Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1909 — HIS DAUGHTER'S FIRST STORY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HIS DAUGHTER'S FIRST STORY.

The Old Colonel Was Positive It - y Would Win the Prize.

By DONALD ALLEN.

{Copyright, 1909, by Associated Literary Press.] The Bounder Magazine was offering • |SOO prize for the beat love story, and when Colonel Sears, retired, happened to see the announcement at the village reading room he started right home to tell his daughter Phyllis. On the way he decided that her story should be a pathetic one. He so decided because he felt pathetic most of the time himself over being retired, over his half pay and over the fact that the army was going to the dogs without him. Phyllis Sears was good looking, and she was smart. She bad written and tom up two pieces of poetry, she had written and read numerous school > compositions, and she bad written one essay on the subject of intemperance. Miss Phyllis fully realized that she was literary, but she would not have pursued tbe line except for the enthusiasm and encouragement of her father. She continued to be good looking and smart and literary to please him. The mother doted on the girl, but stood neutral In details. The story was begun next day, and as fast as a page was written It was submitted to the father. He weighed every sentence. Once the tears were started from the eyes of the reader he insisted that there should be no respite. When the story had reached five pages the colonel wrote a letter to the

editor of tbe Bounder. He gave bis war record in full and stated that bis only daughter was writing a story to be submitted in tbe contest. Thus far, bis word for it. It bad proved a tremendous literary effort, fully equal to Oulda’s best, and be could guarantee that tbe last half would be greater yet. He bad cried over It and the editor, tbe editors wife and tbe pressmen, compositors and all others connected with the office would doubtless do tbe same. By and by two or three things began to dawn on Phyllis. She found It difficult to keep up the tears. The story had gone all right to a certain point and then stuck. Bhe was puzzled as to the end of It She began to doubt and distrust her talent and finally ventured to say so to her father. “Not take the prize!” the colonel exclaimed. “Why, girl, what has come over you? First, you are the daughter of a colonel who served his country for thirty years: next, you are good looking and smart; thirdly, your story Is the only one to touch the editor’s heart. Egad. If it doesn’t I’ll go down to the city and call him a ruffian! You’ll win that prize In a canter.” “But if I should fall after all?" she asked. ' “But you can’t” “And yet I may. You see, you have told most everybody, and If 1 don’t take the prize 1 shall feel terribly humiliated. 1 shall want to go away for a year." “Look here, daughter,” said tbe colonel after a moment’s thbught, “I’ll make you a promise. If you don’t take that prize I promise to find a husband for you within a year. What do you say to that? You are sure of the prize, however, and will have to live and die an old maid.” And that evening as tbe colonel smoked his cigar on the veranda with a friend he whispered In confidence: “Not a word to a living soul—not a word! There’ll be thousands of stories sent In, but Phyllis’ will take the cake. Bound to, sir—bound to. She’s smart, and then she’s the daughter of an old soldier. The first page made me bitch around on my chair, and the second brought tears to my eyqs. It will be a story to set thousands weeping.” Hie story was finished at last, read find reread and then sent off. With it went another confidential letter from the colonel. He pointed out Its many strong points to save the editor time, and he assured him that at least forty friends of his bad pronounced It a gem and wanted ten copies of the Issue In which It was printed. He also referred again to his war record. There was a month of waiting. Dur--Ins this time the colonel/ never fal-

tsreo. When Phyllis became despond eut and discouraged be patted her on the head and replied: , “Why. the editor must have time to recover from bis emotions after reading your story. Bound to win—bound to. Thirty years In the service of my conntry. and this is the first story my daughter has written. Ton may receive a <SOO check at any moment If It had been a common story, something to laugh at, a balderdash love story, but It was pathos, you see. Egad, but think of your old father weeping over a atory!" One day the pathetic manuscript was returned, and Inclosed with It was a notice that such and such a story bad won the prize. Tbe colonel came borne with the letter in his band. “Bat I was afraid It might fall," said Phyllis as she took It and went away to weep over it and wonder what everybody would say. The colonel stalked into tbe library and sat down and wrote tbe editor a letter and told him that be was a man without sentiment, a numskull, a border ruffian and many other things and wonnd up wltb a lament that the days of the duello bad passed away. That relieved him somewhat. Ten days had passed and the little family were sitting on the veranda one afternoon when a gentlemanly looking man of thirty descended from an auto and introduced himself. His card showed that* be was the editor of the Bounder. Phyllis blushed, and her father arose to begin an oration. It was to be a scorcher, but before be had got out a word the caller announced that he had come down to make an explanation. He was perfectly at ease, and his manner was frank.

In the first place, the pathetic story had exceeded the limit set by over a thousand words. Tbe circular bad specified American stories, and this was laid In London. Phyllis had to acknowledge that she had been careless and tbe colonel that be had not read the circular at all. Then the editor good uaturedly pointed out the absence of any plot and other things open to criticism. When he had finished the colonel didn’t know whethei to ask him to take a glass of wine or to order him off the premises. It was the daughter who settled that question, however. She frankly acknowledged her literary errors. Aftei that there was a friendly talk on literary matters, and for an hour after the caller’s departure the old warrior sat buried in a sort of reverie. When the daughter at last aroused him he said: “Phyl, 1 made you a promise, you remember.” “Did you?” sbe Innocently asked though blushing at the same time. “And I guess I’ve found him. Le; me say that I’m not going to butt in and tangle things up any more. I’m not literary, and I’m going to drop pathos. I’m simply military, and I’m going to stick to that. Go ahead and paddle your own canoe after this.” And if tbe colonel had not been a wise father bis son-in-law might not be sharing tbe bouse wltb him and his good wife today, and that son-ii law might not be tbe editor of tbe Bounder.

Fast Ball Gamas In Honolulu. Two remarkable ball games were played at tbe Athletic park In Bono lulu recently. Japanese and Chinese nines played twelve inniugs with a final score of 3 to 0 tor tbe Chinese, and a nine from tbe marine corps battled for nineteen Innings with a Hawaiian team, that game being called on account of darkness, with the score standing 2 to 2. The first eleven Innings of tbe oriental contest were without runs, and In tbe marine-Hawallan game tbe results of eighteen times at bat each were rows of goose eggs. The Chinese consul general and staff watched their boys wear out the Japanese players, while 4,000 fans whooped and yelled from 2 o’clock until dusk during both contests. Twenty-eight Innings without a run Is a record for Hawaii.

Triple Hetder In One Afternoon. A novelty in professional baseball occurred In Pekin, 111., recently wbeo the Beardstown and Pekin teams of the Illinois and Missouri league played a triple header in one afternoon, beginning at noon. In order to catcb up with tbe schedule for tbe season. The teams went at the task with a vim. and the last game was tbe best played of tbe trio. The first game of nine tunings was won by Beardstown, 6 to u. Tbe second contest, limited to seven Innings by agreement, went to Pekin. 4to 2. The rubber also was won by Pekin. 1 to O. Tbe lineup was not changed materially during the long performance, and tbe men were worn out when tbe day was done. To Compete In Olympic Gamoc. It 1b stated that a number ot the noted Oregon athletes will go to Athens next year to compete In tbe Olympic games which are to be held there In 1910. Dan Kelly, providing bis aukle gets back Into shape again, will be sent as well as Utlbert, tbe former YalS pole va utter, who Is now a member ot tbe Multnomah club. Edward Prank, a wrestler, and Forrest Smithson, who holds the world’s record for tbe 110 meter high hurdles, made last year at Shepherd’s Bush. London, will also make tbe trip abroad. Prank is one of the best 125 pound wrestlers In tbe country. To Astir* Dan Patch. M. O. Harrison, personal represents* tire of M. W. Savage of Minneapolis, reports that this will be Dan Paten's last year on tbe turf.

AS FAST AS A PAGE WAS WRITTEN IT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE FATHER.