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Page 55
Two weeks afterward the postman brought me a large, fat envelope. I
opened it, and took out something that I had seen before, and this
typewritten letter from a magazine that encourages society fiction:
Your short story, "The Badge of Policeman O'Roon," is herewith
returned.
We are sorry that it has been unfavorably passed upon; but it
seems to lack in some of the essential requirements of our
publication.
The story is splendidly constructed; its style is strong and
inimitable, and its action and character-drawing deserve the
highest praise. As a story per se it has merit beyond anything
that we have read for some time. But, as we have said, it fails
to come up to some of the standards we have set.
Could you not re-write the story, and inject into it the social
atmosphere, and return it to us for further consideration? It is
suggested to you that you have the hero, Van Sweller, drop in for
luncheon or dinner once or twice at ----* or at the ----*
[* See advertising column, "Where to Dine Well," in the daily
newspapers.] which will be in line with the changes desired.
Very truly yours,
THE EDITORS.
SOUND AND FURY
[O. Henry wrote this for Ainslee's Magazine, where it
appeared in March, 1903.]
PERSONS OF THE DRAMA
Mr. PENNE. . . . . . An Author
Miss LORE. . . . . . An Amanuensis
SCENE--Workroom of Mr. Penne's popular novel factory.
MR. PENNE--Good morning, Miss Lore. Glad to see you so prompt. We should
finish that June installment for the Epoch to-day. Leverett is crowding
me for it. Are you quite ready? We will resume where we left off
yesterday. (Dictates.) "Kate, with a sigh, rose from his knees, and----"
Miss LORE--Excuse me; you mean "rose from her knees," instead of "his,"
don't you?
MR. PENNE--Er--no--"his," if you please. It is the love scene in the
garden. (Dictates.) "Rose from his knees where, blushing with youth's
bewitching coyness, she had rested for a moment after Cortland had
declared his love. The hour was one of supreme and tender joy. When
Kate--scene that Cortland never--"
Miss LORE--Excuse me; but wouldn't it be more grammatical to say "when
Kate SAW," instead of "seen"?
MR. PENNE--The context will explain. (DICTATES.) "When Kate--scene that
Cortland never forgot--came tripping across the lawn it seemed to him
the fairest sight that earth had ever offered to his gaze."
Miss LORE--Oh!
MR. PENNE (dictates)--"Kate had abandoned herself to the joy of her
new-found love so completely, that no shadow of her former grief was
cast upon it. Cortland, with his arm firmly entwined about her waist,
knew nothing of her sighs--"
MISS LORE--Goodness! If he couldn't tell her size with his arm around--
MR. PENNE (frowning)--"Of her sighs and tears of the previous night."
MISS LORE--Oh!
MR.PENNE (dictates)--"To Cortland the chief charm of this girl was her
look of innocence and unworldiness. Never had nun--"
MISS LORE--How about changing that to "never had any?"
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