The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-07-09
THE veneer OF THE YEARS
BY WALTER CREEP.
you know the result of my read

ed from the OlIlce.On tHe way W MS
boarding house he felt strangely
exultsnt over his prospects. Per-
haps the world was not so bad af-
ter all. There might be a few who
would aid a fellow who was strug-
Cling for place and prominence.
The next morning he hurried to
: the Office and was welcomed by the
smiling proprietor.
"well, Mr.. Mitchell, che began,
when Merlin had seated himelf'
| found your story to be superb
tender and beautiful, virtual mas
terpiece! It is the grandest pro-
duct | have ever read, coming from
any pen!"
Thank you, sir" was all he could
Merlin flushed with pride.
| say.
And I am very glad l had the
opportunity to read this manu-
script" continued the publisher,
"It will make a success, a glorious
success and win a worldwide repu-
tation for you"
"And how about your publishing
/ it," quered the anxious author.
81 was just coming to that. OF
course your book will be a grand
I tC nhCn1ntnlV
doubt about that. But you will
readily understand that no nub-
| fishing house-especially one with
The prestige and standing that we
have--would think of bringing out
the first book of an unknown au-
| thor-no matter how promising
/ his work might be-entirely at
/ their own expense. OF course the
cost OF the first edition is always
great, but as we assume all ad-
vertising expense and exploitation
| of said book, the expense to the
author would be quite small. Now
/ in your case, as l am so much i'm
pressed with your work, l have ar
ranged even more liberal terms.
If you will pay us only one thous
and dollars and sign contract
that we are {" br permitted To take
the balance If The expense from the
first accrued royalties from the
sale of the book, we will be glad
to bring it out for you"
Merlin thought of his savings
and was sorely tempted to accept
it. "And what guarantee have
thought it will not be a total loss
TO me?" he asked.
You have this: the book has ev-
cry requirement of best-seller,
and best seller means anywhere
from twenty thousand to an hun
dred thousand dollars for the au-
;Eor. We are going to put up
more money than you; if we are
not afraid Of losing on you, you
should not be afraid of losing ON
yourself. What do you say?"
alright, get your contract, I'll
sign" he agreed. The publisher
produced the contract, filled it out,
they both affixed their signatures
and the publication Of the book was
assured.
Merlin went to his boarding
house in a highly exultant mood
At last he was fairly we'll launched
uron the capricicus sea of literary
"ndeavor and headed toward that
goal that had been his since child
hood. By the outlay of few hum
dred dollars he had accomplished
what other men had despaired OF
he had laid the cornerstone of
his success. And the royalty! Be-
fore meeting with the publisher he
had given very little thought ii the
practical and financial side of his
writing. He had considered it
the ideal profession in which he
might engage his idle hours and
indulge his higher faculties. But
row the prospect of Independence,
even opulence, stood before him
like a mirage that was prone to
lead him astray from the enchant-
ed aisles of his fancy into sordid
and materialistic considerations.
More and more the significance of
great success dawned upon him.
The conquerer, the strong one. who
surmounted obstacles and vanqaish
ed his adversaries always accom-
plished threefold Purpose: he
was a benefactor to humanity, bene
fitted himself and proved more
strongly his spiritual devotion.
There are no true battles except
those fought by the spirit. The
war of the body is but a puny test
inn % thn aas,aaI ,t,nu-.l 81 A..