de-
cided upon the latter course. And
then a sudden resolve struck him.
Why wait days or months and de-
lay the issue of his book while he
toiled at bookkeeper's desk? The
story held for him fame, honor that
he should have. He did not count
up on it bringing wealth but hoped
the prestige ii would give him
would enable him to secure a posi-
ton. Reasoning from this stand
point, he resigned his position with
the Smelling company and prepared
to leave for the city.
He took an inventory of himself
and found that he had as a balance
n