New Britain herald., 1929-08-24
ELEANOR EARLY

But you must accede to popu- lar demand," he argued.
 "Oh, mo-" she said. Not any more. I never intended Ashes of Desire to be a popular novel,"
 You might jazz it up a little" he offered hopefully. Give it happy ending"
 I'm sorry" she told him pa tiently. that I cannot make you understand. I'm being absolutely sincere, MT. Hall. don't want to do popular stuff. I'm tired of manr- featuring for the trade. I've had enough of catering to the market. I've put my heart and soul into something real. And I don't care whether anyone likes it or not. I had to write it."
 Well, I'll see what I can do," he promised.
 She wanted to tell him not to bother. That she did not care if he never found her a publisher. That the only thing that mattered was that the book was written, and the truth told. But she knew he would think she was telling lies, if she should talk to him like that. Because 1t is douotful if anybody ever wrote anything with the idea that nobody would read it.
 She hung up the receiver slowly, wondering why she had written the book, if it were true that she did not care whether it was published. The half-remembered lines of a furtive poem ran tantalizingly through her mind. She thought that if she could recollect them. they would explain why she haG felt the necessity of writing some thing which no one might read.
 Hours later the lines came to her They were from Kipling's L'Envoi And no one shall work for money
 and no one shall work for fame; But each for the joy of working,
 and each. in his separate star. Shall draw the Thing as he sees It,
 for the God of Things as They
 Are,"'
 Yes. That was it. And only the Master Shall praise us, and only the Master shall blame." It was not with covetousness for the praise of critics that Molly had written. Nor in fear of the censure of little minds. She had written the Thing as she saw It. for the God of Things as they Are.
 It was with less difficulty than lie anticipated that MT. Hall found a publisher. And the publisher, with enthusiasm for romanticism, conceived the notion of bringing out 'Ashes of Desire" after the style of a sentimental 18th century novel.
 When Molly's book made it's ar- pearance if was demurcly bourc in white kid and orchid vellun. Before the title page. and at rne beginning of each chapter, was a gold vignette. And the name was written in letters of gold, as if by hand. across the vellum cover. Critics and artists acclaimed the jacket as the most charming in many seasons. It's fetching daintt- ness, they said suitably heralded the return of romantic fiction
 The novel itself was received with almost hysterical fervor. Im- mediatcly it jumped to the head of nous choice of The-Book- the Moment Club.
 It was written, the critics sa,o, with exquisite sensitivencss and poignant beauty. There was great deal of coniecturing. Was it, they demanded, in the nature Of an autobiography?
 At the insistence Of her rI,lish- CTS, Molly received reporters. And then. being thoroughly human ard a woman, she played up to them,
 The orchid bedroom had become her sitting room. formally beautifui. Relieved of all austerness, with flowers and books, and gay, blos- somed china. The floor was waxed green. and seemed to simmer. At the windows were green silk glass curtains, and the walls were huns with yellow brocade.
 Molly wore a Nile-s green tea gown with flowing SleeNeS and a tram.