Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-08

they be expected to recognize genius?'
Editors recognize the things that
will make money for them" Marlel
told him gently That's why they're
| in busineSs-to make money"
But Walter wasn't so readily con-
WINGED. A month slipped by before he
again attempted to develop his talent.
And then he was prevailed upon by
the gentle urging of Mariel-Mar1el
in whose eyes the light Of faith and
pride never faltered Walter felt
sometimes, vaguely. that he was in
vested with a responsibility, re-
sponsibility to justify that look.
He tried again, spent added time
on his new idea, and shipped 1t OH
with new hope. hope now tempered
by faint misgivings This time the
editors kept the things month before
returning them. They incloSed a letter
stating that the reason for the delay
was because the manuscript had been
misplaced and just come to light.
Walter was plunged into the depths
of despair. He was no longer indig-
nant or outraged, but instead engulfed
by a feeling of encouragement and
shattered hope He felt the city. the
routine of existence, closing about him,
consuming him, making him an insig-
niflcant part of the great scheme OF
things. Even Mariel became an annoy
ance
We'll try again, darling. We're not
licked. Nowhere near licked
we are" Walter glared at her,
savoring the relief resulting from his
outburst. I'VE are licked! I'm just
no goodi There's no use going on!
We're wasting time, when We could
/ be living!"
He turned away and Mariel let him
| go.
She waited a month, and then
Walter came home one night to find
his drawing board and pencils on the
living room table. 1T was an idea
I had. darling. It's probably no good.
but I thought you might want to
amuse yourself with it-just for prac-
tice." She came to him and kissed
him, kissed away the sullen retort that
rose to his lips.
An right" he said. IAN right.
What's the big idea?"
She spent the evening explaining it,
whetting his enthusiasm. assuring him
of her faith in him and in the idea.
And in the end, almost in self-defense,
he agreed to work it out. During the
two weeks that followed Mariel re-
fused four out of six invitations to
spend the evening elsewhere, and made
no mention of these invitations to
Walter
At the end of three weeks the series
was completed But it was Mariel
who wrapped it up and mailed it to
the syndicate. And when four days
later letter arrived from New York
addressed to Walter 1t lay all day
long at his place at the table, un-
touched, unopened. 1t was there
when he returned at night. He picked
it up, glanced at Mariel and slit the
envelope
There was no need to explain the
! contents of the letter, no need even to
announce the size of the check. Mariel
knew by the look in Walters eyes that
at last they had won. There we're
tears on his cheeks when he EMBODIED
her in his arms. 1t was moment or
two before he could speak. But even
tually he looked down into her up
turned face.
We've won, honey We've won! I
told you I'd be great! 1 told you
would. Oh, 1 knew I'd stand out
II wouldn't have asked you to marry
me if hadn't been sure of it. Never"
Mariel squeezed his arm and smiled
happily. And, darling, never would
have married you if hadn't known
it, too"
Copyright. 1887