Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-11-10
A Real Romance
By saidee Balloon

+ u & f
'Who is he, Mrs. Duryea 2" inquired
Iona Winstead as she came down from
the stair landing, where she had stood
for several minutes, while a young
man spoke few parting words to the
landlady Of the home where Iona and
her father were staying during a visit
to thu city.
Mr.. Hector Lyle, DEAR" was the
reply, "and | never was more reluctant
to have guest leave the place. He
has been a model boarder. I fear"
and the kindly lady sighed, sit Is a
question of money; but I dared not
intimate 1t, willing as 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 writer, Miss Iona" enlight-
ened the landlady, "a romance writer
they term it, / think"
"Oh, how delightful!'' exclaimed
Iona. 81 know real novelist! But
! don't know him after all. / wish l
did,. only saw him. Perhaps he will
come back
No, DEAR" dissented 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 and disheartened.
He has been working for a long time
on story and 1t was returned to him
from the publishers last month. Then
he prepared a synopsis of 1t and sent
It 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 stranger in the city and could
not very well venture out without On
CSSOil. MIS- lulySd III yCulS suSVAC
had been their family housekeeper and
was like some, relative, and Iona
sought her company to find her taking
down the curtains In modest little
rear apartment.
f "Mr Lyle's ROOM" she advised Iona.
"Just look! EXCEPT for the natural
wear and tear it is as neat and well
kept as the day he took It. Just like
him-he has piled all the stray bits of
rubbish in a CRATE and has even
tidied lup the wardrobe
Just then there was call for Mrs.
Duryea from downstairs. Iona re-
NAMED in the room awaiting her re-
turn. There, was a species of fascina-
ton, in being in the apartment where
genius had reigned. AS Iona noticed
portrait of some kind crumpled up
in the CRATE she leaned over and disen-
tangled it from the heap Of papers
where IL lay.
1T is his picture" she murmnred;
"a crayon sketch made by some artist
friend. suppose" and Iona smoothed
it out and. with a hasty, almost guilty
look at the doorway, thrust 1t into her
pocket. "Oh, dear, what cruel sac
rifice!" she added as she selected sew
eral sheets. from the CRATE. "Mr. Lyle
must indeed have been discouraged to
abandon all the thoughts and labor
that he has cherished. ] wonder" and
Iona was fairly, awed as she noted a
great roll of manuscript tied with
string and ready for the match of the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that is the pre-
cious story upon which he founded
such bright hopes
Mrs. Duryea. returning half an hour
later, discovered Iona seated on the
floor surrounded BY sheets of manu-
script.
Its the story, Mrs. Duryeaf cried
Iona excitedly. and he had left 1t to
be burned up! Oh. 1t is beautiful
beattiful! Can I have 1t? Please
say can!"
''Why, What would you do with 1t,
child?" inquired Mrs. Duryea
II would read ut all, and then all
over again. There isn't a page so far
that doesn't fairly sparkle with lovely
sentiment and nobleness, The pub
fishers could never have read it. May
i? Oh, thank you--thank you!"
IJactnr ylo had once set tynn In his