The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-06-22
LIFE vs.. FICTION
sy GERTRUDE HlGsroa


John felt bitter and discouraged a.
he banged me door % the pretty nat
he had prepared ~ lovingly few
months aep fsr his bride
ITS hari enough to vt living and
win success. anyhow" be mutiered lie.
Jcie,ily. as he hurried down the
street. hut ! just know ! could II I
had the least bit % cncourn cement at
home. Lydla SEEMED 80 Interested
and klnd before married h.r--l
thuIght she'd care-but now at she
thinks % j. her career The correc'~
cold. biscuits burned. bacon nav. aud
everything IN disorder
"What ~ she lld get i've dollars Tor
that silly story maudlln stun.
wonder editors are fools enough 10
Accept tt m left to set along any
old way. SUPPOSE she sits and writes
all day I'm sure she does nothing
Tor mr. She wont even nx herself up
~ IN have something good to look az.
guess the boys were right 10 laugh
~ me for putting my head IN the
nouse~
NJ the once his employer booked
critically nj him many times that day
and frpwned at careless. lstlesS work
Lucky | did not tel hlm { thought 10
promoting him. I'll have a. louk
round for someone elise he said Ia
himself
AZ home Lydia yawned and stretched
herself. Even the soiied wrapper and
hair In curl papers could not wholly
disguise the fact that she was young
and pretty. Pushing the hrcakfas,
dishes one side. she got out her writ.
lng materials and became absorbed.
The 'diyin-ly beautiful maiden with
coal-black. starry eyes and raven
ctirls. clad In shlmmerlng golden tia
sue" had Just fallen rapiurously into
the arms 81 the prince when the hell
% the fat rang and Lydia reluctantly
went o. the door.
II was the postman. and she brought
back to her table n pile % rejected
manuscript. oue after another she
read the inclosed printed slips $50
sorry-unsuiiable for our publications
This does not mean that they may not
Possess merit" etc. etc.
One kindly man had written few
hastily penciled words From your
story I judge you 90 be young Ny
advice 90 you IL 10 get married and
lose yourself In yoar husbands
career: help him win success You
can write later and have something
TO write about"
Lydia sngrily tore up the letter. but
the words persisted In her memory.
Her zen went more slowly and her
thoughts turned from her heroine's
starry eyes 20 the sad. disappointed
brown ones % her own John. She
tried again TO write. but the story be
cane hopelessiy mixed In her thoughts
with her own life.
with the fainting maiden In his
arms the gallant prince leaped upon
his horse and dashed away" Poor
John. he couldn't drink his coffee. and
the dinner last night was bum" She
opened her wonderful eyes and gared
az him soulfuliy--John always used
60 say looked so dainty and pretty
and now"
She sprang up and looked az her.
self In the mirror.
swell. you are a sight for sore eye.
you'd make them sorei I guess I'm
q fool"
She hurrledly seized the manu-.
scripts. tore them into pieces and
crammed them into the scrap-hasket.
She then dragged OF the wrapper aud
put on trim workingdre She was
young and energetic. and housekeeping
was a game-so II was not long before
the whole place was spotless and In
order She went out and bought some
flowers. and when John came home
that evening his brown eyes opened
wide and the light sprang up IN them
nj the dainty. laughing little wife and
IN. festive hoard.
"what's the matierf" he asked.
"Sold all your storiesf Made n for
tuner"
"No." she laughed. They all came
back I've decided MS more fun a.
live romance. We ourselves will he
the radiant lovers and our home IN"
enchanted castle where everything l.
always beautiful and In order win
do for the princessr
BET your ne" he said eayly. A. he
bent and kissed her