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

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JUST PLAIN NANCY BROWN By ANNABEL LEE. (Copyright, 1906, by W. R. Henrat.) Bbe climbed the dark, dingy stairs leading to the editorial rooms, stopping at each landing to gain her breath and read the sign to which a grotesquely drawn Unger pointed—"Munliuttun Magaslne, Editorial Rooms Next Floor.” •’How much further.” she sighed wearily, and then she puused before the door and half audiby murmured a prayer, "God, that I may be fortunate here." She held up her head bravely, and, presenting her card to the office boy, said .easily, ‘To the editor, please.” "He has g«*n«- to Chicago." Her heart beat painfully, but she in quired: "Is his assistant here?” The boy took her card into the next room and a moment Inter returned and said: This way, please.” She followed him to a high roll-top desk, where a sleek, well-groomed Voung man wheeled around lit a re volving chair to a position In front of which the stood. "You look well feil, and as If you knew where you were going t«> sleep tonight; you .«r»* enjo>lng a brief au thority. and now I wonder If you arc- going to put on airs," was her inward comment, but she smiled and said di rectly: "I am sorry Mr. Weltcm Is away, for I have a story here which I think may Interest him." "What is the nature of the material?” he said austerely. "A signed story, written In a popular way by an eminent scientist." "Well, that sounds good." he an-, ■wered. critically, half closing his eyes, "but we can pass on nothing during the 'chief's* absence, and ho w III be away three weeks. Suppose you leave It her*- for Ilia decisionT* He-motioned her to a seat and vol unteered emphatically, "You -ee. vo want stuff by people w»p* are doing ^‘•-mething in tne world, no matter recent their u* hkveim nu, that what we are after. Something with the ‘human touch/ ” 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 n 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 achieve ment, and she would make 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, "and your name?” "Nancy Brown." she answered, "plain Nancy Brown, and the address Is In side.” With every sense on a strain, she had talked lightly, but she was raging furiously as she rapidly descended the steps to the street. It had been two days since she had tasted food, and the fumes of fresh-made bread that filled the air from a baker shop brought a 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 stuivlng you are mercifully pro tected from the smell of cooking on this street.” She stopped at a crossing to let an automobile jaiss and recognised Its oc cupant— u« star whom she had inter viewed a season ug«*. Til make my prettiest how to her." sin* soliloquised, "she Is an addle-pate, but she Is getting on;* she has her gtip on Gotlmin and iny failures have been splendid.” The sight of pampered luxury aucl tho 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. 1 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, and yet all that I have set my heart upon, all that bus made life sufilerable has tumbled about my ears, even in this hour. God, how I want It, how I 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 back room of a house facing Washington square. Under the door she found two letters, one from the landlady notifying her that her rent wus overdue, and the other was from her husband. She took off her veil and carefully scrutinised the date of the stamp, then said aloud, aa if count ing to herself: "Yes. he could have answered my letter by this 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 rend: Dear Nancy: I am sorry you ure in such straits, but I can’t help you any. If you will Insist on paddling 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 me out entirely; If you can't do it writing, do something else. You know I am sorry that you arc up against It. and the thought that you may be hungry, even. Is depressing, to say the least. I haven't eaten a meal since you left without wondering If you have had yours. I am so overwhelmed by the disaster to ’Frisco that 1 hardly know what to write. I have written to my friend Jim that I would send him what help I. could. Jim was always my friend, and l I don’t know whether I shall send you any money or not. 1 am half Inclined to believe that to struggle ulong alone will either bring out what you have In you or bring you to a right sense of | things sooner or later. Yes, this is a railroad camp, about a hundred |>er | cent worse than anything In South America, and four miles from the post- . office. There are at all times three or four men in our room, which contains two double beds and ft cot. \V> get up at 6:8a and leuve for the front at 6:16. We take our dinner buckets (nose bags) and eat our cold dinners on the end of a railroad tie. At night we • arrive in camp about 7:80, and for • amusement tell lies or read old news papers by a dirty lamp. If any one Is damn fool enough to thlpk he wants anything in the way of the milk of hu man kindness, love or affection, his wants can be promptly supplied by calling in a small bull pup who is looking tor just such a snap, and shows his loving nature by tearing your pants leg, hiding your lint and carrying away uifN thing he can 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 scanned the time tables. "I'll be able to make It,” she said to herself. "Just two hours," and she strulghtway began to pack her trunk. "He must not die,” Hhe cried vehemently, "Oh, Clod, I see It all now*; I have been wicked and selfish und he needs tne, help me to make amends." The door oponod cautiously and the lundlady stpod inside. "I rapped, but I guess you didn't hear tne/' she said, tentatively. "No, Mrs. Barker, I did not hear, but I am glad you came In; I am going West at 6 o'clock and can talk to 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.” j She put on her hat, grabbed her : gloves and started for the street. "You will excuse me; I know I have so little i time.” "Well,” Mrs. Barker began, "If you : arc coinin' home soon. I’ll hold the room till you git back.” "I am not coming back.” "But you always liked New York,' the landlady persisted. "I hate Njw York," said THE RETURN. .. eager 1 he hnd known as n boy; draught of those founts ins The scene "Oh. for i sweet. And a taste of the vanished Joy,” He roamed the fields, he mused by the streams, lie threaded the paths and lanes; On the hills he sought his youthful dreams, In the woods to forget tils |mlns. Oh. sail, sad hills: oh. cold, arid hearth! In Sorrow he learned the truth- one may go hack to the plain* of his birth— He eauiiot go hack to his youth. —John Burroughs. u»|i' me uni) limit;* it* iimivc mi* n * Natp*> worth while. But It Is me for the gay | Br3 * n * life In the future. The head of the house, that's "me,” In the future, will give you one more chance. To sum up the situation, you have until the 1st of June to make up your mind wheth er you want me or not. 1 have reached the limit. It Is up to you to decide. I have been n 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 frappe. As ever. JACK. She carefully folded the letter and put it In Its inclosure, then threw her self on the couch in a paroxysm of hysterical laughter. There was a knock at the door, an Imperative knock, and the 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 at once. 1 have wired money for transportation at his request and would suggest that you do not delay. R. R. SURGEON.” THE DELICIOUS QUAIL IS NOW IN SEASON. TRY ONE TONIGHT AFTER THE THEATER AT THE NEW KIMBALL PALM GARDEN. IT SHALL BE WELL. If them shalt be In heart n child. Jorgivlng, tender, meek and mild. Though with light stains of earth drilled Oh, soul, it shall ho well. 1* shall we well with thee. Indeed. V» bate er thy race, thy tongue, thv creed. Thou shalt not lose thy flu lag me«l: It shall l»e surely well. Not where, nor liow, nor when we know. Nor by what stages thou shalt grow; We may but whisper faint and low, "It slutli he surely well." It shall be well with tliee. oh, soul. Tho the heavens wither like n scroll: Tho the sun and moon forget to roll— Oh, soul, it shall l»e well. —Lewls'Morrls. THE BABY. Ai Seen by Hie Brother. By JAMES~j' MONTAGUE. Jiint mice wlmt that thrro doctor did When I was out one day? He went ami brought n raggy kid, An' left it here—to stay An’ cow my uiuvver's got to tend To him nil day, an* she Don't never have no time to spend A-dotn* thing* for me. HU-* thinks he's Just a reg'lar salat. An’ never seemed to care .... tVlu-n I says, scornful: "Humph. lb* 11 Got any teeth nor hair!" Solomon Goropers. father of Samuel, the president of the American Federation of Labor, lives* In Iloxbury, Mass. He Is 7k years old. quid lias !>een totally blind for nlue years. He was born In London, when be joined a trade union in IMS. Major Powell Cotton, who Is ou an **xim*- dltlon from the Nile to '/.amU-id. i* acrom- {tanled by bis wife, tho first Europe* u woman to penetrate the Ituri basin. The catnp has been thronged dally l»r natives who «n* wild with curiosity to'*e«- -ihi She crabbed the murnln* paper and white woman with the Ion* hair. THE MAN AND HI6 WORK. 1 l “ V ptaln“' 1Cl1 f * l,h ,n ,he ->>o com- «>f the work bo bn, chmen to do. *{*“,- J"*J- l> . r - 1 ?" be - * deficient hi iirnlon. Ho , llkjdy to o boo I and he - * likely r„ rob; Awnywhh I bo man who fin.!* lault with hi. I have to go to lied nloue, An’ lay awake all* bear The nwfnl ghosts an’ goblins grnau-* They’re thick this time.o' year. An’ no one tells me stories now, But every one says: "Keep As still as any boy knows bow— Dear Ihi by Is asleep!” [ I knew that doctor man was bound To ploy us, some mean trick. ! I*or every time he’s come around HometHsiy has been slrk. An' when It's me, he's made me tau<* A lot of awful truek , . That's gave me such n stomach tune. He’s always brung bad luck! I'm goln' to get the kid some day. An* when the doctor's here I’ll give him to him. an' I’ll ■#> •Mush take this ‘little dear.' You brought him. now you just g*« Back home with him!’’ An wli-u The raggy little thing Is ffon*» My nm’ll love ME again. with the sun in bis But give me i fact*. And lie shadow* till dancing behind: ' Vbo p «5» n, "ot hi* reverses with cnimueM and grace. Am! never forget m is* kind; r° r * ^whether winding a arepter <i 1 Uar hiJ°id! 1,1 tl,H ,l,a, ‘ wh,V * IH love wit —John L. Hhrojr, iu Lippincott’o. Listings in The New Bell Telephone Directory Close tomorrow. All your friends are subscribers. Now is 3 good time to join. Call Con tract Department, Main 1300. the finest bead work. White ground with beautiful Persian colorings in the design. Price 21.00. 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 Large ones are shown anywhere from 2.50 to Chamberlin-Johnson DuBgse Compan/. 8. THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER SO. lfc*. Qiambsrlin-Johnson-DuBose Company. Chamberlin-Johnson-DuBoss Company. • Chamberlin-Johhson-DuBose Company. The above bag shows a differ ent class of work, but very dainty, and pretty enough for use with any Gown. Price 5.00.