Gunnison news-champion., 1920-09-17
A Real Romance
D Sai1ss Daleso

soue W huste1u rs sne came down from
the stair landing. where she had stood
Tor several minutes. while a young
man spoke few parting words to The
iandiady Of the home where Iona and
her father were staying during a visit
20 the city.
Mr.. Hector Lyle. dear" was the
reply. -and ! never was more reluctant
TO have a guest leave the place He
has been q model boarder. fear"
and the kindly lady sighed. "it 10 a
question Of money: bur dared not
intimate II. willing as l would be to
help him."
Iona's eyes had never rested upon .
face that So interested her as that of
the young man who had Just left the
house
He Is a writer, Miss Iona" enIIght-
ened the iandlady. "a romance writer
they term II. think"
"oh. how delightful I" exclaimed
Iona. II know a real novelist! But
don't know him after all. wish I
did ] only saw him. Perhaps he will
come back"
mo. dear" dlssented Mrs. Duryea.
He told me he would leave the city
for his old home soon. What saddened
me most, however. was that he was
greatly depressed nnd disheartened.
He has been working for long time
on story and II was returned to him
from the publishers last month. Then
he prepared n synopsis OF II and sent
II to another publisher. but so far has
got no encouragement. Poor fellow!
Anyone could see that he Is a genius"
Iona was as much affected by the
mournful story as the landlady her.
self. There was a good deal Of ro-
nance In her nature and her lively
imagination and sympathy cast
glamor about the unfortunate author
that did not dissipate all the morning.
Time hung heavy on her hands. She
! was a stranger In the city and could
not very well venture out without an
escort. Mrs. Duryea in years agone
had been their family housekeeper and
was like some relative. and Iona
sought her company to find her taking
down the curtains In a modest little
renr apartment.
Lyle TUpiI. BIG uuNistu iVuu.
AUST look! Except for the natural
wear and tear II Is rs neat and weaI
kept as the day he took 1t. Just like
him-he has piled all the stray bits OF
rubbish In grnte and has even
t1died up the wardrobe"
Just then there was call for Mrs.
Duryea from downstairs. Iona re-
/ lna tn sh. tpv hne
turn. There was a species Of fascina-
tion in being In the apartment where
genius had reigned. As Iona noticed
\ portrait OF some kind crumpled up
in the grnte she leaned over and disen-
tangled 1t from the heap Of papers
where II lay.
"It Is his picture" she murmured !;
"a crayon sketch mnde by some artist
friend, suppose" and Iona smOothed
II out and. with hasty. almost guilty
look at the doorway. thrust II into her
pocket "Oh, dear. what cruel sac
rifice !" she added. rs she selected sew
eral sheets from the crate. "Mr. Lyle
must indeed have been discouraged ia
abandon all the thoughts and labor
. that he has cherished. wonder" and
. Iona was fairly awed as she noted q
, great roll Of manuscript tied with a
string and ready for the match Of the
housemaid-'perhaps that Ii the pre-
cious story upon which he founded
such bright hopes"
Mrs. Duryea, returning half an houl
= later, discovered Iona seated on the
{ floor surrounded by sheets Of manu-
script.
ITS the story. Mrs. Duryeal" criet
Iona excitedly. "And he had left It Il
|. be burned upi oh. 1t IL beautiful
beautiful! Can I have IT. Pleas
say ! cant"
'Why, what would you do with II
chfla9'' Inquired Mrs.. Duryea.
II would read It all, and then al
over again. There isn't page 70 fal
that doesn't fairly sparkle with Lowell!
sentiment and nobleness The pub
!, fishers could never have read II. Ma!
{ II Oh, thank you-thank you'll"
a Hector Lyle had once set type In hi
{ native village. When he left Mn
It Duryea's he had less than ten dollar
= to live ON. He had found employment
1
with q publisher Of . neighborhoo'
. weekly and managed to earn enoug
y to sustain him. He was alone in tn
little den Of place when Lowell
young lady entered the room. all AM
nation and eagerness.
ave have been trying to locate 20
for two months. Mr.. Lyle" spoke Ion
winsted excitedly-"Mrs. Duryea an
!, and the publisher. too. And type
the whole manuscript Of the story fo
the editor who had approved tn
synopsis. and he has accepted 1t an
will pay you five hundred dollars dow
and"
: THERE the impulsive Iona came to
confused pause for Mrs. Duryea TO
: lowing her, said: ''Why, Iona, wha
. VIII the gentleman think, never havin
4 seen you before and not understand