The Atlanta Georgian. (Atlanta, GA.) 1906-1907, November 30, 1906, Image 8

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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 Listings in The New Bell Telephone Directory Close tomorrow. All your friends are subscribers. Now is a good time to join. Call Con tract Department, K |liB Dainty, exquisite accessories to the dressy costume on all occasions. Many shapes are suitable for Opera Bags. Some are so small as to be used only for a change purse. From our large and varied collection we invite you to select the size, shape and color that will suit your individual taste, your costume and your purse. The above cuts do not show the wide range in prices. Small bead bags are here all the way from 50c up to A very handsome example of the finest bead work* White ground with beautiful Persian colorings in the design. Price 21.00. Large ones are shown anywhere from 2.50 to 25.00. Ckamberlin-Johhson DuBese c ompan/ THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN, Cliambsrlin-Johnson-DuBose Company. Chamterlin-JoKnson-DuBoss Company. Chamberlin-Johnson-DuBose Company. TY BEAD The above bag shows a differ ent class of work, but very dainty, and pretty enough for use with any Gown. Price 5.00.