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FRIDAY. NOVEMBER SO. 1906.
JUST PLAIN NANCY BROWN
By ANNABEL LEE.
(Copyright, 1906. by W. H. Hearat.>
She climbed the dark, dingy •tain'
leading to the editorial.rooms, ntopping
at each landing to gain her breath and
read the* sign to which u grotesquely
drawn Anger pointed—‘'Manhattan
Magazine. Editorial Rooms Next
Floor.?*
"How much further.” she sighed
wearily,, and then nhe paused before the
door and hulf uudlby murmured a
prayer, "God, that I may be fortunate
here."
She held up her head bravely, and.
presenting her card to the office boy,
•aid easily, "To the editor, please."
"lie has gone to Chicago."
n«r heart beat painfully, but she In
quired: "Is his assistant here*.’" The
boy took her card Into the next room
and a moment later returned and said:
"This way. please."
8he followed him to a high roll-top
desk, where a sleek, well-groomed
young n»Hn w heeled around in a re
volving chair to a position in front of
whleh she stood.
"You look well fed, and as if you
knew where you were going to sleep
tonight; you are enjoying u brief au
thority. and now I wonder if you arc
going to put i.n airs," was her Inward
comment, but she smiled und said di
rectly: "I am sorry Mr. Welt on Is away,
for I have a story here which I think
may Interest him."
*;What is the nature of \be material?"
he said austerely.
"A signed story, written in a popular
way by an eminent scientist."
"Well, that sounds good." he an
swered. critically, half closing his eyes,
"but we can i>ass on nothing during
the 'chiefs’ absence, and he wiq !>«•
away three weeks. Suppose you leave
It here for his derision?"
He motioned her to a seat and vol
unteered emphatically, “You see. we
want stuff by people who are doing
something in tne world, no mutter
how recent their achievements; that is
what we are after. Something with
the ‘human toudh.’"
He paused and looked up to see the
effect of his words, then continued:
"For instance, a chorus girl marries
a millionaire, no matter how obscure
she may have been before, if she mar
ries a millionaire she has done some
thing that shows she has done some
thing."
“Art?” the woman queried.
"Work," the editor exclaimed, "any
how, it is achievement, und she would
tnuke a rattling good story."
"The human touch," suggested the
woman.
‘'Exactly,” the editor replied.
A merciful Interruption came. The
telephone rang on his desk and the
bantering ceased. “You had better leave
this here," he added, as he took the re
ceiver from the hook, “und your
name?"
“Nnncv Brown." she answered, “plain
Nancy Brown, and the address is In
side."
With every sense on a strain, she
had talked lightly, but she waa raging
furiously a* she rapidly descended the
steps to the street. It had been two
days since she had tusted food, and
the fumes of fresh-made bread that
Ailed the air from a baker shop brought
u pang of hunger that quickened her
steps until she reached Broadway and
merged Into the full tide of downtown
traffic.
•That Is one of the comforts of
Broadway," she said aloud, ."if you
are starving you are mercifully pro
tected from the smell of cooking on
this street."
She stopped at a crossing to let un
automobile pass and recognised Its oc
cupant—a star whom she had inter
viewed a season ago.
“I'll make my prettiest bow to‘her,"
*h* soliloquized, “she is an addle-pate,
but she Is 'getting «>n:’ she has her
gilp on Gotham and my failures have
been splendid.”
The sight of pampered luxury and
the Injustice of Fate made her Insensi
bly relax her pace.
"God; what a price decency pays to
ambition," she exclaimed, "three years
struggle in New York and what is It
all for?"
"If I had failed utterly," she contin
ued, "then it would not be so hard to
give it up. but I've had just enough
success to beckon me on to the Journal
ist’s 'pot of gold,' and here I am strand
ed, but not beaten. I am still insane
enough to feel encouraged If I should
land some of my copy tomorrow. What
a hideous existence, what a feverish,
distracting, unhappy life, end yet all
that I have set my heart upon, all that
has made life suAlerahle has tumbled
about my ears, even lit this hour. God,
how I want It, how 1 want some small
measure of that recognition which Is
the life and soul of me, and now I am
done for."
Nancy Brown threaded her way back
home mechanically and slowly mount
ed the stairs to the Imck room of a houso
facing Washington square. Under the
door she found two letters, one from
the landlady notifying her that her rent
was overdue, and the other was from
her husband. She took off her veil
and carefully scrutinised the date t>f
the stamp, then said aloud, as if count
ing to hrrsrlf: "Yen, he could have
anawered my letter by thl, time."
8he hurriedly opened the letter and
looked In the envelope to see if It con
tained money, but there was nothing
there. Then began to read;
Dear Nancy:
I am sorry you are In auch strait,,
but I can’t help you any. If you will
Insist on puddling your own canoe In
stead of letting me do It for you, in
my way, you must take what comes.
If you will live your life alone, go
ahead and drop tne out entirely; If you
run't do It writing, do something else.
You know I am sorry that you are up
against It. and the thought that you
may be hungry, even. Is depressing,
to sap the least. I haven't eaten a
meal since you left without wondering
if you have had yours.
I am so overwhelmsd by the disaster
to 'Frisco that I hardly know what to
write. I have written to my friend Jim
that I would send him what help 1
could. .Jim was always my friend, and
1 don't know whether I shall send you
nny money or not. I tin half Inclined
to believe that to struggle along alone
will either bring out what you have In
you or bring you to a light sense of
things sooner or later. Yes, this Is a
railroad camp, about a hundred per
cent worse than anything In South
Atnarlea, and four miles from the post-
. office. There arc at all times three or
four men In our room, which contains
two double beds and n cot. We get up
at 5:SO and leave for the front at
0:15. We take our dinner buckets
(nose bags) and eat our cold dinners nn
the end of a railroad tie. At night we
I arrive In camp about 7:80, and for
amusement tell lies or read old news
papers hy a dirty lamp. If any one Is
damn fool enough to thipk he wants
anything In the way of the milk of hu
man kindness, love or uffectlon, his
wants can be promptly supplied hy
calling in n small hull pup who Is
looking for Just auch a snap, and shows
his loving nature by tenting your pants
leg, hiding your lint and carrying awny
anything he cun drag and hiding It.
In fact, we are a prise lot of Idiots,
who at some time or other, more or
less remote, thought money and mar
riage the only things to make like
worth while. Hut It Is me for the gay j
life In the future. The head of the
house, that’s "me,” In the future, will
give you one more chance. To sum up
tho situation, you have until the lit
of June to make up your mind wheth
er you want me or not. I have reached
the limit. It Is up to you to deride.
I have been a widower by request long
enough, and you have had time to prove
that you do not cut enough Ice In New
York to Interfere with a lemon frapp*.
As ever, JACK.
She carefully folded the letter and
put It In Its Inrloaure, then threw her
self on the couch In a paroxysm of
hysterical laughter. Thera was a knock
at the door, an Imperative knock, and
tho voice of the maid called through
the keyhole, ”A telegram.”
There were two—one contained an
official notification of money, and the
other: "Your husband was seriously
hurt in a landslide this morning and
begs you to come to him ut once. I
have wired money for transportation at
his request and would suggest that you
do not delay.
a a 8b’BQEON. r
scanned the time tables. "I’ll be able
to make It,” she said to herself. "Just
two hours,” and she straightway began
to pack her trunk. "He must not die,"
She cried vehement!)', "Oh, flod, I see
It all now: I have been wicked and
selfieh and he needs me, help me to
make amende.”
The door opened cautiously and the
landlady stood Inside. "I rapped, but
I guess you didn't hear me," she said,
tentatively. "No, Mrs. Darker, I dhl
not hear, but I am glad you came In:
I ant going West at 5 o'clock and can
talk lo you while I am packing."
"Isn’t that ruther suddlnt like?”
"Yes, something Important. I shall
pay you for this week, however, so
you will have a chance to get another
tenant.” |
She put on her hat, grabbed her i
gloves and started for the street. "You
will excuse tne; I know ~
lime.”
"Well," Mr*. Barker began
are cornin' home soon, I'll hold tho
room till you git back."
"I am not coming back."
"But you always liked New- York,"
the landlndy persisted.
"I hate New York," said Nagcy
Brown.
THE RETURN.
He sought the old scenes with eager feet—
The scenes he hnd known ns n hoy;
"Oh, for a draught of those fuuntnlus
sweet.
And a Utsto of the rnnlshed Joy."
lie roamed the fields, he inusetl by the
strentns.
Ho threaded the paths and lnnes;
.On the bills he sought his youthful ilrenuis.
In the wtssls to forget ids pains.
Oh. sail, sad hills; oh, cold, cold hearth!
In sorrow he learned the truth—
in go linek lo the plnee of his birth—
Hi* cannot go buck to his youth.
—John burroughs.
IT SHALL BE WELL.
have so little If "l 0 ') "halt lie In heart n child.
Forgiving, tender, meek nnd mild,
... VO.I Th, '“ ih »■«! 'W * ,n,n " "* "" rl1 ' defiled,
>2" ! Oh, aonl, It slmll be well.
THE DELICIOUS QUAIL
IS NOW IN SEASON. TRY
ONE TONIGHT AFTER
THE THEATER AT THE
NEW KIMBALL PALM
GARDEN.
it •ball ... ......
Wlmty'er thy rare, tb.v tnngiu*, my rn*mj
Thon ahalt not Iom thy fitting mead;
..ttlnf
It ahall.be surely well.
Not where, nor bow. nor when wo know,
Nor by whnt stag#* thou shalt grow:
W‘‘ may but whisper faint and low,
"It shall Imi surely well."
It aball lie well with thee, oh, soul.
Tho; the heavens wither like a scroll;
Tnn the sun and moon forget to roll—
Oh, soul, it shall be well.
—Lewis Morris.
Solomon Uompers. father of Ha muni, the
E resident of the Amerlenn Federation of
abor. Uvea In Itoxbury, Mass. He Is ?*
years old. and has Iwen totally blind for
nil exp«*.
Major Powell Cotton, who Is .... .....
dltton from the Nile to Znmliest. Is nccotn-
paUled by bis wife, the first European
woman to penetrate the Iturl Itnsiii. The
eauip has been thronged daily by natives,
who are wiki with curiosity to see “the
8ht» grubbed the mornln# paper and white woman with the long hair.
THE MAN AND HIS WORK.
I haven't much faith In the man who com
plains
Of the work he has chosen to'do.
“ ““ else he's deficient In brains.
* likely iu rob;
—in, hJ>
feasy, .... „
He's likely to cheat nnd he'„ .... ..
Away with the man who finds fault
Job.
BOt faee* n “* tb * W,lh tlw wn ln Wi
And he shadows all dancing behind: J
’* ho can meet ht« reverses with ealmnest
nnd grace.
And never forget to t.* kind;
wjjtlmr he's wielding a scepter or
I have rnfth In the i
bis job.
—John L. fihroy. in Llpplncott’s.
THE BABY.
A* Seen by Hie Brother.
By JAMES X MONTAGUE.
Just guess what that there doctor did
When I was ont one day?
lie went nnd brought n roggy kid.
An’ left It here—to stay
An* now my muvrer's got to tend
To him nil day, an’ she
I>on’t never hnve no time to epend
A-doin' things for roe.
8h«* thinks he's Just a reg’lar saint,
An’ never seemed to care ...
When I says, scornful: "Humph. **•’ ;l U 1
Got nny teeth nor hair!" ,
An* when I showed her how he <1 «iy
At Just a little slap,
She says: “It's bad of you to try
To hurt the little chap!"
I have to go to bed aloue,
An’ lay awake nil' hear
The awful ghosts nn’ goblins groan—
They’re thick this time o’ year.
An* no one tell# me stories now,
But every one says: "Keep
As still us uuy boy knows how—
Dear Imby Is usleep!"
For every time he's come around
sSoiuelHsiy lots lieeu sick.
An’ when lt*s me, he's made me
A lot of awful truck . .
Thnt’s gave me such u 'stomach ache,
He's always bruug bud luck.
'in goln’ to get the kid some day,
Au when the doctor's here
’ll give him to him. an I II ®a.'
"Just take this ‘little dear.
You brought him. now you Just
Back home with bltnf" An' wk*u
who’s In love with
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