The Era-leader., 1921-07-28
TIE HOUSE ON The HILL
BY EARL SILVERS.


! 1ttbiE ALtS. btEh " inter StHt' i'''o !
and s0rrowfUIly at the little white ;
house Oh the hill.
"If you'd only stop your foolish at
tcmptS to write short stories, $he
said to her WorShiping husband, you
could make enough money at your
business to buy that home in a fe"
months.'
"But perhaps I'll sell story or
two" Mr. Jack answered. "and then
we can buy it anyway"
you'll never sell story Her
speech was brutally frank. 1T isn't
in you"
Mrs. Jacks tone betrayed long suf.
fering. She had been married for six
months, and during that time Mr.. Jack
had received II rejection slips. tie
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
much.desired white cottage, and chat
ted about one hundred and one trivial
things until they reached their apart
ment. In the mail box, he found thick
envelope.
"What IS it9" Mrs. Jack spoke with.
out enthusiasm. She had seen similar
mlssiyes before.
""The Final Payment has come
back" he announced. "1'll send it out
again tonight"
II wouldn't if I were you" She
spoke with touch of sarcasm. "1ts
only waste Of postage"
Mr.. Jack wisely refrained from re-
plying, but made his way to the den,
where he idly picked up q current
magazine. On the title page, the an
nOuncement of prize short.stOry con.
test stared at him.
Zone thousand dollars" he read,
"Will be given for the best short story
submitted"
Without saying q word to anyone, he
inserted "The Final Payment" In an
envelope and sent it to the magazine
conducting the contest. Then he await
ed results
Meanwhile he maintained a discreet
silence. He applied himself industri-
ously to his law business, and managed
to secure one or two big cases, which
promised to turn out extremely we'll.
| 81 told you that YOU were never
meant for writer" Mrs. Jack remind
ed him one evening, about two months
n after his prize story had been submit
| ted. Look at the way you are pro-
4 crossing. We ought to save a thousand
dollars easily within the next two
! years. If you had kept on trying to
\ write, we'd be worse off than ever"
q Mr.. Jack smiled, and went on his
way. Then, one afternoon, his office
mail brought an envelope stamped
with the name Of certain magazine.
+ It wasn't long thick envelope, but a
short thin one, and it contained some.
thing which made his heart beat furi.
] ously.
That night, at the supper table, he
brOached the subject to his wife.
Il "Do you remember that Final Pay.
s ttient' story?" be asked.
a "Yes." She showed little interest.
"Well, I sent 1t to a magazine about
two months ago."
t "You didf"
f "Yes, and I heard from them today"
. "They kept 1t little longer than
tisual." She changed the subject. II
9 went by the fotise this afternoon"
: Mr.. Jack frowned It seemed to him
that his wife still had little faith III
' his literary powers. Which was true.
y And someone was looking at It's
s Mrs. Jack continued. IT went to the
ngent and he said he had a fine chance
to sell it."
y "Well," Mr.. Jack arose from the
table. II think I'll 60 down tc the club
for a while. III be back before nine"
- In an hour or SO he returned, smiling
broadly.
When he came home the next eve.
ming, Mrs. Jack met him with tear.
I dimmed eyes.
"Oh, Jack" she cried, "the little
house is sold.'
"Wf,o bought itf" There was @ hsppy
light in his eyes,
J "The agent wouldn't tell me. But
the person deposited the money last
night, and now we've lost It for good ~
swell, that's too bad" He was an.
parently Indifferent. "rm going to
write some more tonight"
"Oh!" She turned away angrily, 81
hate your old writings. If you had at.
tended to your business, we could have
, had enough money to buy the house
4 ourselves"
= I'm sorry, dear" Touched by the
a keen disappointment In her voice, he
). led her to the wicker couch. "Do you
;, know who bought the house?"
:. II told you / didn't" She was still
lt Angry.
l. "Wel1w He patsed moment fo,