The Idaho recorder., 1921-08-05
WITHOUT LOVE
BY ELSIE G. PARKER.
100000

walked home from the Daysville post
office, yet her footsteps Jagged. In
her hand were two bulky letters. To
The kindly neighbors. who took much
interest in Marge and her career,
these letters-always fat ones-were a
| JOY.
Marge was an authoress, you must
understand. Oh, yes, she wrote many,
many stories; but only she knew that
they were all unpublished The viii
lage folk thought the reason she re-
fused to talk about her stories was
modest one. They did not under
stand the meaning of the thick envel-
opes which contained rejected manu-
scripts.
| Three years ago Marge had a love
affair. All Daysville had known it,
and had thrilled at 1t. Then one day,
In the city papers society page, there
had been an announcement: Miss
Ray Dey Butan betrothed to Mr.. Rob
ert Benedict"
| His name Marge's sweetheart
Everyone was indignant; and Marge
wrote him brief note telling him
never to try to see her again.
Those three long years had gone
by slowly. And Marge. nov an ar
jent man-hater of twenty-five. was an
authoress. Yet her works could hard
ty be called stories; they were sat.
Tres. All the scOrn she felt for man"
she embodied in her manuscripts.
Love- she would say. Above !!
Everyone writes Of It, sings Of it,
dreams of it. Not L Here Is one
who would not write of love, but will
laugh at it. It's nothing but farce,
anyway" And she really thought she
believed it.
Consequently, back came all her
stories, accompanied by polite little
rejection slip
In the city, Bob Benedict had risen
from a newspaper reporter to assist
ant manager and editor Of short
story magazine. And, while reading
some Of the numerous manuscripts
one day, he came upon one written by
Marge Wilcox of Daysville. 1t was
no other than the girl who had
thrown him over without an ex-
PLANTATION With increased interes,
he reread the story that ridiculed love
! und men.
!. "Jove, hut she's bitter! Maybe
some one Tilted her, as she did me
She deserves it-but no, confound 1t
She must have had good reason" he
mused
At length he persuaded the editor
to let him experiment, and send thu
following letter:
: Dear Maadm: We read your un
! usual story, Green Apples with mucl
interest. Although at present we can
not use the story, we would like t
have, some time in the near future, al
opportunity to talk with you abou
some work you might do for us.
"very truly yours,
THE EDITOR"
When Marge received this letter sh'
was overjoyed. In fact, she almos
, changed her opinion Of men. She want
: ed to go to the editor the next day
eager, so she waited two whole days
All a-trembe, she reached the build
ing where the magazine was published
= She told the office boy that the ed
: itOr had asked her to call. He wa
: Tot at all impressed, but, indifferently
!, took her name toward the editorial of
: Aces.
"The editor is out, miss, but the as
sistant will see YOU" he said, when h
returned.
Bob! !" she gasped, when she Opene'
: the door and saw who was in th
room You.
"Why, Marge" exclaimed the as
.istant editor. trying to look YER
much surprised, and to control hi
shaking Snees.
You wanted to see mel mean, III
editor wrote me-the letter will OK
pluin--r she passed him the letter.
"Ah. yes. Miss Wilcox" he said. yer
"editorially" Wont You sit down
Ne feel you have talent. and are was,
ing yourself on this satire stun. Wha
the public wants is the love interes
or human interest. Now. a good whole
some love story stands more"
If you wished 10 see me 10 tel
ne to write love stories. | might jus
as well be going. For | don't inten
TO write any" she said. defiantly
You don't need To write love storie'
but you do need To have stories Wit
human interest"
Are you trying TO tell me M
stories are inhumany' the girl ds
manded.
No, but ! think you were inhuma
when you wrote me that letter ihre
years ago with nary an explanation.
why. why" stamnered Marg.
completely overwhelmed by the une,
peciedness OF the remark. The al
nouncement in the paper she sal
lamely.
What announcement snapped tn
assistant editor
Your engagement"