Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-05-04
LIFE VS.. FICTION
BY GERTRUDE HIEsToN


g. 1922, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate
John felt bitter and discouraged as
he banged the door of the pretty fiat
he bad prepared so lovingly few
months ago for his bride.
ITS hard enough to get living and
win success, anyhow. he muttered de-
jectedly, as he hurried down the
street, "but | just know | could If
had the least bit of encouragement at
home. Lydia seemed 50 interested
and kind before ] married her--I
thought she'd care-but now all she
thinks of is her career The coffee's
cold. biscuits burned. bacon raw, and
everything In disorder.
what If she did get Ave dollars for
that silly story--maudlin stuff.
wonder editors are fools enough to
accept Tim left TO get along any
old way. l suppose she sits and writes
all day. I'm sure she does nothing
for me. She won't even fix herself w
so I'll have something good 10 look at.
| guess the boys were right to laugh
at me for putting my head in the
| moose"
At the Office his employer looked
| critically at him many times that day
| and frowned at careless, listless work,
Lucky | did not tell him | thought Of
| promoting him. III have TO look
round for someone else" he said TO
| himself
At home Lydia yawned and stretched
| herself Even the soiled wrapper and
hair In curl papers could not wholly
disguise the fact that she was young
and pretty. Pushing the breakfast
| dishes one side, she got out her writ
ing materials and became absorbed
| The "divinely beautiful maiden with
coal-black, starry eyes and raven
curls, clad Ia shimmerlng golden It's
sue" had just fallen rapturously into
| the arms of the prince when the bell
Of the fiat rang and Lydia reluctantly
| went to the door.
II was the postman, and she brought
back TO her table pile of rejected
manuscript. One after another she
sorry-unsuitable for our publications.
This does not mean that they may not
possess merit" ETC. etc
One kindly man had written a few
hastily penciled words: From your
story Judge you to be young My
advice to you is to get married and
lose yourself In your husbands
career; help him win success. You
can write later and have something
to write about"
Lydia angrily tore up the letter, but
the words persisted In her memory.
Her pen went more slowly and her
thoughts turned from her heroine's
starry eyes TO the sad. disappointed
brown ones OF her own John. She
tried again to write, but the story be-
came hopelessly 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 gazed
at him soufully-"John always used
to say I looked so dainty and pretty
and now"
self In the mirror.
"Well, you are sight for sore eyes
you'd make them sorel | guess I'm
a fool"
She hurriedly seized the manu-
scripts tore them into pieces and
crammed them into the scrap basket.
She then dragged off the wrapper and
put on a trim working-dress She Was
young and energetic, and housekeeping
was a game-so 1t 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
at the dainty, laughing little wife and
the festive board.
whats the matter2" he asked.
"Sold all your stories7 Made for
tuner
mo" she laughed "They all came
back. I've decided it's more fun to
live romance. We ourselves will he
the radiant lovers and our home the
enchanted castle where everything 10
always beautiful and In order. VIII
do for the princess7"
bet your life he said gayly, as he
bent and kissed her