The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1920-11-25
The HOUSE ON The HILL
BY EARL sILVERs.

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 story or
two" Mr.. Jack answered. land then
we can buy it anyway"
you'll neve~~ssfl a story" Her
speech was Brutally frank. at isn't
In YOU" . =.
Mrs. JackH tone betrayed long suf-
fering. She had been married for six
months, and during that time Mr.. Jack
had received II 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
muchslesired white cottage, and chat
ted about one hundred and one trivial
things until they reached their apart
ment. In the mail box he found a thick
envelope.
"What is it" Mrs. Jack spoke with.
out enthusiasm. She had seen similar
missives before,
"'The Final Payment has come
back" he announced. I'll send 1t out
again tonight"
II wouldn't If I We're you" She
spoke with touch of sarcasm. ITS
only waste Of postage"
Mr.. Jack wisely refrained from re-
plying, but made his way to the den,
where he idly picked up current
magazine. On the title page, the an.
nouncement of prize short-story con.
test stared at him.
+ "One thousand dollars" he read,
twill be given for the best short story
submitted"
Without saying word to anyone, he
inserted 1.-THE Final Payment" in an
envelope and sent it to the magazine
conducting the contest, Then he await.
ed results.
Meanwhile he maintained q discreet
silence. lie applied himself industri.
ously to his law business, and managed
to secure one or two big cases, which
promised to turn out extremely well.
II told you that you were never
meant for a writer" Mrs. Jack remind
ed him one evening, about two months
after his prize story had been submit
ted. "Look at the way you are pro-
crossing. We ought to save thousand
dollars easily within the next two
years. If you had kept on trying to
write, we'd be worse off than ever"
Mr.. Jack smiled, and went on his
way. Then, one afternoon, his office
mail brought an envelope stamped
with the name of certain magazine
1t wasn't a long, thick envelope but 9
short, thin one and it contained some
thing which made his heart beat fuli
ously.
That night, at the supper table, hi
broached the subject to his wife.
do you remember that Final Pay
lnent' story" he asked.
"Yes." She showed little interest.
} swell, I sent 1t to magazine abou
two months ago"
"You did,"
Eyes, and heard from them today.
3 "They kept 1t a little longer thai
, usual" She changed the subject.
went by the house this afternoon"
Mr.. Jack frowned. It seemed to hir
Q that his wife still had little faith 4
his literary powers. Which was true.
"And someone was looking at 1t,
d Mrs. Jack continued. II went to tn
agent and he said he had a fine chanc
o to sell It,"
Q "Well," Mr.. Jack arose from til
~ table. II think I'll 60 down to the clu
10 for while. I'll be back before riine."
st In an hour or SO he returned, smilln
broadly.
IL When he came home the next ev
W ming, Mrs. Jack met him with tea
"a dimmed eyes.
"Oh, Jack" she cried, "the litt
~ house is Sold"
l. "Who bought It'll" There was a hapt
+. light In his eyes.
'arhe agent wouldn't tell me. B,
the person deposited the, money la'
night, and now we've lost it for good
"Well, that's too bad" He was al
parently Indifferent. "rm going
write some more tonight"
"Oh!" She turned away angrily.
hate your old writings. If you had a
b. tended to your business, we could ha,
had enough money to buy the hous
ourselves"
:. INN sorry, dear" Touched by II
keen disappointment in her voice,
81 led her to the wicker couch. "Do ye
90 know who bought the housef"
OF II told you / didn't" She was ST
d, angry.
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